Giulia (Type 105) 1962-1993

An extract from the production registers held in the Centro Documentazione Alfa Romeo, show that PYP220E (Chassis Number: AR710154) corresponds to:

• Alfa Romeo 1600 Spider RHD (105.05)
• Production Date: 1967, April 29th
• Deliver Date: 1967, May 5th
• Market Destination: London (UK)
• Exterior Colour: Bianco (White)
• Interior: Skai Rosso (Red)

The Alfa Romeo 1600 Spider, to give it its official factory name, was launched at the 36th Geneva Motor Show in March 1966 and manufactured during 1966/67. The name 'Duetto' came about from a competition held by Alfa Romeo to distinguish the car from its Giulia 105 stable mates, the Coupe and Berlina, and was accepted for its reference to the two-seat layout. The Duetto name only applied to the 1600 model and even then it was its unofficial name as last minute copyright issues prevented its official adoption. Interestingly though, Alfa Romeo's own museum in which an example of the 1600 is displayed, boldly uses the 'Duetto' moniker in its description. Both the 1600 model and its later 1300 & 1750 variants are commonly known today as round or boat tail spiders. Advanced, in their day these cars were fitted, as standard, with all-alloy twin cam engines, five-speed gearboxes and disc brakes all round.

The design, splitting opinion in its day, was to be the last from the pen of the great Battista 'Pinin' Farina himself. It is very sculptural with its nose to tail scallops and considered lines which just exude Italian style. It didn't look like anything else in its day, and it still looks different than anything on the road today.

AR710154 was delivered to London in May 1967 where, after import duties and taxes were added, it had a price tag comparable with that of a Jaguar E-Type. This made it a 'bold choice' in the day and hence an un-common site on British roads - a contributing factor as to why the factory only ever made 380 RHD examples of the 1600 model - this being one of the rare survivors from this small production run.

PYP220E has had four owners from new.

• Owner #1 - Harry (1967 - 1985)
• Owner #2 - Paul (1985 - 2011)
• Owner #3 - Tim (2011 - 2016)
• Owner #4 - Gary (2016 - Current)

Only owner #1 & #4 has actually driven the car!

Current value is somewhere between a condition 1 and 2 here.

Photo : Harry (Owner #1) soon after the 'colour change' (Date Unknown)

The initial owner of PYP220E, Harry, bought the car new in July of 1967 and subsequently used it as his 'daily driver', commuting from the South coast to his place of work in London and back every day, clocking up over 100,000 miles in the process! Unfortunately no records survive to tell us where he bought it apart from that it was in London, but it is said that he saw it on the garage forecourt as he drove past and exclaimed "I must have that". When Harry retired he kept his pride and joy and continued to (quote) 'drive it enthusiastically'.

After the years and miles racked up, not to mention that his wife kept reversing into it, PYP220E started to look/feel a little neglected and so some time around 1981 Harry decided it was time for a 'restoration', taking the opportunity to refresh the now royal blue paintwork. Harry's friend Paul (who would go on to be owner #2) helped him with the strip-down for the re-spray and putting it back together afterwards, but cannot recall the date/circumstances surrounding the initial colour change from its original 'factory' white to royal blue. However, he seems to think it was still white in 1976 when he first met Harry.

As Harry became less able to carry out any maintenace himself, Paul helped him out with all the 'servicing'. For the more involved jobs, such as replacing the clutch, Paul would ask his friend Tim (who would go on to be owner #3) for an 'extra pair of hands'. Paul and Harry went on day trips together in the car and Paul would sometimes drive the car back home if Harry couldn't be bothered.

At an unknown date (sometime after 1981) PYP220E was taken 'off the road' with a blown head gasket but otherwise road-worthy. Paul started to strip the engine in preperation to getting it fixed for Harry, but it was at this point Harry decided it was time for PYP220E to enter its next chapter and passed ownership to Paul in recognition of his friendship.

Photo : Paul (Owner #2 - left) & Tim (Owner #3 - right) at the transition of ownership (Date Unknown).

Upon transference of ownership, Paul (owner #2) towed PYP220E back to Gloucestshire, on a tow rope behind a Morris 100 pick-up, where he stored it outside under a tarpaulin with the intention of restoring it one day and getting it back on the road. However, he already owned an 'Spider 1300' of his own and so never got round to restoring PYP220E, apart from a small amount of work on the sills that he replaced with NOS items. Paul was able to buy genuine factory sills which he was led to believe, according to Dave at EB Spares at the time, were the last available and were found in the factory somewhere in around 1986/7.

