On its introduction in 1966, one writer commented that it was "a contrived design with meaningless styling gimmicks that would not last for long".
The choice for the name of the new car was decided by a competition. The name Duetto was chosen from 140.000 entries.
The winner, Sig. Guidobaldi Trionfi from Brescia, got a brand new car as a prize. Among the other suggestions included Gina Lollobrigida, Bardot, Piranha, Acapulco, Shakespeare! Al Capone, Pizza, Stalin, Sputnik, Edelweiss, Gin, Strip, Goal and Hitler! Duetto is nicer, much nicer.
When it was launched in the UK, it was priced £ 1.895 or almost as a Jaguar E-type and twice the price of a Triumph TR4.
When the "Kamm-tail" was unveiled in 1970, Road &Track commented "The body is dated and the ergonomics are outdated". I wonder what the say in 1999?
Alfa Romeo had such trouble meeting the Californian emissions regulations that it briefly had to abandon its most lucrative market in 1975 while Alfa developed a catalyst version.
Manufacture of a version to meet the British Type Approval became uneconomic. UK import ceased in 1977 but the last one was sold in 1978.
Dustin Hoffman saved the gorgeous Katherine Ross from a marriage worse than death, despite his red Spider running out of petrol, in the film "The Graduate" in 1968.
The Spider was sold in the US as a "Graduate" model during the 80's.
The car that was described in 1977 as a "collector's piece still available new off the shelf" was still available as new in 1994.
The Spider was Battista Pininfarina's last complete design before he died.
