1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider by Carrozzeria Touring

The Alfa Romeo 2600 (designated 106-Series) was Alfa Romeo's six-cylinder flagship model produced from 1962 through to 1968. It was the successor to the Alfa Romeo 2000 and has become historically significant as the last Alfa Romeo to have been fitted with an inline six-cylinder engine with twin overhead camshafts which had been the traditional Alfa Romeo engine configuration since the 1920s. The 2600 models were first introduced in 1962 in Berlinetta (saloon), Sprint (coupé) and Spider (convertible) forms and the 2,584cc straight-six produced around 145bhp and 156lb.ft of torque, which was certainly enough to let you drive like an Italian. Power was fed to the rear wheels via a five-speed gearbox and was kept in check by all-round coil-sprung suspension and servo-assisted disc/drum brakes. Rarest of the two high-performance variants was the Touring-bodied Spider, a total of 2,255 being produced between 1962 and 1965. The strikingly good-looking, four-seat , Spider was marketed as a 'fast tourer' rather than an out-and-out sports car, which is exactly what Alfa had in mind. Today, this rare and hitherto under-appreciated model is becoming increasingly sought after by Classic Alfa enthusiasts.

Factory-built, right-hand drive, 2600 Spiders cars were only available after 1964 and prior to that, bespoke conversion to RHD for UK-cars was the sole prerogative of Worthing-based Ruddspeed. Ken Rudd was an established competition driver, a talented engineer, and his name became associated with AC, Aston Martin, Austin-Healy, Volvo, Alfa and later converting Ford Mustangs to right-hand drive. During the late 1950s/early 60s, he was an agent for Alfa Romeo and was tasked by the factory with the conversion to RHD of any Alfas destined for the UK. The Touring-bodied 2600 Spider was a rare car anyway and it is thought that only a handful passed through Ruddspeed's workshops, including the beautiful example on offer here which was subsequently delivered on April 24th 1963 to its first owner, a Mr. David Graham of Chelmsford.

The car's extensive history file contains a substantial amount of servicing and restoration invoices accumulated by its various owners, confirming that this rare, right-hand drive, example has benefited from much care and attention over the years. Originally finished in Bianco Antico, it spent many years wearing Alfa Rosso before finally being returned to Alfa White prior to our vendor's purchase in 2016. Since then, it has benefited from an extensive renovation over a three-year period carried out by marque specialists K & L Autos of Golders Green and Century Classics of Hungerford, with additional work by Benalfa of Westbury and our vendor's own in-house mechanic. The engine has been fully serviced twice during his ownership and we understand that over £15,000 has been invested to keep the car in top form including a recent paint refresh. As part of a large Private Collection, the Alfa has been used lightly over the last few years but according to our vendor "It's a great GT car, eating up the miles whether on a motorway or country roads and the five-speed 'box is a delight." In addition to the numerous invoices, the history file contains a photocopy of the old 'buff' logbook, its V5C, current MOT and a factory workshop manual.

Late 1950s and early '60s Alfas have a unique sense of magic and romance and this elegant creation by Carrozzeria Touring represents La Dolce Vita, the Via Veneto and Audrey Hepburn personified. To quote from a piece by a well-known Alfa collector "Imagine it's a balmy, late July, Sunday evening in central Rome and you pull up in this sparkling Alfa right outside the Doney Café on the Via Veneto, hoping to enjoy some of Maria Foglieni's famous Cantuccini Biscotti and a glass of Vin Santo. The Alfa ticks and pings as it cools, and the yellow street lights are reflected in its gleaming white coachwork, much to the delight of the laughing and chattering beautiful people as they pass on the way up the Via Vittorio making the most of the last hours of their Roman weekend". 

We welcome and encourage your viewing of this delightful, coachbuilt Alfa Spider at our forthcoming Race Retro sale.