1988 Alfa Romeo Spider Quadrifoglio Verde
There may be some disagreement about why exactly the Quadrifoglio Verde (Green Cloverleaf) badge has become such a legendary emblem for Alfa Romeo, but there can be no arguing that it has adorned some of the marque’s greatest models.
In 1986 the ever-popular Alfa Romeo Spider got it’s own QV addition to the range. Easily differentiated from the “vanilla” 115-Spiders by the addition of the chunkier bodykit (front and rear splitters, sideskirts), the unique 15” pepperpot alloys and the Patrick-Bateman-style interior. Contrasting a vibrantly blood-red carpet with grey-leather upholstery detailied with red stitching - the only way it could get any more 80s is if a colour-coded filofax, shoulder pads and ashtray were thrown into the mix. It was great to see this 1988 example in our workshop this week surviving largely unscathed and with all the period-correct details intact.
Even more impressive considering it’s current mileage reading. A lot of Alfa Romeos of this vintage have long since been moth-balled into early retirement, used with kid gloves on only the driest and sunniest of holidays. The owners of this Spider (just the third since new), though, have thankfully ignored that advice, clocking up north of 120,000 miles in it and showing no signs of shelving it just yet!
It came to us for some minor MoT work including repairing the wipers, adjustig the headlamp aim (how many Spiders still get used regularly in the rain and dark?!), fitting a new front upper suspension arm and replacing a worn prop shaft bearing support. In undertaking these repairs we also noticed it required a new diff’ pinion seal, rear axle straps and bump stops. After this, we refreshed all the fluid and oils (including diff’ and gearbox) to make sure it could continue clocking up the trouble-free miles for its owners.
We love seeing an old classic like this still used and enjoyed exactly as intended. Long may it continue and we look forward to helping the owners keep it that way in any we possibly can.
