‘Perfect for the Alfa man – which, of course, you can interpret as you will…Though not in that age, 1969, when the Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 Veloce we presently have at Beverly Hills Car Club was produced, a perfect piece of art.

‘That was before the days that the term ‘Alfa’, clearly misspelt as ‘Alpha’, automatically was equated with testosterone.

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‘Yet it might as well have been. The Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 Veloce was one of the sexiest motor-cars ever manufactured, perhaps the greatest of the seductive Alfa Romeos – although sometimes it seems it’s all contained within that second name, Romeo, and therefore the perfect car for the beautifully besuited, sophisticated man slinking about Rome.

‘And talking of actors, the Alfa Romeo marque had enjoyed some serious marketing advantage after the Spider 1750 Veloce’s predecessor, the little Duetto Spider, had been so prominently featured in The Graduate, the 1967 superhit film that had launched the career of Dustin Hoffman.

‘But it was the next year, in January 1968, that Alfa Romeo debuted its 1750 line, including the Spider 1750 Veloce, a replacement for the 1600 Spider.

‘For the Spider 1750 Veloce sold in Europe this subtle supercar came with a pair of twin horizontal carburettors. But the North American models had a further improvement: they came with mechanical fuel injection from SPICA, which stands for Societa Pompe Iniezione Cassani and Affini, itself an Alfa Romeo subsidiary. Taking the place of the traditional sidedraft Webers, the fuel injection brought advanced, modern performance to American Spider 1750 Veloce buyers.

‘And is equipped with a manual transmission, inline-four engine, Dell Orto dual carburetors, four-wheel disc brakes, single exhaust outlet, Jaeger instruments, black convertible soft top, chrome bumpers/trim, Wagner BriteLite headlights, three-spoke steering wheel, ‘Pininfarina’ badge, fender-mounted antenna, Alfa-Romeo branded floor mats, Pirelli tires, alloy wheels, jack, and a full-size spare tire fitted in the trunk.

‘Amenities include dual-side mirrors, manual-crank windows, forward-folding front seats, vent windows, Sanyo radio, sun visors, toggle switches, and a glove compartment. In addition to the equipment, this Spider Veloce comes with the owner’s manual booklet, manufacturer’s literature, and a copy of the Certificate of Origin. This sharp-looking and highly desirable Italian classic is mechanically sound.

‘Giving you around 26 miles-per-gallon on a long run, the 1750 GT Veloce had its production volume increased for the seven years it was on sale: it became serious competition for the Jaguar E-Type, whose showroom price it came close to, as well as the Lancia Fulvia, the Lotus Elite, the BMW 2002, and the Porsche 911.

‘Even the trunk turned out to be far more commodious than it first appeared, perfect with a bit of shuffling for your average suitcase.

‘Alfa Romeo is a particular way of living, of experiencing an automobile. The real essence of Alfa defies description. It can be compared to those irrational movements of the spirit that sometimes occur in man, and for which there is no logical explanation. We are in the realm of sensations, passions, things that have more to do with the heart than with the head.’ So spoke Orazio Satta Puliga, the Italian car firm’s head of design in 1946, as Italy tremblingly attempted to pull itself out of the disaster of World War 2.

‘And the Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 Veloce is the ultimate in that way of living.

-Alex Manos, Owner