We are highly entertained by the impetus for the Niki Lauda Edition Alfa Romeo Spider. It isn't the result of a Constructers' Championship win or a Drivers' Championship win from Alfa or Lauda, which would be pretty reasonable. No, it's just a nod to Lauda, who joined the Brabham Alfa Romeo F1 team in 1978. A nice gesture, and a pretty comically low bar for slapping a name on a car.
According to the internet, 350 Niki Lauda Spiders were sold. Sure, that's pretty rare, but when Ferrari wins a Constructors' Championship, they just tack a plaque on the dash of all of their cars that year. We fail to see the significance of the Niki Lauda Edition to Alfa Romeo's brand history, and it seems to us that collectors are running out of special edition cars to prop up.
Year: 1978
Model: Alfa Romeo Spider Niki Lauda Edition
Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 49,148 mi
Price: $29,900 mi
Location: Elkhart Lake, WI
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1978 Alfa Romeo Spider Niki Lauda Edition
Flashback to 1978, Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsports and Niki Lauda joins forces with Alfa Romeo's Formula 1 Team.
Alfa Romeo pay's homage to this legendary fellow by building a Special Edition Niki Lauda Spider
Powered by the 2.0L Twin Cam 4 Cylinder
5-Speed Manual Transmission
Carman Red Exterior in extremely nice original condition and still wearing its original decals.
Tan Leather is superb for the age
This incredible Niki Lauda Alfa Romeo Spider is #218 of 350 Produced and sold worldwide.
Better still, this is a Two-Owner example with only 49,148 miles
The car is completely original including its Carman Red exterior paint, decals and virtually as-new interior
This Spider Starts, Runs and Drives superb
We do really like these series 2 Spiders, and this seems to be a great example. The engine bay looks very clean, with plating still present on the clamps and fasteners. It retains its original SPICA fuel-injection system, which is good if it works, and not the worst system to troubleshoot if it should have some needs. In any case, a Spider is by far the easiest Alfa Romeo model to keep on the road in North America.
We are torn on this Spider, as it seems to be a really clean example of a cool special edition. It just doesn't seem worth the premium to us. But to the Niki Lauda fan who is also a Spider enthusiast, it could be worth the cash.
-Graham
If I hadn’t blown far too much money on my FJ-40, this would be mine.
Almost bought one leaving college in 1985. Went with a GTI instead. Good decision.
And yet I think the Spiders have outlasted the GTIs by quite a margin. I’d have gone with the GTI too