The Best Of Jaguar and Alfa - But Which Should You Pick? Duetto Spider Vs Jaguar E-type
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Both cars were made in the 60s, the Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider has a dainty little 1600cc 4 cylinder engine, against the Jaguar E-Type 3.8 L inline six, yet in terms of price they were competitors at the time. Can the Alfa Duetto Spider Match Or Even Best The Iconic Jaguar E-Type? Today I try both and find out which one makes the best classic..
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I suspect the E-type is like living with a super model, great to look at but mostly a nightmare. They are cramped, build quality was suspect and they are pricey to keep on the road. The Alfa is pretty, affordable a great drive and doesn't get the attention an E-type would. I have sat in an E admittedly it was a fixed head, I was surprised how close the screen was and how little room there is, I am just over 6 foot and I didn't like the experience. My friend has a restomod one and he never drives it despite it having modern brakes etc too cramped, too much attention and too expensive to leave it in Tesco's car park. It sits in his garage ....leaking.
I think the Alfa would be a better real world choice for me anyway.
Great film as always Jack and nice to see a period comparison.
I have a guilia spider, and have owned a mk2 and an 67 s type. The cost of ownership is one thing that you omitted in your review, my Alfa spider is so cheap to maintain compared to 60’s jags. They also don’t need to be driven as often to keep up and running. With the Alfa I have no hesitation driving it after a year of sitting.
No customer E-type had 265bhp, Jaguar lied. About 220bhp was closer to the truth. Also the E-type's independent front suspension is sprung by torsion bars, a torsion beam is quite different and found at the back of some front-wheel drive cars.
With the Moss gearbox it's always best to go into second before selecting first, reverse is left and forward but there isn't much distance between reverse and first, so many an E-type has unexpectedly departed in the wrong direction. Also going into second from neutral stops the layshaft from spinning and means you shouldn't get a crunch going into 1st. Also the Moss box will not be rushed. Jaguar's all-synchro box is easier to live with.
I wonder if there was something wrong with "your" E-type, I've driven several and none have had sloppy steering, although it is tyre sensitive (ideally good quality crossplies).
As for the Alfa, it might have a live axle, but the axle is well located so not necessarily such a disadvantage. Seeing the Duetto reminded me of a drive I had in a Giulia Sprint Speciale, which was a 1300 with a peaky cam. That needed rowing along with the gear lever but really gave you the "mini-Ferrari" vibes.
I think I'd prefer the Alfa, given the price difference, it's more likely that I could afford one.
Intelligent and well-informed comments! And interesting that the Alfa is now the bargain buy as the original late 60s market value propositions have swapped round completely.
I love Alfas and have had a nice 2.0 Spider but I would not pay a significant premium for a Duetto or 1750 Kamm tail. I think that the Alfa Spider´s reputation now is higher than at any point in its lifetime, where cost, quality issues and rust devalued them very quickly.
Thanks for the compliment. I also like Alfas because they are solidly engineered and designed. Alfa owners are pleasingly open to modifications and uncaring about matching numbers.
I agree that others should pay the fashion premium for Duetto and early Kamm tail spiders. A few simple tweeks to an S3 and you have a very competent sports car, hope you continue to enjoy yours.
I’m restoring a 1750 version of the s1 duetto. Having spoken to an owner of both he preferred the duetto. However despite all this I would have the jaguar for its looks mainly if it wasn’t for the cost now. The Alfa really was far more advanced in many ways. Bit of a shame you didn’t have a mint one vs the e type.
Yes, it is the Jag's looks that have raised it's vintage price. Enzo was right about that.
@@boyracer3477 And the Jag is genuinely fast. Also, the Jag's suspension can be upgraded via shocks and bushings to tighten it up.
@@thomassuit7450but so can the alfa. Its also got greater after market support to increase power as well. The engines that went into these werent the top tier alfa engines..
@Coolbeans1492 True, there is all kinds of support for the Alfa. My point about the Jag being a genuinely fast car is that stock, it was a 150 mph car. It was designed to race at Le Mans.
Yes, you can tune an Alfa Spider to be faster. Equally, you can tune an E-type to be faster.
