Introduced in 1962, the Alfa Romeo 2600 traces its origins back to the earlier 2000—itself a 1958 update of the venerable 1900. However, the 2600 had something which earlier models lacked: Specifically, a double-overhead camshaft six-cylinder engine, which gave it smoothness, flexibility, and a top speed of 125 mph. This 2.6-liter engine fit neatly into the same engine compartment as the 2000’s four-cylinder and had been developed from the Giulietta engine, suggesting that the designers had a six-cylinder in mind for the model from the start. Styling was also Giulietta-derived, as the 2600 added single-piece bumpers, built-in driving lights, and a single air intake perched near the front of the elongated hood.

The 2600 was fitted with a smooth five-speed gearbox and also featured four-wheel disc brakes—a first for street Alfa Romeos. It was offered as a sharp-edged berlina sedan, which was styled in-house, a Bertone-penned coupe, which was one of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s first designs, and the handsome 2600 spider by Touring. In comparison to the smaller Giulietta and then Giulia, the 2600 was a high-speed cruiser, or grand routiere, suitable for a quick and comfortable jaunt down to the south of France for a weekend.

This supremely presentable, attractive, and well-documented example offered here was completed on 18 March 1964 and is clad in factory-correct Grigio Medio over Nero leather with a matching black cloth top and factory hard top clad in stunning burgundy paint. Destined for the US, its accompanying history file shows that it was retained by the same California owner from 1972 until 2006, whereupon it passed to its next owner who commissioned the restoration from which it benefits today. Executed over a five-year period by Alfetta Motors in Vallejo, California, this restoration is documented by accompanying invoices and photos which illustrate complete rebuilds of the running gear, 2.6-liter engine and five-speed transmission, as well as a bare-metal respray in the factory-correct shade of Grigio Medio.

The work completed proved to be a concours-winning effort when this 2600 Spider scored 100.6 points at the 2013 Concorso d’Alfa California, thereby securing a Certificate d’Oro and the admiration of myriad alfisti in attendance. This 2600 Spider is accompanied by a rare and desirable factory hard top, manuals, tool roll, service logs, restoration invoices, photo album, and factory correspondence. An ideal Alfa Romeo candidate for shows and tours alike, this attractive and masterfully restored 2600 Spider is undoubtedly one of the finest examples in existence.