One to Buy: unrestored 2 owner 10,000km 1969 Alfa Romeo Tipo 105 Spider 1750 Veloce
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Having debuted the gorgeous Pininfarina-styled Tipo 105 Spider in 1570cc trim at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1966, Alfa Romeo unveiled a more potent 1779cc version a little under two years later.
Presented at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1968, the Spider 1750 Veloce most notably featured a Tipo 00548 iteration of the existing all-alloy dual overhead cam inline four.
Bored from 78mm to 80mm and stroked from 82mm to 88.5mm, the Veloce engines featured a stiffer block, heavier pistons, a larger oil sump and modified crankshaft. The cooling and lubrication systems were also uprated and the engine required new mounting points. A Bosch alternator was fitted instead of a dynamo.
The two Weber 40 DCOE 27 sidedraught carburettors found on the 1600 were switched to 40 DCOE 32s. Compression was kept at 9.0:1. The net result of all this was a useful output boost: peak power went from 108bhp at 6000rpm to 122bhp at 5500rpm while the torque rating rose from 102lb-ft at 6000rpm to 137lb-ft at 5500rpm.
In addition, the suspension and brakes were uprated, 14-inch wheels replaced the earlier 15-inch type and the fuel tank was slightly enlarged. A higher final drive ratio was used and the clutch actuation became hydraulic instead of mechanical.
Externally, Alfa Romeo added a new ‘1750’ script on the trunk lid and the wing mirror was moved from the front fender back to the door which allowed for easier adjustment.
Inside, there was a new wood-rimmed steering wheel, a bigger transmission tunnel-mounted ashtray (complete with lighter), a glovebox that locked with a key and a gear knob with engraved layout pattern. Other enhancements included two-speed instead of single-speed windscreen wipers and a more comprehensive tool kit.
Of the little under 4700 Veloces constructed by the time Series 1 Spider production ended in early 1970, almost certainly one of the best preserved is chassis AR 1410701 which will be going under the hammer at Bonhams’ Monaco sale on April 24th.
Configured in arguably the best colour scheme for one of these cars, Bianco with Rosso upholstery, AR 1410701’s first custodian resided at a large estate in Sassari on the island of Sardinia. First registered on July 25th 1969, the Alfa was retained by its original owner until 2009, at which point it was acquired by the consignor with just 3810km showing on the odometer.
Still in delightfully original, totally unrestored condition, following acquisition just the battery, oil and tyres initially had to be changed. Since then, AR 1410701 has only needed regular maintenance by the owner’s in-house mechanic.
At the time of cataloguing, the Spider’s odometer read 10,635km which, although undocumented, is believed accurate given the car's exceptionally well-preserved condition.
