A replacement for the 1900 line, the 102-series 2000 cars first appeared in 1958 and were unusual in so far as production of the Touring-bodied Spider version outstripped that of the four-door Berlina. A Bertone-bodied Sprint coupe followed in 1960. Nowadays referred to as the “Cast-Iron 2-liter,” the twin-cam 2000 engine combined elements of the superseded 1900 and new Giulietta, retaining the former’s cast-iron block and separate cam covers but featuring the latter’s bucket-and-shim method of valve adjustment. Spider and Sprint versions came with 115 bhp on tap, good enough for a top speed in excess of 110 mph. Beneath the
skin the 2000 remained much as the last of the 1900s, with independent front suspension, live rear axle, five-speed gearbox and drum brakes all round. Despite a relaxed high-speed cruising ability and excellent smoothness, the 2000 in its day tended to be overshadowed by the smaller and cheaper Giulietta, and only now is the model beginning to receive the attention it deserves.
Imported to England in 1991 from the USA by its former owner, the late Robert Charibi, this Touring Spider underwent extensive restoration work culminating in a class win (against strong opposition) at the National Alfa Day in 1993 and was placed runner up (by a single point) in the Master Class category the following year. Regarded as one of the finest examples of its type anywhere, the car has been kept in de-humidified storage since October 1994 and remains in excellent condition throughout.
{analysis} This car sold for $18,400 (including 15% buyer’s premium) at the Brooks Goodwood auction on June 23, 2000.
The Cast-Iron 2-liter is either the best bargain in the business or a car the collector can safely ignore. Both positions present strong arguments. On behalf of the car, its styling and spacious interior are the equal of Ferrari and Maserati convertibles costing at least three times as much as this Alfa. The car’s elegant Touring body accurately reflects the best of contemporary design, and the detailing of the car is excellent (which you can get from car detailing services). Maintenance of this Alfa is absolutely bargain-basement when compared to the more illustrious marques. The only real challenge during a tune-up is having the small cups used to adjust valve clearances on hand. Otherwise, all the necessary parts are easily—and inexpensively—available. If you want a beautiful Spider that can be run regularly and maintained economically, this is the car for you. Charibi was clearly of this persuasion.
On the other hand, this is neither a Ferrari nor Maserati. Elegant styling aside, the 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine offers only 115 hp to a car weighing in at 2,770 pounds. The top speed of 111.3 mph comes slowly: a Road & Track road test of the model in July, 1959 gave a 0-60 time of 14.2 seconds and a 0-100 time of 50 seconds.
Leisurely performance, however, was not the car’s greatest drawback. At the time the model was introduced, all indicators were positive. As a follow-up to the fabulously popular 1900 sedan, the new 2-liter offered fresh new styling and the option of regular-production Spider and coupe versions.
The new 2-liter Berlina, however, was certainly one of the ugliest Alfas ever produced, and the svelte Spider and Sprint were completely overshadowed by the Giulietta, which had been introduced in a dramatic 1954 lottery that remains one of the great marketing triumphs of the industry. Moreover, the Giulietta Veloce Spider, introduced in 1956, was nimbler than the 2-liter, and was actually faster by a small margin. Simply put: the 2-liter didn’t stand a chance against its smaller stablemate.
The 2000 was again overshadowed by its replacement, which offered near-identical styling plus a 145-hp, 2.6-liter,
6-cylinder, twin-cam engine and a top speed of just over 120 mph. It’s the kind of story that gives product planners nightmares.
Forty years have passed since its introduction, and the 2-liter has yet to emerge from the shadow of the Giulietta or the 2600. Interesting—even attractive—it’s still a slug in the minds of most collectors, and hardly more than a footnote in the literature of the marque.
At the same time, this also explains its appeal to certain collectors: if you are willing to ignore the car’s context and focus on what the 2-liter really offers, it’s a fantastic bargain. You could buy a good one for what it costs to give a Ferrari of similar configuration a thorough tune-up. The sale price of this car, just over SCM’s Price Guide range, is probably a fraction of the money invested in its restoration. Owning “one of the finest examples of its type anywhere” is a calculated choice. The only real challenge of 2-liter ownership will come after a decision to sell the car: finding another enthusiast of similar persuasion, which might take quite some time.—Pat Braden{/analysis}