1965 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring – Exterior and Interior – Classic Expo Salzburg 2021

Alfa Romeo arrived at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show with a surprise that hadn’t been seen from the brand since 1939: a new six-cylinder engine. Wrapped in Touring’s open Spider body, the Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring hid its updates so well that visitors had to play detective—until the starter turned and the all-aluminum DOHC straight-six made its point. Luxury first, speed second, and a very specific kind of Italian grand touring in between.

Technical Details:

The Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring is defined by its new engine, introduced for the 2600 range in 1962. It is a fully aluminum inline-six with a dual overhead camshaft layout, a major step away from the aging two-liter four-cylinder it effectively replaced in spirit and reputation. The six-cylinder’s character is emphasized as much by sound and delivery as by specifications: strong, smooth, and able to silence critics as soon as it fires. Displacement is 2,584 cm³, and the cylinder head is a crossflow design. On the intake side sits what the period description calls a real “carburetor battery”: three Solex 44 carburetors as standard, with Weber carburetors available on request. Correct synchronization is crucial for crisp running, and the text notes that this work—especially with the Solex setup—is not something every mechanic can do confidently. That servicing reality helped the Weber option find a wider circle of supporters among buyers.

In terms of performance, the engine’s output is given as 132 PS, and the Spider is described as capable of 200 km/h. The emphasis is less on sprinting than on sustained, confident pace. The driving experience is portrayed as substantial and deliberate: throttle movements feed three twin-carburetor circuits, responses arrive with a certain heaviness, and the car rises on its suspension under acceleration, with the nose lifting a touch more. That description fits the 2600 Spider’s role as a fast, refined open grand tourer rather than a lightweight sports machine. The underlying mechanical package is presented as durable, too, with the note that the motor has sufficient reserves and is suited to a long, reliable life when maintained properly.

• Manufacturer: Alfa Romeo
• Model name: Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring
• Year of manufacturing: 1962-1965

Design:

The Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring is described as the most elegant member of the six-cylinder trio shown at Geneva in 1962, and its visual changes are intentionally subtle. Compared with the earlier 2000 Spider, the 2600 Spider adopts slightly staggered twin headlights set on a gentle diagonal. The indicators move down to the bumper, and the two separate air openings of the 2000 Spider are joined into a single broad slot, tidying the nose. Side “gill” appliqués disappear, as does the upper of the two previously parallel chrome strips, leaving a cleaner flank. Two small opening quarter windows now frame the windshield, adding a functional, almost coachbuilt touch without changing the basic Touring profile. The text’s verdict is clear: the increasing simplicity suits the Spider’s clear design very well.

Inside, the changes are easier to appreciate. The 2600 Spider Touring gains new instrumentation with four round gauges set in chrome bezels, paired with a three-spoke steering wheel made of aluminum with a thermoplastic rim. From the driver’s seat, the low beltline and excellent all-around visibility play a recurring role in how the car is experienced: open, panoramic, and well suited to high-speed travel where the outside world is part of the appeal. Under the hood, the engine bay is also part of the visual story. The crossflow head sits alongside the triple-carburetor setup, creating an impression of purposeful complexity—an engine that looks as serious as it sounds.

Historical Significance:

The 2600 range matters because it brought Alfa Romeo back to a six-cylinder engine for the first time since 1939, and the Spider Touring carried that message in the most emotive form: open, elegant, and audibly different. Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1962, the six-cylinder powertrain was fitted to the Sprint, Spider, and sedan, all wearing only lightly revised bodies. For the Spider in particular, the updates were so restrained that showgoers reportedly needed close inspection to spot the differences—an approach that kept continuity with the outgoing 2000 Spider while signaling a new era through engineering rather than styling drama.

Within the 2600 family, the Spider occupies a clearly defined role. The sedan is presented as the place where exterior retouches are most obvious, while the Spider is framed as the refined, elegant expression of the new six-cylinder idea. The brand’s positioning is explicit in the text: the 2600 is not sold as a nimble lightweight, but as a representative, comfortable, prestigious car—except the Spider delivers that same “state-making” engine in a lighter, more intimate format. Production figures are included for the Spider: 2,257 examples were built, underlining that this was always a specialist grand touring car rather than a mass-market sports model.

Quirks and Pop Culture:

The Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring comes with built-in conversation starters, starting with its place in Alfa Romeo’s own timeline: it is frequently framed as the last inline-six roadster in the brand’s production story, combining a sonorous straight-six character with a more luxurious brief than the smaller Alfa Spiders. It also has a mechanical quirk that owners learn quickly: triple carburetors reward careful synchronization and punish casual tuning. The text is blunt about it—especially with Solex components, not every mechanic will manage the setup well—so buyers historically gravitated toward Weber carburetors as the friendlier choice.

On the road, some owners compare the 2600 Spider’s demeanor to an exclusive motor yacht. That’s not a claim of vagueness; it’s a description of pace and presence. The throttle response is slightly heavy, the engine answers with a rich sound, the car lifts on its springs, and the experience is about traveling quickly with comfort and visibility rather than chasing sharp turn-in. In period commentary, the car’s refinement and high-speed ability drew praise, while its weight, softer handling feel, and price invited criticism—especially as the market shifted in the mid-1960s toward smaller, more agile sports cars. That tension is part of the model’s modern appeal: the 2600 Spider Touring is compelling precisely because it sits slightly apart from the classic “light roadster” stereotype.

Display and preservation:

The vehicle was exhibited at the Classic Expo Salzburg in 2021. As one of Austria’s premier classic car events, the show has established itself as a central meeting point for collectors, restorers, and enthusiasts from across Central Europe. The 2021 edition took place at Messezentrum Salzburg and featured more than 250 exhibitors, along with a strong turnout of over 20,000 visitors. Attendees could explore a broad range of offerings—from historical vehicles and motorcycles to automobilia, spare parts, and literature.

Conclusion:

The Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring is a Geneva 1962 statement delivered in a quiet voice: minimal styling tweaks, major engineering change. Its all-aluminum DOHC inline-six, triple-carburetor induction, and 200 km/h capability define the car’s technical identity, while Touring’s cleaned-up Spider shape and upgraded instrumentation carry the grand touring mood. Historically, it marks Alfa Romeo’s return to a six-cylinder after 1939 and stands as the elegant open member of the 2600 trio, produced in limited numbers. For anyone searching an Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring that prioritizes sound, smooth power delivery, and high-speed comfort over razor-edge agility, the brief is clear—and true to the period.