That said, a tuned Alfa Spider is probably more fun on a windy road.
@@thomassuit7450 thing is even back then if you wanted a fast alfa you wouldn’t go for the spider then you had the sprint and gtas
This is such an unfair comparison. Obviously The Graduate is a better movie than Austin Powers.
Hang on . Austin Powers drove a , Shaguar .
Why is it unfair, if both cost the same back in the 60s?
Umm. Yes. But Shakespeare, Churchill, The Beatles…. And Jaguar. The E type made Enzo himself cry.
@@bernardboka4277 It captures me more as I get older, too. I would always have gone for any of your cars, or a Spider 2000, in my twenties, but the E-type's originality and timeless beauty has become impossible to ignore.
This model of shape come since 1950 in models Alfa Romeo and protótipos never factores Very futuros with top in plaxiglass designed Pininfarina, interesting tô see airdinamic lines for years.
I own a 1972 S2 Spider Junior, so am a little biased. In 2019 we did a trip to Italy and back in it with the Alfa owners Club. A truly memorable experience.
I would buy the Duetto in a heartbeat. The fun factor of using "all the power all the time", and the greater degree of driver involvement (the live real axle notwithstanding), would seal the deal. Not to cast aspersions on the grandtouring manners of the E-type - it is a phenominal vehicle - but the more sporty nature of the Alpha driving experience win's my vote. Another entertaining and instructive comparison. Well done Jack!
Me too on the Alfa, dad had the XKE for a bit, it was a handful, would overheat, short out on Lucas electrics, and was dangerously twitchy in the curves. A beautiful girl with a borderline personality.
cost aside, I think the better comparison is a mid-sixties Triumph TR4 to the Alfa Romeo. I have had both a 1966 TR4A and an a 1966 Alfa Romeo GTV. The technology of the AR far surpassed the Triumph and the drive of the AR is so much more exciting (The Triumph is somewhat agricultural). To this day, I find the Alfa to be the perfect car for fun driving on the road (as opposed to the track). It moves around in corners, you can run through the gears without getting into illegal speeds and it keeps you on your toes. For me, a lightweight, small displacement car is the sweet spot.
It was the price in UK, but in Italy the E Type was much, much more expensive than the Duetto. At the time there were heavy taxes on export and the prices are not easy to compare.
Throw a Triumph TR5 in there for comparison or even a well sorted TR4/4A…..
Alfa would trounce triumphs
@@marcmenton8063 mmm don’t think so.
@@cheftush i know so
@@marcmenton8063 well, we disagree and that’s ok.
The 1750 engine is really the sweet spot for this era of Alfas. Once you upgrade to polly bushings, stiffer springs, and Koni adjustables you'll find a different car.
I think back in the day most people would buy the Jag over the Alfa just on power alone! Never mind bringing looks into the equation.... Jag wins in my opinion. Cracking stuff Jack 👍
Wins.
@@dale4853 👍
Roughly 15,000 Duettos to about 18,000 T-Types. Very close really ....
I agree and I’m a serious Alfista but the jag is just soo cool and that straight 6 xk engine is amazing as much as I love the Alfa nord twin cam
The E-Type is such a cliché, I'd take the Alfa.
Paulie!! How the racket going? You gonna wet my beak? 🤣 thanks for watching the videos chap!
Tony - god bless his soul- approves of your comment
@@Number27
He is in a lot better shape than those fvckìn' nuns you got up there!
I would take the Alfa Romeo,the Jag would keep me up at night worrying...
Great video Jack, I own both an Etype and a Duetto, so was really looking forward to the video and you covered both cars well. It would be very hard for me to favour one over the other.
Apples to olives haha!
You ask the question, 'which would you buy?'
Back in the day, I was lucky enough to have owned both ... if not exactly the same models, close enough. I had a '66 Jaguar XKE 4.2L and a '71 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce 1750.
