Miguel Sánchez
Halfway between New York and Toronto, the Watkins Glen circuit hosted the United States F1 GP for almost 20 years. Thanks to this, at least one weekend a year the spotlight of world motorsports fell on it, making it a perfect setting in order to promote itself in the American market. Something very well known by Alfa Romeo, which premiered its 2000 Spider Veloce “Niki Lauda Edition” taking advantage of the 1978 GP.
A special edition set in only 350 units among the more than 124.000 assigned to the Spider saga; able to evolve over 28 years to be the Alfa Romeo with the longest commercial life.
Likewise, the presentation of this commemorative series - only available to the American public - came to celebrate the incorporation of the Austrian driver into Brabham during that season. At that time, the team responsible for motorizing its BT46 with the 12 cylinders of the Italian house.
That said, it is best to go in parts in order to understand the context of this Spider since, in addition to telling us about Alfa Romeo's return to F1, it is also capable of giving us multiple clues about the technical challenges assumed by the brand with the intention of entering without homologation problems within that vital market in commercial terms.
1966, A NEW EMISSIONS LAW
Despite having an insistent technological tradition towards large displacements and generous consumption, the United States experimented with a new and more restrictive emissions law since 1966. Approved by the federal administration, this compromised the performance of the most sporty mechanics by placing emphasis on the improvement of processes such as catalyzing or carburetion.
What's more, that legislation caught European manufacturers off guard, who had to considerably reduce the power of their engines in order to adapt to the new environmental restrictions. In this way, from that moment on it began to be very common see two technical sheets for the same model: one intended for the European market and another, with reduced performance, for the American market.
However, since every obstacle tends to promote new solutions, it is fair to recognize how that circumstance accelerated not only the development of catalysts but also that of engine power. In fact, the massive application of direct injection replacing carburetors is not understood without events like this one or the Oil Crisis of 1973.
ALFA ROMEO AND THE AMERICAN MARKET
After the success of the British roadsters in the American market, Alfa Romeo sensed very well the commercial possibilities of a light and sporty convertible on the other side of the Atlantic. Thus, the launch of his Spider in 1966 was accompanied by a powerful advertising campaign aimed at the American public.
Among the splendor was included the boarding of three units on a promotional trip to New York - one red, one white and one green, thus making clear the commitment to everything Italian - and, of course, the prominence garnered on the screens after the premiere of The Graduate in 1967. Film in which, as another character, the Alfa Romeo Spider “Duetto” took over a multitude of shots in various scenes.
In any case, that honeymoon for the American public was quickly cut short by federal legislation approved, precisely, during the same year the model was presented. Under this context, the Italian house did not throw in the towel but rather redoubled its sporting commitment by using technology from the world of racing. Bravissimo!
SPICA, THE RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESTRICTIONS
Forced to comply with more restrictive emissions regulations, sports manufacturers were faced with a difficult situation. On the one hand there was the possibility of prioritizing the exhaust filters over the engine capacity; via this one that, even weighing down the power, solved the problem of American approval with very little investment.
However, on the other hand there was investing large doses of work and money in improving combustion looking for acceptable emissions without this resulting in a loss of power. An arduous and complex path although, at the same time, necessary if you wanted to be competitive in the long term.
At this point, Alfa Romeo turned to its Autodelta racing division, incorporating the Spica mechanical injection system into the Spider. Originally created by the Società Pompe Iniezione Cassani & Affini for use in tractors, this was based on a pump capable of introducing the right amount of fuel at all times and into each cylinder thanks to a complex system of plungers and pistons.
In short, an element fitted experimentally on some Type 33 racing cars and which, in a true technological display by Alfa Romeo, jumped onto the American Spiders at the end of the sixties. And yes, although the mechanical complexity increased in a very bold way, the truth is that the Spica allowed the required emissions to be met without excessively cutting power.
WITH SERIES 2 COMES COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT IN THE USA
Beyond the beauty of volumes, in the automotive industry there should be nothing more beautiful than effectiveness. Based on this, in 1969 the first update of the Spider adopted a tail cut in stylekammback" thus limiting the air vortices created by the gentle rear drop of the previous “Osso di Seppia”.
Likewise, a more generous engine in its displacement finally arrived, with the 2000 Spider Veloce appearing with 1.972 cc to, according to the model catalog in the United States, deliver power from low revs giving 149,14 Nm at 3.500 rpm with a compression ratio of 9.0:1.
A technical display finished off with up to 126 CV, capable of climbing happily in turns thanks to quasi-square cylinder dimensions -84 diameter by 88,5 stroke- as well as a clearly sporty gearbox.
Likewise, and even without respecting the aesthetics polished by Pininfarina, the second series Alfa Romeo Spider incorporated the bulky bumpers required by US safety regulations.
All this to add more than 38.000 units counting all engines, thus leaving an excellent commercial balance especially notable in relation to the American market. The one for which the Italian house even came to prepare specific designs like the Alfetta 2000 Iniezione America.
NIKI LAUDA SIGNS FOR BRABHAM WHEN LEAVING FERRARI
After winning the F1 world championship with Ferrari in 1975 and 1977, Niki Lauda signed for the British Brabham team for 1978. Commanded in its engineering by Gordon Murray, it was precisely during that year when it tested with formulas as ingenious as that of “fan" responsible for increasing downforce on the BT46B.
However, that lasted only one race - won by Niki Lauda - before being banned by the FIA, thus leaving the technical prominence of the BT46 to the Alfa Romeo engine with 12 cylinders and three liters derived from the one mounted on the Type 33 TT12 winner of the World Endurance Championship in 1975.
Possibly the culmination of the career of Carlo Chitti and, without a doubt, that of the prolific saga of the Type 33 born at the end of the sixties in addition to being responsible for the return of the Italian house to F1 in 1976 after having abandoned it in 1951 having won, with Fangio, the season of that year.
ALFA ROMEO 2000 SPIDER VELOCE “NIKI LAUDA EDITION”, A COMMERCIAL OPERATION
Reviewing the history of the Alfa Romeo Spider not many special editions seen. In fact, we have only counted three: two focused on the American market and one on the French one, the so-called “Beauty” from 1991 with an elegant color combination of blue and white.
However, focusing on the case at hand, the appearance in 1978 of the “Niki Lauda Edition” thus celebrating the signing of the driver by the team powered by Alfa Romeo. Only aimed at the US market, it sought to give a special touch to its 350 units by using a livery finished with the colors of the British team.
In addition, the dashboard included a numbered plate with the autograph of Niki Lauda himself, while the front wings also featured plates alluding to the commemorative nature of the version. On the other hand, and although there was not a single mechanical change Based on the 2000 Spider Veloce, attention is drawn to the installation of a fiberglass spoiler that would finally reach the entire range in the third series. In short, a delicious rarity for collectors.
Images gallery Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Veloce «Niki Lauda Edition»: Marshall Goldman.
