By the dawn of the 1950s, Alfa Romeo looked little like its pre-war self. Gone were ferocious engines and body-on frame designs; they were replaced with a sophisticated twin-cam four cylinder and the brand’s first foray into monocoque design. Despite a push toward the mainstream, which was necessitated by a changed economic climate in Europe, Alfa Romeo continued to possess the same spirit that had guided it to numerous grand prix victories prior to World War II.

Alfa Romeo's new small-car lineup arrived to much fanfare in 1954 with the introduction of the stately Giulietta Sprint Coupe. A year later, a sedan, or berlina, version debuted, but the automotive world was turned on end a few months after, when a Pininfarina-designed giulietta spider was unveiled, first in prototype form, at the 1956 Turin Salon.

The production model that hit the road shortly thereafter stayed true to the prototype. Riding on a slightly shortened wheelbase than the Sprint and Berlina, the Spider was neatly and elegantly styled, with many design cues characteristic of Pininfarina. Underhood, the Spider initially offered Alfa Romeo’s 80-horsepower, 1,290-cubic centimeter four-cylinder. A drop-top was later available for a Veloce with more power and a number of lightweight components, although styling modifications were limited to a hood scoop. The Giulietta Spider eventually became the Giulia Spider, although the name change wasn’t accompanied by a full-scale redesign. As a result, the Spider's basic look continued for almost a decade before being replaced by the Duetto.

After being painted Alfa Romeo's characteristic red and assembled in Italy on June 17, 1957, this Giulietta Spider made its way over the Atlantic via official American market importer Hoffman Motors. Although not much is known about its early history, the Giulietta Spider wound up in Vermont in the hands of the daughter of IBM’s founder in the 1990s. She doted on the little roadster, which is evidenced by the large stack of service invoices that will be included with the sale. A handful of subsequent owners treated the car to a mechanical and electrical overhaul, as well as a bare metal repaint in its original red color, keeping with confirmation that was provided by Alfa Romeo’s Marco Fazio.

The Giulietta Spider’s previous caretaker brought the car up to its current high standard by installing the correct upholstery with red piping, carpeting, and a new top boot. This Alfa Romeo is mechanically ready to go, thanks to a recent brake rebuild, and it continues to present exceedingly well. This Giuiletta Spider, swathed in its factory-correct shade, is a time capsule back to 1957, and it is ready for a most discerning next owner.