re: Italo-English Translation

["Wille. R." <veloce@xxxxxxxxx>]

>3.    I've always assumed the 'spider' automotive term related 
>to the animal, maybe I'm off the mark ?
>
>My father always said that the British were the first to nickname 
>convertibles or other small quick cars as 'speeders'. Tell an 
>Italian to spell 'speeder' and you will get 'spider'. This is the 
>most plausibleexplanation I've heard.


From www.veloce.se

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The word "Spider", like so many coach-building terms, comes from 
the days of horse-drawn vehicles, when a Spider was a light two- 
or four-wheel carriage, with no entomological associations. It was 
an English or possibly American term which found its automotive 
application in Europe, especially in Italy.

Some Italians say the word comes from "speed", which becomes 
"speeder" or "Spider".

The facts are, that it is Spider and not Spyder because of an 
official statement by National Federation of Body makers in 1924 
in Milan (Italy), that declared the word to be written that way. 
The "y" was not in the Italian alphabet since it was a fascist and 
nationalist period. It's, as you know, the equivalent for 
"roadster", "speedster" or "two-seater". Spyder comes from a kind 
of horse-cab manufactured by Holmes in Dublin (Ireland), 
developing an idea born in GB in 1860 as a mix of the Tilbury-type 
cab (two seats, two wheels) with the phaeton (four seats). Holmes 
named his cabs "Spyders", as they resembled "Spiders" for their 
large and light wheels and the body (very light) suspended among 
them. The Spyder had two "main" seats (with a "cabriolet" cover)+ 
2 "emergency" seats on the rear, for the "valets". So, when that 
decision was taken in 1924, they thought to oppose to 
"Anglicanism" but, as a matter of fact, they "corrected" Mr. 
Holmes! Thanks John Hertzman 


Veni, vidi, veloce 
Saluti   Wille R in Scandinavia

Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider Veloce 1967
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http://www.veloce.se

http://www.duettoregister.com
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