I had the Alfa first, my high school dream car, bought it secondhand when it was barely two years old for rich price of $4000. I *loved* that car, drove it everywhere (Canada to Florida, New York to Maine, to Chicago, to Louisiana, etc). I bought it with an engine gone bad from neglect (although I didn't know that at the time), rebuilt the engine with help from a friend, and beat the living daylights out of it afterwards. It always worked perfectly after the rebuild. I upgraded the suspension just a hair with Koni shocks and a slightly rejiggered pair of front and rear anti-roll bars, juggled around different tires on the stock rims, and otherwise left it stock. It just flat worked and never put anything but a smile on my face. The interior was slightly uprated from the Duetto with a bit of a center console and slightly nicer rubber mats, slightly nicer seats, but it was otherwise the same car.
I fell in with a bunch of old friends somewhere along the line who hung out with a guy who specialized in servicing Jaguar cars. I needed work, he taught me mechanics, and he took in some jobs for me and another guy to do. I worked on FIATs and Datsuns, an occasional Alfa, but I did a lot of Jaguar cylinder head overhauls and such. Based on driving his Jaguar Mark II shop rat, I wanted an E-type for the lovely motor, never mind the sex appeal of the body. Eventually I sold the Alfa and found myself a slightly beat '66 XKE 4.2L. I think it cost me about $1500 or something like that. I learned a lot of mechanics shaping it up ... did a clutch, brakes, cylinder head, learned to tune its carburetors, brought it to good mechanical if somewhat rough cosmetic shape. And enjoyed the heck out of it.
But. It wasn't the same as the Alfa Romeo, I wasn't in love with it as much. It worked, it was fast, but it didn't feel the same. Other things happened in my life, I sold the Jag to a friend, had a couple other cars, eventually sold most everything but a motorcycle and moved from NY to California in an old Dodge van. And the years piled on, I was busy, I had other cars and then bought a new Toyota MR2 in '85. That became my main ride for a long time.
As the later '90s arrived, I found myself dreaming about my old Alfa Romeo Spider. One day, a friend who'd had an accident in another car decided she was too terrified to drive an open car anymore and I bought her '78 Spider from her. The '78 2000 was not the same as the '71 1750 ... it was heavier, with big ugly 5mph bumpers that weighed a ton, a SPICA fuel injection tuned to the lean limit of engine survival ... Just not the lively, responsive thing my 1750 had been. I worked on the suspension, tuned the engine as best I could, and it was finally beginning to feel right. And someone hit it by blowing a red light as I drove to work. Smashed the nose, twisted the whole car. I was devastated, it was too expensive to fix. I towed it home.
Over the course of a couple of years driving that '78, I'd acquired a long-unused '79 Spider retrieved out of a company parking lot where it had been abandoned. And I found an '82 Spider with the Bosch EFI system that had been left to rot on a patch of grass off Highway 1 near the ocean ... way too rusty to even consider restoring, but the engine and Bosch EFI system piqued my interest in bringing the latter '70s Spider back up to the 1750 performance and still meeting California emissions spec. Now, with the '78 destroyed, I took a deep breath and brought all three up to a friend's shop. "We will make a good one, using the '79 body, the '82 power train, and all the good bits of suspension and everything else we can retrieve out of the '78 wreck." And we did.
And we did. It became known as FrankenSpider, and piece by piece every part of the car was brought up to and beyond original '79 spec. I dumped the outrageously heavy safety bumpers and put light faux fiberglass replacements in their place. I sold off the unused bits to recoup some of the cost of the build, painted it a bright bright deep yellow, left the interior in a bit of a hash, and loved it. It was the '71 I'd had with a bit meatier engine, light and quick, a kick to drive. I had it for six years, drove it all over the west coast (along with the evergreen MR2) and loved it. Never a thought came to mind about another Jaguar.
That was twenty years ago now. Fortunes changed, I sold the FrankenSpider and lots of other things when I was laid off for a time. I went back to work, worked hard to recoup my savings. Finally I retired. Around about 2019, I was thinking one day of my old Spider, and all the other cars I'd had, and realized that I had never had the car that I truly first fell in love with, back when I was a little kid. That car was so difficult to find and so expensive in the USA that I never thought I could own one, so I hadn't tried. "What the heck, you're not getting any younger, let's give it a shot..."
