Steve Szalai’s Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale

Updated: 24 Mar 2010 22:25

A little unrefined. A lot fun.

 

I have been designing, and getting built, a 1976 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider "Speciale" since early October 1985. Maybe you'll think it's a bit pretentious to add the "Speciale", but perhaps after seeing what has been changed, you'll not be so offended. Of course, most of the time has been spent waiting while earning more money to pay the body shop. I couldn't stand not driving an Alfa in the interim, so I bought a 1977 Alfa Romeo Spider around 1989.

The car was taken off the road for body work on 5 October 1985. It was driven for the first time in its new form on 5 October 2001. It then went off the road as a result of a problem I'd prefer not to discuss <grin>, and returned to the road on 31 May 2002. It is still undergoing some "adjustments."

An accident took it off the road in February 2006. Finding a body shop willing to work on it (and to actually work on it) was difficult. I eventually found Coachwerks, which did good work, fast. But I ran out of money from the insurance claim. As I expected, the money the insurance company gave me was significantly insufficient. I took the 1977 off the road for parts in February 2006. Now I am driving - horrors - an old VW Diesel Jetta.

What's so special about this "speciale"? Most of the modifications are bodywork. Every panel except the hood and trunk lid have had their lines changed. Some modifications affect the mechanicals. Here are some of the significant modifications.

Photographs below.

Modifications:
  • Engine
    • Polished the block and head exteriors
    • 10.4-1 pistons
    • Ported head
    • Performance cams
    • Larger intake valves
    • Performance valve springs
    • Converted to Dellorto DHLA 45 carburettors
    • Replaced throttle actuator
    • Replaced air filter box with K&N filters
    • After-market electronic timing computer, MSD and coil
    • Converted distributor to magnetic pickup
    • Replaced engine fan with electric
    • Aluminum flywheel
    • Shankle header
    • Primaflow exhaust
    • Replaced screw-on oil filter with Oberg remote
    • Pre-oiler
    • Aeroquip stainless steel braid hoses
  • Other Mechanicals
    • Chassis stiffener
    • Replaced all suspension bushings with nylon bushings
    • Bilstein shocks
    • Stiffer, shorter springs (from Dave Rugh in Oregon)
    • Compomotive 2-piece 15"x7" (5-spoke-star) wheels
    • Pirelli P7 (225/50-15) tires front and rear
  • Bodywork
    • Pulled out front and rear fenders to fit tires
    • Straightened doors to match fenders
    • Air dam (metal, with skirt)
    • Air ports in air dam
    • PIAA fog lights mounted behind air dam
    • Extended rocker panels out about 6" at bottom
    • Side skirts
    • Ferrari 308 taillights
    • Recessed rear license plate, replaced lights
    • Replaced front and side running/signal lights
  • Interior
    • Replaced console and most switches and indictors
    • Added Alfa Romeo clock in console
    • Replaced seats with Recaro LS
    • Electric window regulators (from later model)
    • Dash recovered in leather
    • Carpets replace rubber mats
    • Courtesy lights in footwells
  • Other
    • Cibié headlights
    • Remote operated trunk release
    • Re-routed much of wiring (including battery cable)

Thanks to the following suppliers, etc.:
  • Coachwerks
  • Prancing Horse Auto Body (Jim, Zack, Al, ...)
  • Vintage Coach Works (Mark)
  • TC Motors
  • Speedline Imports (Diego)
  • Cords Engine Specialists
  • Ereminas Imports (Don)
  • Lejeune Engineering (Russ, Ken, Chris)
  • Carter Motorcars
  • Style's Upholstery
  • International Auto Parts
  • Alfa Ricambi (AR Ricambi)
  • Coast Industrial
  • Eurocar
  • Victoria Powder Coating
  • JB Precision Engines
  • Centerline Alfa Romeo Parts
  • Indufast
  • Compomotive
  • Queale Electronics
  • Rugh Engineering (Dave)
  • Keating Auto Wrecking
  • Island Powder Coating
  • Ian Rankin (for his knowledge and assistance)
  • Alfa Romeo (for making great cars)
  • Pininfarina (for being the best carrozzeria in the world)
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - front, right, on grass
Note:
Air dam, side skirts,
stainless trim powder coated black,
fog lights, non-standard signal lights,
heart painted on dam,
Compomotive wheels,
Pirelli P7 tires,
custom side marker lights,
Recaro seats,
Cibie headlights.		 16 June 2002
All Italian Vehicle Display
Waterfront Park, North Vancouver
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - rear, right, on grass
Note:
Tail lights replaced
by Ferrari 308 taillights,
side skirts.		 16 June 2002
All Italian Vehicle Display
Waterfront Park, North Vancouver
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - engine bay, left
Note:
Shankle header,
powder coated cam cover.		 04 June 2002
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - engine bay, right
Note:
MSD timing computer and MSD,
MSD coil,
Dellorto DHLA 45 carburettors,
Aeroquip fittings and stainless braided lines.		 31 May 2002
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - engine, on stand, front right
Note:
Oberg oil filter adapter
with Aeroquip fittings,
thermosender in oil sump,
aluminum water pump pulley,
engine fan removed,
oil sump, block and head polished.		 08 May 2001
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - water pump, right
Note:
Aluminum water pump pulley,
Aeroquip fittings on water pump.		 08 May 2001
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - bare chassis, front, left
Note:
All metal, no fiberglass,
air dam,
rocker panels squared and flared,
fenders pulled out, not flared,
door curve removed,
fog light housing,
upper shock mounts braced to fender
and open into engine bay,
custom dolly.		 04 August 2000
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - speedo, tach
Note:
indicator lights (LEDs) in speedo.
handbrake, oil pressure idiot light,
heater fan (stock),
fog lights, high beams,
turn signal.		 7 September 2002
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - dash and console
Note:
leather covered dash,
custom designed console, Alfa Romeo clock,
Recaro LS seats.

LEDs at top left of console:
  • alarm indicator, pre-oiler warning, oil filter clogged
Switches, from top to bottom, left to right:
  • electric interior heater (in standard heater box)
  • solenoid switch for heater core coolant flow (replaces stock valve)
  • heater fan (almost invisible in this photo)
  • console & instrument lights dimmer, hazard lights flasher
  • fog lights, thermometer (coolant, oil), console lights
  • electric window switches
  • wiper intermittent, wipers, windshield washer water
  • wiper intermittent rate, choke
 7 September 2002
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada

Check out Steve's Alfa Romeo spares page
16 June 2002 All Italian Vehicle Display - Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Contact Steve
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