He kept hold of PYP220E during a couple of house moves - still outside under a tarpaulin. It was during this time that what little original documentation there was with the car (inc. original green log book) was lost in a flood! When his own 'spider' was in need of restoration, Paul struck a deal with his friend Tim to carry out the work in exchange for PYP220E - hence ownership now passed to Tim (owner #3).

Tim was an 'Aircraft Engineer' by trade with a pastime of restoring classic cars - at the last count he had completed 30 of them - but being an engineer, the satisfaction came from the actual restoration and not the owning/driving of them, so as soon as he had finished a car he sold them on for the next project.

So as soon as Tim had finished restoring Paul's 'Spider 1300' he started on PYP220E having learnt about 'boat-tails' from the one he had just completed. Over a 5 year period Tim carried out a complete ground-up nut & bolt restoration of PYP220E (photo documented - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016). This included:

• Full strip down to bare metal shell (Pininfarina No. 151154) and repaint in original factory white (Bianco) - Paint code AR008.
• Full, original (No. AR00536*15113), engine rebuild.
• Original gearbox (No. 95976), checked & recommissioned.
• Drive shaft and rear axel rebuilt.
• Full suspension rebuild.
• All new interior in original factory red (Rosso).
• Original wiring loom refurbished.
• Wheels refurbished & painted (generally accepted best match to original - BMW Polaris Silver 060). 

At some point, during Paul's (#2) and Tim's (#3) ownership, the genuine 'Pininfarina' hard-top that accompanied PYP220E (pictured above) went missing with no recollection as to the circumstances.

Due to time/cost constraints a number of areas were 'left for the next owner' and new/substitute parts were used. True to form, as soon as the last nut & bolt had been tightened, Tim set about selling the car; which is where I (owner #4) came in.

Photo : Gary (Owner #4) Winning Best in Class and Best in Show NAD 2024 @ Bicester Heritage (18/08/2024)

Having seen Tim's advert on-line (Car & Classic) I went to see the car, now in the Swindon area, and bought it straight away - before the garage door had even fully opened! The same sort of reaction that Harry (Owner #1) had when he first saw the car back in 1967!

In my ownership I have addressed those 'left for the next owner' areas and re-focused PYP220E on 'original specification' with the intention of 'showing' the car. As such it is an ongoing restoration (are they ever finished!) to factory specification in all aspects. This has meant 're-visting' a number of areas of the car:

'Bodywork' - resulting in a number of trips to the 'bodyshop':

• 2021 - Floors, Front Jacking Points & Boot Lid.
• 2022 - Dash - Incorrect holes deleted @ Hares of Berkshire (photo documented - 2022).
• 2024 - Doors,  Front Wings, Scuttle & Front Bumpers.

'Details' - resulting in sourcing and fitting original parts from all over the world (such is the world-wide community of Alfa's):

• Heater controls, with parts from Alfa Franjo.
• Heater ducting from Classic Alfa.
• Dash crash pads from other spare dash.
• Center console ashtray/lighter (Brico - knurled top) from Classic Alfa and Auto Treasures.
• Transmission carpet - custom made to RHD spec @ Geater Coach Trimmers, Newbury.   
• Steering column surround - sourced from Alfa Franjo.
• Glove box hinges from Classic Alfa.
• Handbrake - NOS.
• Rear view mirror/light - NOS.
• Accelerator Stop.
• Washer foot pump.
• Horns & Relay (Mixo).
• NOS RHD Carello Headlamps (08.480.800) with Carello covers from Classic Alfa.
• Speedometer/Tachometer - Refurbished by Speedy Cables.
• Under floor sound deadening (correct pattern) from Classic Alfa.
• Top hold-down strap.
• Period Seatbelts - NOS.
• Hose clips (Romablok) from Classic Alfa + other various sources.
• Correct 'Bosch' ignition coil.
• Correct 'Tudor - Intereuropa' washer bag. 
• Period looking battery.
• Air filter refurbished, with parts from Alfa Franjo.
• Cam cover & Plenum vapour blasted and clear 'Cerakote' coated.
• Replacement fuel tank from Classic Alfa.
• Bumpers (all-round) refurbished by Rees Bros & Silvabronz, including replacing the 1300 style lower front 'black' steel bumpers for correct stainless steel ones.
• Decals (Engine Bay, Windscreen & Wheels).
• Jack refurbishment.
• Boot lid 'Alfa Romeo' script - NOS.
• Full set of period correct Pirelli Cinturato tyres (inc. spare) to fit the correct 15" wheels.
• Full tool kit (2 x Screwdriver, Pliers, Lug Wrench, Box Spanner & lever) in correct design canvas bag with boot securing strap.
• Footwell 'Service Coupon Book' holder.
• Under bumper reverse light refurbished by Silvabronz.
• Original set of keys x 2 (Neiman for ignition & SAFE for doors, boot, glovebox). All matching locks.
• Full set of 1967 'Glove Box' documentaion (User Guide, Service Coupon Book, Dealer Directory) in period 'Alfa Romeo' folder 
• Factory 'Spider 1600 Spare Parts' & 'Inspection' manuals. 
• Official Brochures/Photos.