In 2021, I found a '67 Lancia Fulvia Coupé available way across the country in Chicago. I brought it home and have been working through its restoration and minor updates since. It is everything my childhood fantasies dreamed of now, the light quick nimbleness of the Alfa Spider, the interior luxury with my all new interior in leather of the Jaguar, and the delightful if small DOHC V-4 singing its unique song to me. I'm not changing it from stock by much ... an electronic ignition unit, a set of later model Cromodora wheels and suitable tires, a minor change to the front suspension to correct angles suitable for the wide wheels and tires. Modern polyurethane suspension bushings, leather interior rather than vinyl. Not much else. It is near perfect, a restomod for me.
So I guess, in the end, given the choice of the Alfa and the Jag, I'd take the Alfa. But at the end of the day, if there was a Lancia in the offer as well, both of those would stay on the showroom floor. :)
G
Enjoyed this video, definitely felt a tinge of envy watching you driving them both on a sunny Autumn day! :-) I had the impression you were often reaching for a phantom 5th gear in the E-type ? I hope driving them was as enjoyable as it looked on camera. Think I would choose the Duetto as It might be a slightly more versatile classic.👍
I have always loved the looks of the Jag in both convertible and coupe form. That said, I've had a 67 Duetto for 20 years, and just love the car. I've replaced the 1.6L with a high performance rebuilt 2L, and the car is spritely enough for my needs.
Coupes look amazing! And the roadster looks best with it's hardtop snapped into place.
Interesting comparison.
The Duetto was the same price due to import taxes, so a little of an unfair comparison, as in reality they occupied a different price point.
Yes, that gear knob rattle is annoying. I have a Duetto (red, RHD and a couple of years older) and mine also rattles. It is the top cap that holds the spring that rattles.
RHD models were actually built in South Africa under contract. LHD were built at the Pininfarina factory and then shipped to Alfa at the relatively new Arese factory for the oily bits fitting.
Performance wise, 109bhp from a 1600 in 1966 is pretty strong, though the Elan of the time was quicker. That engine though, is lovely. It's revvy and pretty torquey for it's size and was, of course, designed by Giuseppe Busso.
The Jag is stunning, a real GT cruiser. That said, I took my little Alfa 2,000 miles around France, up and down the Pyrenees and the Alps and it was very comfortable and very chuckable (the boiling brake fluid descending the Galibier, not so much fun.....).
Doesn't much matter if you were living in GB and in the market at the time.
@@pete540Z Yes it does. Obviously the E type is another level of car, but as if sold with a 30% subsidy. No brainer!
I would take that Etype all day...its British style at its best, its just so stylish!
have you ever compared E-Type to 1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante? both coupe and spider.
I would Not even look at the Alfa, the E type is MORE beautiful in EVERY way NO QUESTION about it, NO contest!!!!!!!
Every single component of the E-Type could be hung in a museum.
I can't say that about the Duetto.
Artwork on wheels, beauty style sexy awesome sound, the 3.8 was Better engine than 4.2.
Very interesting comparison of two lovely cars, both very desirable then and now. But the Alfa was at a price disadvantage in the UK market in the 60s because of import duty that didn't apply to the Jag. If you could have taken that handicap away then both would have offered a hell of a lot of "bang for your buck". Today, I would have both brilliant cars anyway!
Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider - the Jaguar E is just a little too big.
The Osso di Seppia is the best looking Duetto for me. In the looks compartment they are somewhat similar but if I had money comin out my rear end I'd go for the E-Type.
Two real icons 😍 I have been alfista for 20 years - from Alfasud to Alfetta GTV - and the sound of the bialbero still gives me goosbumps! But as I grew older I became a Jaguar-Fan and today I'd take the E-Type! I don't care how it drives - just give me the sound and the looks... and this convertible would look wonderful beside my XK8 Coupé 😉 Great video as always! Please more Jags 😉
In 1955 Le mans D type Jaguar were doing up to 190mph on Mulsanne Straight AND in the racing they were doing 13mpg at racing speeds!!!! Pretty IMPRESSIVE!!!!!
