Auction Spotlight: 1969 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider
The Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider earned celebrity for its role in the iconic 1960s black comedy The Graduate. With that, demand for the Italian roadster soared and the Alfa marque became a hot commodity in America once again. The Spider’s movie gig retained enough prominence so as to become an entry trim level in later years.
This Duetto, from eBay seller flowernyc, is a pristine 1969. The American-spec fuel-injection system was replaced by a traditional European twin-carb setup. We’re not sure the engine: the early Duettos had either a 1.8 I-4 or a “Junior” 1.3, and both were linked to a 5-spd. manual. Total output for the 1.8 was pegged at 118 hp; not bad considering the Duetto weighed under 2,200 lbs.
The current high bid is at $5,100–still under the reserve. This is nicest Duetto we’ve seen in a long time, and makes for a more enjoyable ride than the later Spiders. Should this be a 1.3, we’d put a reasonable price at around $9,000. If it’s the preferred 1.8, set the number at $12,000.
See the car for yourself: