The Alfa Romeo 2600, or 'Type 106', was introduced at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show. Serving as the successor to the eccentric Alfa Romeo 2000, the 2600 took it up a notch while keeping a design quite similar, which, given its charisma, was not a problem at all. It proudly featured Alfa Romeo's last-ever straight-six engine with dual overhead camshafts, making it a true flagship for Alfa Romeo during the 1960s.
The design, as expected, was crafted by experienced Italian designer at Bertone, and inspiration was not taken too far. The 2000 had already met the market's demands excellently, therefore, there was no reason in changing it drastically. The only notable change was the air intake on the hood, which was streamlined into one. For the engine, they opted for a six-cylinder inline powerplant, which eventually happened to be the last one Alfa Romeo ever built with dual overhead camshafts. This Italian six-cylinder engine was also carefully inspired from Alfa Romeo's automotive history. A completely new engine had the pleasure of driving the 2600, with 2584 cc of displacement—a definite success, especially in the early 1960s.
Throughout the production run from 1962 to 1968, the 2600 was available in various body styles. Initially, there was the four-door sedan known as the Berlina, followed by the two-door coupe called the Sprint, and the Spider, which was the convertible version. Additionally, a few variations of the 2600 were built, but they never truly made it to the market.
Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider
The Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider is the convertible model in the 2600 series. Apart from the Sprint, it was the best-selling of the three variants, with 2,255 units sold. Unlike the standard Berlina, the Spider, along with the Sprint, featured a powerful trio of three carburettors instead of two. This upgrade boosted the engine’s power, taking it from 130 to 145 hp.
Considering the limited production of the Spider models, the fact that it marked the end of Alfa Romeo's DOHC six-cylinder story, and its avant-garde and futuristic design for that time, this car certainly has acquired an important place in Alfa Romeo's history.
Technical information:
Body work
Mechanics