This E type is a BEAUTIFUL car!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3.8 Gold top triple SUs, ( Skinners Union, 1930s ) were 265hp from the factory, sound beautiful magnificent!!!! Enzo Ferrari DID say it was the MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR EVER!!!!!! Jaguar were the first to use disc brakes at Le mans they won three years in a row, MB etc were still using drum brakes, the D type could OUTBRAKE them!!!!!!!
Hello Jack, I like the Alfa a lot, but I LOVE the Jaguar . I have had the pleasure of driving the XKE 4.2s and also an XKE V/12. I will always remember the joy of driving them. I never did quite buy one though. At the time I was looking they were expensive if you found a good one. I will treasure my time in the cockpit of the XKE's. Thanks for the excellent video.
I mean come on... that Alfa is great but the Jag E-Type is one of the biggest icons in the car history. One side note though: When people say how the E-Type is the most beautiful car ever made they should specify that they mean the Mark I coupe, which definitely deserves the reputation. But Mark II and III coupes have super ugly roofline which completely ruined the shape.
And steering is also pretty direct and not vague at all. You‘ve just driven a Montreal, c’mon, that one is vague and indirect (I had both cars together for 10 years). Your car here looks stunning but probably needs some finetuning/adjustments.
I'd have a series 3 V12 roadster @ 100k plus a mint Alfa ...job done...otherwise just the jaag V12
Here in Canada, the E-type was always way more expensive than the Alfa. When I bought my 73 Spider in 1979, I paid $4000. A comparable E-type at the time was around 7 to 8 grand. I know I'm talking used car prices, but they reflected the original new purchase price to some degree. A friend had a late series 1.5 Jag, and although faster then my Alfa, it did feel a little more ponderous and more of a GT than an outright sports car. His also broke down a lot more than mine, so there's that.
Alfa every day.
Having been a passenger in both a Duetto, let alone a 2L Spider in the past and more recently having had a ride in a Eagle 4.2L E-Type I can totally relate to your impressions of both these cars. Yes the E-Type is glorious and a car I had always wanted a ride in, however, for me, the Alfa would be easier to live with. As someone who has owned 5 105 series cars (1750 GTV, Giulia’s and a 2L Berlina), plus driven many other 105s over the years, I would take the Spider if I could. Personally, I think the 105 gearbox is sublime despite the long throw. Alas at over $100K for a Duetto these days they are well outside of my budget. Having said that in overall terms the E -Type is undoubtedly the better/more prestigious car in so many ways.
I'm speaking as someone who has owned a 1969 Type 105 1750 Spider Veloce, a 1974 Type 115 Berlina 2000, and a 1979 Type 115 Spider 2000 Veloce in period (all purchased new) and have had to listen to comments regarding the long-throw gear lever. Note, the linkage, unlike that of the Jag, is entirely contained within the gear-box (also an aluminum casting as is the engine) and was quite short whereas the Jag's much shorter throw required an exterior linkage more than twice as long as the Alfa's. With the Alfa, if one made a miss-shift, it would be felt by the hand before hearing it with the ears! A good driver quickly learned to finesse the lever with the fingertips rather than gripping it with a fist and to allow the centering springs to aid in moving the lever up and down through the gears. [The synchronizers were molybdenum-coated (a Porsche patent design).] Reverse gear does not have a synchro, therefore one should take a stab at one of the first four gears before attempting to engage Reverse. [Fifth gear could not be used for this purpose as when selecting Fifth, a nifty little lever swings out which prevents the driver from accidentally selecting Reverse when exiting Fifth gear.] Like every other Alfa Romeo which I've owned, the steering seemed telepathic. The driving experience was always involving ... always entertaining while never boring! I've also owned two 1995 164 QVs and currently have a 2018 Giulia Ti Sport Q2 (Performance Package). Life's too short to not drive an Alfa Romeo!
you would not struggle for room in the coupe if it was a 2x2 as you get 2" extra headroom. I am 6ft 4"
and can fit in one no problem P.S. E-type all day long
I’d go for the Alfa out of sibling rivalry. My brother rides Triumphs and Nortons. I ride Ducatis. As great as a British car or bike may be, I can’t ever let my brother win.
