Alfa Romeo 1600 Spider “Duetto”
A low, round-tailed roadster that paired Pininfarina curves with Alfa Romeo’s lively twin-cam engine.
1966 Alfa Romeo 1600 Spider Duetto at the Alfa Romeo Museum · Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0 International
More than a set of wheels.
Alfa Romeo presented the new 1600 Spider at the Geneva Motor Show in 1966. The nickname Duetto came from a public naming competition, though Alfa soon sold it simply as the Spider 1600. Pininfarina shaped the body, while the engine, five-speed gearbox, rear-wheel drive and four disc brakes came from Alfa’s sporting mechanical tradition.
Look a little closer.
The first cars travelled from Genoa to New York aboard the Italian liner Raffaello, where invited guests could see them on deck and try them during the voyage’s stops.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A shorter wheelbase for a two-seater
The Spider used Giulia Sprint GT mechanicals, but Pininfarina shortened the wheelbase to 2,250 mm. That helped turn the ingredients of a coupé into a compact open two-seater.
Source: Alfa Romeo Heritage · Spider 1600 Duetto ↗Brakes at all four corners
All four wheels use disc brakes. The front suspension is independent, while the rear wheels are driven. Together with the five-speed gearbox, these were serious sports-car features in the mid-1960s.
Source: Alfa Romeo Heritage · Spider 60th anniversary ↗Where these facts come from
- Alfa Romeo Heritage · Spider 1600 Duetto
- Alfa Romeo Museum · 1600 Spider Duetto
- Alfa Romeo Heritage · Spider 60th anniversary
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.