Kicking tyres: Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Veloce

The Graduate is to the Alfa Romeo Spider what Princess Anne is to the Reliant Scimitar, duct tape is to the Ford Mondeo and Back to the Future is to the DeLorean DMC-12. Alfa’s oh-so-pretty sports car will forever be linked to the 1967 film, Dustin Hoffman and Mrs Robinson (Anne Bancroft).

It’s not the reason why our heads have been turned by this 1976 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Veloce, but it’s impossible to avoid being seduced by the prospect of returning the car to former glory. The Duetto, a graduation present for Hoffman’s character, didn’t fare too well, and was looking a little worse for wear by the time it had a petrol crisis ahead of the film’s memorable climax.

With a little artistic licence to account for the fact that this is a 2000 Spider Veloce, rather than the original and prettier Duetto, you could claim that it’s a homage to the movie car. It’s based in Bude, so trade California for Cornwall and the Golden Gate Bridge for the Tamar. A little Simon & Garfunkel playing on the Lucas Audio radio would be a nice touch.

Forget bridges for a moment, because the photos suggest that troubled waters lie ahead. As Car & Classic points out, the Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider requires extensive restoration to all panels and it looks like the engine hasn’t been touched since it was last on the road in 1987. In some pictures, it appears to have spent some time at the bottom of the Tamar.

On the plus side, the factory weld lines are still visible, the interior is original and the exterior trim is all present and correct. Just don’t expect it to be the work of a semester; this could be a full-term project. Once finished, you’ll own the most attractive car of all your parents’ friends.

At the time of writing, bidding has reached £1100 with five days to go. There’s a great future in plastics, but wouldn’t you rather have a little slice of Italian metal?

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