Had both the 1750 Duetto with Webers, in red of course, and a 2000 GTV with fuel injection at the same time. The 1750 revved easier and sat lower down so it was much more of a sports car. This sports car feeling was heightened by having a roll bar and competition seat belts. Loved driving it to Ana Ruby Falls in northern Georgia. My mechanic in Georgia was Paul Sproul who raced a Duetto and won D Production in it. Immediate prior car was a 61 Porsche Roadster (BRG) with the 1600n and Abarth straight thru exhaust that shot out blue flames when downshifting. Also had and enjoyed a Lotus Elan 130 +2 Big Valve which was by far the best handling of the bunch but not the most practical as an only car for a young married couple. It was especially thrilling to take the Lotus down Storrow Drive in Boston late at night with little or no traffic. However, I loved the Alfas so much I bot the last true Alfa made as an independent manufacturer; the Milano Verde with a 3.0 liter engine. Out of all of these, I kept the Alfa 2000 GTV which had the distinction of bringing 2 generations of my family to the hospital - forget about this nonsense of babies being carried in by Storks, in our family babies were brought in by Alfas.
You'll be pleased to know that Paul Spruell is still around. I'm sending parts for a Spider build to his son Todd at the moment.
@@jimspackman8527 Thanks for that update. I still have the GTV, actually my son has it now,. It was converted to Webers a few years back because the FI needed rebuilding. And that GTV was rebuilt by the son of the mechanic/salesman who sold me the car back in the early 70's. So the community of Alfisti is still stron.
Surely, they were only the same price back then because of the massive import duties applied to the Italian car?
A well-sorted E-type should not have any 'slop' in the steering. It's a rack & pinion.
You quote the new UK price of the E-Type and Duetto as being similar, but I suspect that's down to the UK import duties of the time; it would be interesting to learn how the prices compared in Italy - I suspect the Jag would have been much more expensive there.
Had a minty 1967 Duetto Spyder for $2000 while at Uni, one of my favorite cars ever. A fun, nimble and quite reliable little machine, never left stranded like my Austin Healeys. Graduated on to German cars, but that little Alfa has a special place in my heart.
"Graduated"? 😀
Great review. I ran a 71 1750 Spyder for 10 years, then traded it for a 65 S1 4.2 E-type, which I've now run for 23 years!
Very fair review. The Alfa is delicate buzzy, alive, loads of character. I loved it.
The E-type is a super GT really. Way faster, you can feel it's Le Mans origins. Good ride. I've taken mine over the Alps four times, even driving back from Milan to Dorset in 24 hours once.
A couple of the best cars ever made.
I love both but would buy the Alfa as i have before..
E type ,as it has been my life time ambition to own one on & off since childhood.
Also unlike my Ford Cortina Mk 1, which i am building into a competition car otherwise i could not use it to go anywhere basic otherwise i feel .I don`t do shows .
The E type would be used to do a Harry `s Garage type of trip to Monte Carlo for the annual Grand Prix or the 24 hr LeMans,Goodwood and so on..
If i could afford to own an E type then i surely would be able to attend such venues
An Aston DB4 or 5 engine in a Jaguar E Type would be even better!
Great video and choice of comparison Jack, keep them coming.
However beautiful the Jag is, the Alfa has always been a hero car for me, particularly in patinated "usable" condition like that particular one, love it!
Question, what camera are you using on the windscreen to film yourself?
As the owner of a restored 1967 Duetto, I can attest to how fun they are to drive. You feel like you’re flying and look down at the speedo to find that you’re 10 under the speed limit. The engine is incredibly reliable. I even used the car as a daily driver for six months. I would love to drive an E-Type from the same era. I’ve always loved their looks. Owners I’ve spoken with do talk about how finicky they can be, and the frequency with which they are in the shop.
When I look down at the speedo of my 1968 spider, I'm not just under the limit, I'm noting that I need to get a new speedo cable.
