Introduced in 1958, the 102 Series 2000 succeeded the celebrated 1900 in Alfa Romeo’s model line. The 2000 was available in three body styles, including the short-wheelbase spider, and it was powered by the manufacturer’s highly developed 2-liter inline-four-cylinder engine. The spider coachwork, built by Touring of Milan, was characterized by lavish details like twin hood scoops, a split front bumper, and four chrome-lined non-functional vents behind each front wheel. With 3,443 examples built through 1962, the 2000 Spider was one of the rarer postwar models to emerge from Milan, bolstering its status as a collectable today.

According to a wealth of original paperwork, including the importer’s invoice and a 1960 purchase order and retail contract, as well as a certificate of origin issued by Alfa Romeo in June 2019, chassis number 00541 was built in May 1959 with coachwork finished in Giallo Paglierino (straw yellow) paint. Delivered a month later to Max Hoffman’s famed import company in New York, the 2000 Spider was sold in May 1960 through dealer Johnny Lail to Karl Schwerdtfeger, a young architect residing in Pasadena, California.

Schwerdtfeger went on to keep the Alfa Romeo for the rest of his life, and when the car was sold by his estate to the consignor in November 2010 it concluded an impressive period of 50 years of single-family ownership. The current owner, a marque enthusiast based in Henderson, Nevada, treated the spider to a comprehensive restoration that addressed every mechanical and cosmetic component. The original engine was rebuilt with new piston rings, valves, and guides. The suspension was refurbished with new Koni shocks, and the brakes were rebuilt. The windshield was replaced, the brightwork was re-chromed, and the gauges and original Blaupunkt Koln radio were reconditioned. The coachwork was repainted in a soft yellow closely matching the original factory color, while the interior was reupholstered in Roser-type black leather with grey Wilton wool carpeting. The soft top frame was restored and fitted with a new canvas top, and new Borrani wire wheels were mounted (including a matching spare).

Following completion of the restoration in 2020, the Alfa Romeo was presented at the 2021 Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance, winning a class award. Accompanied by a toolkit, jack, owner’s manual, and a California black plate, this well-documented 2000 Spider still displays the benefits of 50 years of single ownership, and a lifetime in the forgiving climate of the southwestern United States. It would make a fantastic acquisition for any marque enthusiast or collector of fine automobiles, offering an exquisite slice of La Dolce Vita.