Alfa Romeo Spider 916 Phase 1 (1995–1999) Price Guide

The 916 Phase 1 Spider was a clean break from everything that came before: front-wheel drive, a Pininfarina body on a Fiat Tipo platform, and the Twin Spark engine replacing the classic twin-cam. Purists howled. Everyone else fell in love with the way it looked.

The Car

Launched in 1995, the Phase 1 was initially only available with the 150bhp 2.0-litre Twin Spark. This was not the all-aluminium Alfa twin-cam of old but a new 16-valve cylinder head on a cast-iron Fiat block with variable cam timing. The electrically operated fabric roof folded into a compartment behind the seats. A V6 was available in the GTV coupe from launch but did not reach the Spider until 2001. Trim levels included base, Lusso, and Turismo.

Faults

Oil pumps can fail at higher mileages, causing oil starvation even when the sump is full — a serious engine risk. Cambelts have failed at 53,000 miles despite the official 72,000-mile interval, which Alfa subsequently halved to 36,000 miles. The hood release motor is the Spider-specific nightmare: spare motors are effectively unobtainable, so check the hood operates perfectly. The galvanised body resists rust well, but check floor seams, sills behind the plastic cladding, and bonnet hinges. The centre console develops a notorious sticky coating as the soft-touch paint degrades.