1987 Alfa Romeo Spider

Great question! As an ‘87 Spider Series 3 owner-to-be, here’s what you should keep an eye out for:

The Big One: Rust

This is the #1 killer of Alfa Spiders. Focus on:

• Front crossmember under the radiator
• Chassis legs running back from the engine bay
• Floors and sills — these are structural for rigidity
• Door bottoms, wheel arches, and panel edges
• The spare wheel well — especially where the towing eye is welded (it can pull right off if rotted!)

Since the car you’re looking at is listed as Original & Highly Original, hopefully it’s been garaged!

Engine & Mechanical

• Oil seepage — The twin-cam engine is famously “sweaty.” It may look like leaks but it’s often just seepage around the finned sump
• Head gasket — Not uncommon to fail; check for oil/water mixing
• Timing chain — Can get noisy, but adjustable
• Cooling — Use proper corrosion-inhibiting coolant, not plain water (alloy engine!)

Electrical & Interior

• Fuel gauge — Swings wildly when cornering (no buffer in the circuitry)
• Electric windows — Slow operation usually means worn cables
• Trim — Switchgear and detail parts can be tricky to source

Convertible Top

• Plastic rear window can crack in cold weather when folding
• Pivot points need regular lubrication

The good news? At 76,500 miles with Original & Highly Original status, this looks like a well-preserved example. The Series 3 Spider’s 2.0L twin-cam with Bosch injection is pretty robust when maintained!

Want me to find some other Series 3 Spiders for comparison, or help with anything else about this car?