How rare are early Spiders?

[AlfaNeely@domain.elided]

In a message dated 3/8/2003 2:01:25 PM Central Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:

> Date: Sat, 08 Mar 2003 11:21:29 -0500
> From: "John E. Newhagen" <newhagen@domain.elided>
> Subject: How rare are early Spiders?
> 
> I just got bushwhacked in the last 10 seconds of an eBay auction for a 
> mediocre
> 72-72 spider rear bumper. It went for $285. Reoriginals wants $700. I 
> have been
> searching for one for my '73 for years. (The current bumper has a nasty 
> kink in the middle.)
> 
> This puts me to wondering just how rare 71-74 spiders are (this may 
> apply back to 69, the
> first year the kamm tail was introduced. Is that right?)
> It just seems that during the last few years I just don't see them up 
> for sale, in good or bad condition,
> plus the problem of finding parts specific to them. It seems to me there 
> are more boat tails floating around.
> I just wonder if the disappearance of this particular series, noted at 
> the beginning by the redesign of the
> tail, and at the end by styling and trim compromises to federal 
> regulations, isn't a carefully guarded secret?
> 
> John
> 73 Alfa Spider
> 

       The older the car gets, the harder finding parts is going to be.  
Check the prices of Giulietta parts on eBay if you do not believe me.
       I am convinced that eBay's auction mentality tends to promote overly 
high prices.  Just my personal, not at all humble opinion.
       The European spiders continued the same style through about 1981 when 
both continents went to the Rubber Duckie body style.  You might have more 
luck finding a bumper in Europe.  Write to some of the sellers on eBay who 
are obviously in Europe.  There are also a number of European suppliers 
around.
       For what it is worth, the 71 bumpers can be made to work.  However, 
they do not have the extra bolt that attaches the front tip of the bumper.  
Or maybe I have that backwards.
       Pack rat that I am, I just remembered I have a couple of 71 bumpers in 
my garage, but I cannot get at them at the moment to check about the bolts.

       
Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City
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