While we were recently celebrating 60 years of the Spider Duettothe emblematic model ofAlfa RomeoA few months ago, an announcement went almost unnoticed, but today deserves our full attention. It's a 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider Series 2, extensively transformed by Alfaholics, and above all powered by what many consider to be one of the finest engines ever produced by the brand: the V6 Busso. This atypical Spider is not just a technical curiosity. It has just achieved a spectacular sale price: $175,000, a record for even a heavily modified Alfa Romeo Spider.
The Alfaholics signature
This Spider originally rolled off the production line in right-hand drive Spider Veloce 2000 configuration. Under a previous owner, it was entrusted to Alfaholics, a British specialist renowned for its exceptional restomods. The project, christened Spider-R, was completed in 2014 under the in-house chassis number Build 013. The bodywork was completely repainted in a superb Prugna Metallizzato, a deep, elegant hue that perfectly suits the lines designed by Pininfarina. The exterior details immediately betray the level of preparation: LED headlamps hidden under Carello covers, stainless steel bumpers, heated windscreen, 15" GTA wheels... Nothing is flashy, everything is coherent.
The heart of the beast: a 3.0-liter Busso V6
Of course, it's under the hood that this Spider-R takes on an almost unreal dimension. Alfaholics installed a Busso 3.0-liter 24-valve V6, modified for longitudinal layout and rear-wheel drive, without altering the engine bay or hood. A masterly job made possible by specific intakes and butterflies, combined with MoTeC M130 engine management. Claimed power is 220 hp and 270 Nm of torque. On paper, this figure may seem modest by modern standards, but when placed in a lightweight Spider from the 70s, it promises sensations that few current roadsters can offer. And above all, there's the sound: that of the Busso V6, metallic, husky, almost lyrical, which has become mythical among aficionados.
Chassis to match ambitions
Alfaholics obviously didn't content itself with a simple engine swap. The chassis has been completely redesigned to handle the power and offer modern handling. Oversized brakes with six-piston calipers at the front and two-piston calipers at the rear, specific aluminum suspension, GTA-R geometry, power steering added in 2024... Everything has been thought out to transform the Spider into a real pleasure machine. The transmission has also received special attention. The five-speed manual gearbox was rebuilt in 2023, as was the rear axle, now equipped with an Alfaholics limited-slip differential. The package is completed by a custom-made stainless steel driveshaft and exhaust system, whose central tailpipes have recently been modified.
An interior between classicism and modernity
On board, the transformation is more subtle but just as qualitative. Converted to left-hand drive in 2024, the Spider receives a specific dashboard, aluminum pedals and Sport Road bucket seats upholstered in beige leather. The ambience cleverly blends 70s charm with contemporary touches such as a Bluetooth audio system and more modern materials, including Alcantara. The driver is faced with classic Jaeger instrumentation, with a tachometer graduated up to 8,000 rpm, a reminder that this Spider is no mere collector's car destined to sleep under a cover.
175,000: the price of perfection?
Sold with a transferable New York State registration, this Alfa Romeo Spider-R found a buyer for $175,000. A surprising, even shocking sum for a historically more affordable model. But this transaction perfectly illustrates the evolution of the market: exceptional restomods, when built to such exacting standards, become objects of desire in their own right. So, is this Alfa Romeo Spider V6 Busso the perfect roadster? Without doubt, it embodies an ideal vision: the timeless styling of the Spider, sublimated by the noblest of Alfa Romeo engines, and served by modern engineering.
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