The Alfa Romeo Spider became famous in the U.S. after it was driven by Dustin Hoffman in the 1967 box-office hit movie “The Graduate”. The second generation came in 1970 and it was even better.

While the first generation was not fast enough for American tastes, the second generation was improved in every way. A sleeker bodywork, better engines, and more features made the car a darling for everyone. Last, but not least, it was way more fuel-efficient than American cars.

Its low beltline, with a flat hood and two round headlights at the front, the Spider had an unmistakable stance. The little nimble Italian roadster featured a small cabin fit for two passengers and a flat trunk lid, slightly sloped.

The car was launched as a two-seater, but in 1975 it received another pair of seats in the back. It was the most commonly used luggage compartment for the driver. But the Italians didn’t cut any corners and it offered the same attention to details, with hand-crafted leather upholstery and manual stitches.

The first models in 1970 were fitted with a 1.8-liter unit and, in 1971, the 2.0-liter version with a fuel injection system was launched. It was the 2000 Spider Veloce version. The engine was mated to a 5-speed manual only.