I’ve owned a ‘72 and an ‘85 Alfa Spider, and right now I own a 1987 GTV6 (incredible engine and sound). My father always had Jaguars, and he owned 5 different E-Types over the years (he’s a Jaguar mechanic) and they’re great cars to drive, the handling is amazing considering their age and length. The biggest surprise with the E-Type is the sheer force of acceleration when you stand on it, it just shoved you back in the seat in way that you don’t expect. The downside is the insane complexity of the engine and chassis, and the amount of maintenance and repairs it requires. Even by English car stands, it’s a real pain in the ass to keep on the road. The Alfa spiders are a blast to drive at any speed, and they sound and look gorgeous. Then again, I’ve never driven an Alfa that wasn’t a lot of fun, even the 4 door sedans are amazing to drive fast. They’re also much cheaper and easier to maintain and repair than the E-Type. The biggest problem with Alfa’s is rust: you have to keep them dry. I live near Palm Springs, California so I don’t have to worry about rust, and all of my Alfa’s were daily drivers.
Mike, you are right about the rust. I hold title to 7 Duettos, all of which I needed to graft together one rust-free car. I now live in Wyoming in a dry climate with no road salt.
Loving these videos. The roads you're always driving are very local to me and I can understand why you use them for the vids; if you know them well they're great to drive. Great little Alfa, but you just can't beat the sound and torque of the XK straight 6. Keep up the great content!
Thanks Adam!!! Glad you’re enjoying the videos!
when Enzo said it was the most beautiful car he had seen....jag every time ....the Spider is lovely but no contest
Ferrari never made the statement and it has been proven to be folklore beyond any doubt. The Duetto is prettier and more artistic than the E-Type, whose lines are disproportionate, eccentric and weird looking. It looks like a cross-eyed, toothless catfish, whereas the Duetto looks like a perfect teardrop shape with a MUCH prettier nose and a rear fender line that is more congruent with the nose and middle. The only advantage the E-Type has is in the interior, which is more luxurious that the Alfa, however the Alfa's engine, brakes and gearbox have a much better design....
As an Alfisti it would have to be the Alfa! 'Hello Mrs Robinson.....'
Two very different cars with one big factor in common; I want them both! Like any normal Brit car fan, I've coveted an E Type all my life. However, I tried to buy a red 69 Alfa Spider as my first car back in 1985. It was going for $6,500 (same car now listing around $70,000). My mechanically experienced buddy checked it out for me and declared it functional. There were many obstacles. I was just starting my first job and had no money or collateral. Banks wouldn't loan me the money. My parents had just bought a house and couldn't co-sign a loan (so they claimed). My first posting was to be on the West Coast while the car was on the East Coast... a mere 6,000 kms apart... give or take. And I didn't have a driver's license yet. Meh. Details.
Talking of beautiful designs, my top three would be the Dino 246GT, then the Muira P400, and the E-Type Roadster taking the bronze medal.
Alfa if you’re a driver. Jaguar if you’re a status seeker.
The Jaguar was always a favourite of mine Jack. My girlfriend, now my wife of 50 years, used to keep an eye out for the salesman in the showroom as I sat in the new E=Types dreaming, as an apprentice toolmaker on very low wages. I like the way it swept through those tight turns (aka 'Jacks Bend' 😉) My favourite is a Series 3 V12 coupe in Primrose Yellow. I think I bought far too many chips in my younger days as the owner of the shop had one parked opposite his shop. Thanks again Jack for the great reviews, Bob M. South Wales
Lovely video and comparison !
I own a 69 1300 junior spider, so I might not be 100% objective !
The tested Alfa looks a little strange to me : it seems to use parts of a 1300 version (stationary front window deflector, lower front bumpers painted, place of the side marker lights, wheels and hubcaps,…), and to my knowledge, in 1969, 1600 versions were not available anymore, only 1300 and 1750.
These later versions of the roundtail spider have a little better handling because of the addition of a rear anti-roll bar and much better ATE brakes on all 4 wheels.
What will be comparable to an Alfa 2600 spider ? 😉
You have to compare to an Alfa 2600 spider
Wasn’t the price of the Alfa much more than it should have been due to high import duty back then? The Lancia Fulvia was and that was a little moe expensive than the e-type I believe.
Please test BMW 507 Convertible!
TR4 might have been more of a comparison with the Alfa, still interesting though..
As would the MGB.
I do like the Alfa, but I've lusted after an E Type since I first saw one, and probably the car i want the most
I could never see the appeal of the E-type.
