- 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ergonomics are outdated".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.
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