Alfa Romeo Spider 105/115 Series 3 (1983–1989)
The Series 3 brought aerodynamic styling to the established Alfa Romeo Spider, with integrated bumpers, a prominent rear spoiler and later Quadrifoglio Verde versions.
The Aerodinamica generation
The Series 3 was the aerodynamic revision of the Alfa Romeo Spider, succeeding the 105/115 Series 2. Known as Aerodinamica, it continued the established open sports-car line rather than introducing an unrelated model. Alfa Romeo dates this series to 1983–1989 in its official anniversary history.
Its significance lies in carrying the Pininfarina Spider into the 1980s through aerodynamic body revisions while preserving its recognizable identity. The 105/115 designation identifies the wider vehicle family; Series 3 identifies this stage of its development.
Bodywork and the 1986 revision
The defining features were a larger front spoiler, integrated bumpers and a contrasting black rear spoiler. Alfa Romeo’s retrospective relates the changes both to aerodynamic fashion and to American-market requirements.
The Spider 2000 Quadrifoglio Verde appeared at Geneva in 1986. Offered in Europe and the United States, it added side skirts, revised front and rear treatments, larger black mirrors and electric windows. It remained a version within Series 3. The 1986 update also brought revised seats, door panels and a consolidated instrument cluster. These changes distinguish later cars from the original Series 3 specification. See Alfa Romeo’s Series 3 history.
Engines and market distinctions
The Alfa Romeo Owners Club’s 105-series register lists 1.6- and 2.0-litre Spiders for 1983–1986, followed by 1.6, 2.0, 2.0 Quadrifoglio Verde and 2.0i Cat entries for 1986–1989. These are distinct engine and equipment configurations within the generation, not interchangeable specifications.
The American range included Graduate, Veloce and Quadrifoglio versions of the 2.0-litre Spider. Graduate was the basic offering, with manual windows, vinyl upholstery and steel wheels; the more expensive versions added equipment. These American trim names should not be treated as a universal catalogue for every country. Alfa Romeo’s 2013 retrospective documents these distinctions.
Engineering continuity
The Spider retained the line’s rear-wheel-drive layout, five-speed gearbox, independent front suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. Its engines belonged to Alfa Romeo’s four-cylinder twin-cam family.
Fuel-system changes did not coincide neatly with body-series changes. Scott Johnson’s 105/115 Spider FAQ, written primarily around American cars, places the American switch from SPICA mechanical injection to Bosch electronic injection in 1982, before the 1983 body revision. Electronic injection alone therefore does not identify a Series 3. The car remained a two-seat convertible; a detachable hardtop was offered with certain specifications, including the American Quadrifoglio.
Production and dating
The Spider was an Italian production programme involving Alfa Romeo at Arese and Pininfarina in Turin. The manufacturer’s anniversary account describes those locations for the Spider line as a whole; it does not allocate Series 3 assembly by plant.
This record uses 1983–1989 as the series period. The successor’s boundary needs qualification: Alfa Romeo’s 2026 history starts Series 4 in 1989, while its 2013 account describes a 1990 debut. These retrospective dates should not be converted into a universal model-year cutoff. Build date, market designation and registration year should be recorded separately for an individual car.
