Biba Restorations Spider History

Biba Restorations

SERIES 1 THROUGH 4 SPIDER HISTORY

How did this car ever come into being and why does it have convex sides with a concave center section?

October 1961

The car on the right, originally known as the Giulietta Spider Speciale Aerodinamica, is considered the direct predecessor of the Duetto. It was designed by Pinin Farina and was presented at the Turin Motor Show in 1961. Details such as front bumpers / turn signals, headlights, and fixed glass targa top are the key differences from the production car.

	The coupe followed the Spider
and was shown at the Geneva Motor show in 1962.

1961 Giulietta Spider Speciale Aerodinamica.

While not shown, the 1952 Disco Volante or Flying Saucer, built by Touring, began Alfa's study of using convex flanks to improve the drag coefficient and to reduce the adverse effects of side winds. It's conceivable the extreme convex sides added unwanted lift. By reducing the degree of convex side detail and introducing the convex center, lift was decreased and introduced a unique styling approach.

Working backwards

The following four bodies were all clothed on this 1952 6C 3000 CM chassis.

This / these (there were five) racing chassis / drivetrains constructed. Fangio limped home to second place, the left front wheel flapping aimlessly with a broken tie rod in one of these machines at the Mille Miglia.

Once the race cars were 'decomminshed' they were used for various one-offs...except the fifth chassis which was used by Pinin Farina for four one-off design studies.

The Fourth

Above is the final Pinin Farina prototype on the fifth 6C 3000 Chassis. To confuse things the engines on all five chassis' had been enlarged to 3500, putting out around 270 hp. This is the Coupe Super Sport Special presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1960. While difficult to see, this body as on all four studies, is convex but without the concave center section.

Next column

The Third

This study is the Spider Super Sport, presented at the 1959 Geneva Motor Show.

The Second

The Super Flow II was exhibited in 1956 and is obviously a considerably more conservative styling exercise than the SSI below.

The First

The Super Flow I as exhibited earlier in 1956. This Pinin Farina's first (and most outrageous) bodywork on the 6C 3000 chassis included a completely transparent top with 'normal opening' doors but gullwing type side windows, along with partially transparent front fenders.

Note, BR believes this to be the first iteration of the combination convex / concave side concept.

Should you have come through the Spider Super Sport 'door' to get to this page, you're now at full circle.

Please note the twin headrests.

This car, which currently resides in the Museum at Arese, was reputedly hammered together at the eleventh hour by Colli - an outside custom bodyshop used by Alfa for the 1953 Mille Miglia.

Spider Super Sport Project

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