Spider (Duetto)
Dustin Hoffman's car in The Graduate. 28 years of continuous production across four series. The quintessential Italian roadster: twin-cam engine, five-speed manual, open-top, and a Pininfarina body. The longest-running Alfa Romeo model in history.
History
Pininfarina designed the Spider as a replacement for the Giulietta Spider. The original 1966 'Duetto' (Round Tail) featured a flowing boat-tail rear inspired by Pininfarina's earlier Alfa Romeo concepts. Dustin Hoffman drove a red Duetto in The Graduate (1967), immortalizing the car in American popular culture.
The twin-cam inline-four was Alfa Romeo's signature: responsive, musical above 4,000 rpm, and mechanically characterful in a way that no Japanese or German engine of the era could match. The five-speed manual gearbox had a precise, short-throw action that rewarded skilled driving.
Four distinct series evolved the design over 28 years: Round Tail (1966-69), Coda Tronca/Kamm Tail (1970-82), Aerodinamica (1983-89), and Series 4 (1990-94). Each was less pure than the last, but all shared the same essential character: open-air Italian motoring at an accessible price.
124,000 Spiders were built, making it one of the most successful Italian sports cars. The Duetto is the most valuable, commanding $60,000 to $120,000 for excellent examples.
Timeline
Production & Heritage
Value estimates are editorial assessments based on recent auction results and market trends.
Technical Specifications
Engine Details
Performance
Tags
Designed by Pininfarina (Battista 'Pinin' Farina)
From the 1960s