Photo : All new floors installed @ John Holden Restorations, Newbury (08/2021)

Previous 'repairs' undone and returned to factory specification/metal (photo documented - 2021).

• New Floors - All floors replaced with Classic Alfa panels to reinstate the profile and allow the correct drainage (x4) to be reinstated. 
• Front jacking points reinstated with Classic Alfa panels.
• Boot Lid - Reconstructed with Classic Alfa panels to reinstate the profile and improve fit/gaps. This also allowed the correct Carello number plate lights to be fitted.

Photo : Wings stripped and doors replaced @ John Holden Restorations, Newbury (03/2024)

Previous 'repairs' undone and returned to factory specification/metal (photo documented - 2024).

• New Doors - Classic Alfa panels from original factory jigs. Giving all round better fit/gaps.
• Wings - Taken back to bare metal. Opportunity taken to delete passenger side mirror and re-position (correct no-logo) driver side mirror from the door to the correct factory position on the front wing.
• Scuttle - Taken back to bare-metal.
• Front Bumpers - Recesses re-contoured to give better gaps.

Photo : Ready for concours judging at NAD 2023 (24/08/23).

If your looking at PYP220E and the bonnet is shut- this is what's under there! As with the rest of the car - restored to original specification.

Photo : Ready for concours judging at NAD 2023 (24/08/23).

If your looking at PYP220E and the boot is shut - this is what's in there! As with the rest of the car - restored to original specification. Also shown is all the original accompanying documentation and toolkit. Spare wheel under the rubber matting.

• Studio photographed and interviewed for an article in the October 2018 edition 272 of the Auto Italia magazine.
• Photographs also used in the Auto Italia book Alfa Romeo Coupes & Spiders In Detail
• Filmed for a segment in a documentary about 'Alfa Romeo Design' hosted by Harry Metcalfe of Harry's Garage and available on Amazon Prime.
• Entry in the world-wide register of all Series 1 Spiders - Duetto Register

• 'Car of the Day' - MITCAR @ Ragley Hall, Warwickshire 2017
• Invited to be on the 'Meguiars Club Showcase' stand for 4 days at the NEC Classic Car Show @ Birmingham 2017.
• 'Best Post War Car' - Churchill Veteran & Classic Car Show 2018.
• 'Best Classic' - AROC Cotswolds Alfa Day @ Cotswolds Wildlife Park 2018.
• Invited to be on the 'AROC Club' stand for 4 days at the NEC Classic Car Show @ Birmingham 2019.
• 'Best in Class' - AROC National Concours competition @ Bicester Heritage 2022.
• 'Honorable Mention' - AROC National Concours competition @ Bicester Heritage 2023.
• Accepted to display at the 2023 London Concours of Elegance @ 'Hampton Court', London.
• Accepted to display in the 'Nuvolari Paddock' - Auto Italia - Italian Day @ 'Brooklands' 2024.
• 'Best in Show' - AROC Cotswolds Alfa Day @ The Classic Motor Hub, Bibury 2024.
• 'Best in Class' & 'Best in Show' - AROC (60th Anniversary) National Concours competition @ Bicester Heritage 2024 - Section Photo.
• Accepted to display at the 2024 London Concours of Elegance @ 'Hampton Court', London.