When husband Gijs secretly sold the Jaguar XK 140, the rally fun seemed to be over for Eveline van den Bergh. She made one thing clear to herself: to buy her own classic sports car and ensure that it can never get away from her again. A Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 emerged as the best candidate. Fast enough that you can run away if anyone so much as lifts a finger.
Text & photography: Aart van der Haagen
If only the photos were this ravishing Alfa If you don't yet place Romeo Spider 1750 on a pedestal, remember that the model completely fell in love with the famous British economist Sir Eric Wyndham White (1913-1980) and his wife, the American actress Tina Thayer Gibson (1923-2003).
Specifically this one Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 was parked in the garage at their house in Geneva from November 9, 1969, immediately after delivery by the local Alfa Romeo dealer P. Scaramiglia. “They didn't enjoy it together for a long time, because they divorced in 1970,” says the current, third owner. “He was left with the car and he regularly drove it up and down to his country house in the south of France, until he died in the swimming pool there in 1980 of a heart attack.
Daughter Carolyne had the Spider returned to Switzerland and used it for years until she decided to sell it in 2017.” Once again, the silver-gray sports car with matching numbers fell into the hands of a lady: Lisa Chevalley from Perroy.
Annoyed
Okay, let's jump back in time. “Gijs and I love to participate in recreational classic rallies,” says Eveline van den Bergh. “We liked to use his Jaguar XK 140 for that, but during a maintenance service at Lex Classics a customer fell in love with it. He made an offer and Gijs agreed. You don't know how angry I was. However, I had built up some savings and decided to look for my own classic.”
The hunt initially focused on the Fiat Dino Spider. “In the company of our good friend Anthony Mak van Waay, who has a great view of Italian vintage cars, we visited fairs to view candidates. However, I thought the prices were far too high and the ones we saw did not make the right impression.” The personal advisor suggested an alternative to those two Alfa- quickly made hearts beat faster. “He said, 'Forget the Fiat and look at one Alfa Romeo Spider 1750; the most popular version with the best engine.' As far as I was concerned, that had to be a 'boat tail'.”
Reputation
One specific one Alfa Romeo Spider was ogling louder than any other, in Switzerland. “We received at least a hundred photos. The seller was chairman of the Duetto-Club Schweiz and offered this copy on behalf of Lisa Chevalley. From that role within club life, he of course had a reputation to lose and that thought strengthened our confidence that things were going well. I hesitated for a moment, but Anthony urged me to take the plunge and why not? The money was ready in my piggy bank.” This Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 fully meets the requirements of the third owner, who is the boss in her own eye-catcher. Don't think that anything will ever happen to or with this car without her knowledge.
The whole story of Eveline and her Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 can be read in the March issue of Auto Motor Klassiek. It's on newsstands now.
There is also one driving around here, I think the owner has had it for 35 years, boat-tail, headlight lenses, and…. 1750 Nord. Smoking he did, did… beautiful targa, one of the most beautiful ever!
Dear March, you will only find a targa in type 2, “Boottail” is actually assigned to the Buick Riviera 1971-1973. And which place do you mean where that “smoker” drives? (it is usually due to insufficient use, then the valve seals dry out). Grtz.😉 jp
cq ; or. valve cover and air filter
the following: try to find the spoke crommodara axle, or find the original steel rims. And I think I still have the hubcaps + outside mirror
Remains one of the most beautiful! Also in terms of driving! In the 80s and 90s, we drove 1000 kilometers through the Pyrenees, the Dolomites, the coasts of Spain, and east and west Italy, of course through Tuscany. Had it for almost 14 years, never had a single cent of pain, obviously with loving ownership. When we still drove with the hood down with 160 dd tunnels...... non lo dimentichiamo mai!
Tanto divertimento amorevole 🤩