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Car · From barn to road: full restoration
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider
Pulled out of an old shed, covered in dust and rust, this Giulietta Spider was brought back to sound metal, renewed in its mechanics and interior, and painted red.
- Model
- Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Pininfarina design
- Built
- 1955–1962
- Engine
- 4-cylinder twin cam, 1290 cc
- Colour
- Red, black hood, black interior with red piping
- Work
- Metalwork, paint, mechanics, suspension, interior
- Restoration
- Full
The story
The Giulietta Spider, launched in 1955 with lines by Pininfarina, is one of the best-loved Italian spiders: small, light and with Alfa's 1300 cc twin-cam engine under the bonnet.
This one was recovered from an old shed, among planks and tools, and brought to the workshop on a lorry. Rust had attacked the doors, wheel arches and chassis rails, and under the red, older layers of paint were showing. It was taken completely apart, repaired and rebuilt down to the last detail.
The restoration step by step
From barn to road
- Step 1 of 5
The recovery
From the shed to the workshop on a lorry. The job was clear at first sight: holed metal, baked paint and, under the red, older layers of colour.
the trip to the workshop, on a lorry 
older paint showing under the red - Step 2 of 5
The shell on the rotisserie
With every part removed, the shell goes on the rotisserie. Doors, wheel arches and chassis rails show where the rust has gone right through.
the bare shell on the rotisserie 
a wheel arch eaten by rust 
the chassis rail under the shell, to be repaired 
a door with holed metal - Step 3 of 5
New metal
The rotten parts are cut out and remade: hand-shaped sections, a rebuilt floor, wings straightened and prepared for primer.
the floor rebuilt in new steel 
hand-shaped metal sections 
a new section of floor, welded in place 
the wing during the metalwork - Step 4 of 5
Mechanics and suspension
The shell, now red, receives the overhauled rear axle and front suspension; the engine bay is clean and tidy again.
the engine bay with the twin cam refitted 
the rear axle with springs and dampers 
the overhauled front suspension - Step 5 of 5
Reassembly
Red carpet, dashboard and instruments, wiring, bumpers and chrome: the car comes back together piece by piece.
the red body during reassembly 
dashboard and red carpet during reassembly 
the gear lever with a new gaiter 
the rear with bumper and period plate
As it is today
Do you have a classic spider sitting in a garage?
Even after years off the road it can be saved: Mimmo assesses the metal and mechanics and handles the whole restoration, including for clients in Switzerland. Tell him about your car.
More restorations
This is only a small selection: over the years Mimmo has restored many more cars and trucks, and we'll keep adding them from the workshop's photo books.
