Lot 006: Alfa Romeo Spider S3 Quadrifoglio

Alfa Romeo has been producing pretty little roadsters endowed with the name 'Spider' since the launch of the Giulietta in 1955. The most famous is probably the new model that was launched at the Geneva Salon in 1966: the Duetto. Beautifully styled by Pininfarina and overflowing with Italian brio, the car was a huge success from the outset but was immortalised by its starring role in The Graduate in 1967, sharing the limelight with Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft.The original 'boat-tail' design of the Duetto was dropped in the late sixties in favour of a more aerodynamically efficient Kamm tail. At the same time a 132bhp 2-litre version also became available. The model continued in production for over 27 years with only detail changes to the original Pininfarina design before production finally ceased in 1993 after an amazing 30-year run.This 1989 right hand-drive car started its life in Italy but was imported to the UK in August 1990. It is said to have covered just 42,200 miles from new which is supported by a fair amount of service history including six old MOTs. The car is said to drive well and to be in good condition for its age though the owner states that there are a couple of minor dents in the bonnet, a scratch on the off-side front wing, a split in the driver's seat and some wear to the front edge of the hood. Fitted with after-market 16-inch OZ alloy wheels, it was last serviced in December 2007 and has an MOT until December 2008. These cars are great fun to drive with a peppy engine and fine handling  perfect for the summer.