I have an E. series 3 V12. Why? Because I fit! I’m 6’ 2”. The 3 has the longer wheelbase and it was cheaper ‘cos the purists don’t like it 😀 it has been upgraded to a 5 speed gearbox. The engine is phenomenal! Find a good specialist and there are many and it’s a fantastic GT car. Also have an XK 4.2. Better car? Yes. Comments and admiration always go to the E 😀
With a Miata, you don't need any of these toys.
The price of a properly restored EType today is pure insanity. Spending that much on a car keeps the car top of mind too much of the time and thereby takes away a lot of the enjoyment. It makes much more sense to spend a quarter of the price for the Alfa, keep things simple and have fun driving. Great video and very much appreciated. Thanks
.I would buy the Alfa Dueto Spider for sure, but I am a Alfa Romeo driver.
The last 5 years the 15th Alfa 147.
The best Alfa Romeo I had was a 156 Sportwagon 2,4 JTDM, a diesel yes, but very very nice to drive, up to 365000 km! I had it nine years.
At that time lived in Germany.
I sold it because I went to live on Gran Canaria.
My first was in 1975 an Alfa Berlina 2000 1972,
man i miss that car. I bought it damaged and repaired it by myself, that gives a feeling..also very nice to drive.
I have never driven an Alfa, but I did own a 4.2 E type fixed head coupe. It looked fantastic, and drove like a dream. However, like a spoiled teenager, it always needed something, and it would keep you broke if you let it. If you have Jay Leno's money, and have a full time mechanic on your payroll, the Jag should be your choice. PS, the E type Jag was a real chick magnet, (which ain't bad).
As an Alfa guy, Duetto every day.
69 duetto should be a 1750. i suspect that car is a 1300 junior with possibly a 1600 engine. get hold of a 1750 that is restored perfectly and take it for a drive. steering should be very light if on correct period tyres. can't vote on this as i'm biased.
An apt reality check.
I think you are correct. The door mounted mirror and repeater just behind the headlight is a giveaway for the 1300. A 2 spoke steering wheel also, but this has an aftermarket.
Back in the day I traded my e type in for an alpha. Both 73 models. The jag was a barrel of cheap parts that wouldn’t stay together and the alpha was an uncomfortable driving position but lasted long enough to trade for a Porsche.
We own a 67 Duetto and WE LOVE IT! By the way the rattle on the stick: Ours has it as well. It is a car that is happy on our curvy Swiss roads. Ours does not have power brakes. Maybe this on has.
You have to get used to the shifting of a classic Sixties car again. I personally like the way the Alfa shifts. Ours was the fist gen with very big wheels and narrow tires. So I bet it handles a bit differently. My cousin in the UK has an E Type convertible: I lOVE that one as well. Both cars are SO gorgeous. I am happy I do not have to choose beetween them both. If I was rich I would own them both. The Alfa is more a car for sporty driving, the E-Type is one of the nicest Grandtourer you can imagine.
I have a 1966 Duetto with a high performance 2ltr, did a complete restoration on it and upgraded the brakes (Dunlop) by adding a power brake booster, big improvement, but still not as good as my 1969 1750 GTV. Also added a rear anti roll bar, and Koni shocks, much improvement in handling.
About the gear rattle, very easy to fix, if you remove the shift boot and rubber gaiter on top of the transmission tower, there should be a cup shaped rubber washer under the shifter, the purpose of it is to put downward pressure on the spherical sliding covers on top of the gearbox tower.
A lot of time this rubber cup is lost when the transmission is removed for a clutch job.
When installing a new cup one has to push down hard on the shifter before tightening the pinch bolt.
That should get rid of the annoying rattle.
E-Type was just never for me. When Jag, than Mk.II or XJ (I own 1984 Mk.III XJ V12, with A LOT of work done on it). I adore classic british roadsters but jag is a sport sedan first and foremost for me. I would take Triumph TR6 instead of E-Type any day, or even bloody Morgan. Alfa is nice, I drove one of the last, 1980s versions, but it is just a different experience, more refined, I feel more "mainstream", more usable but that makes it not appealing to me.
The E-type is a legend, but I suspect that if you had a Duetto in comparable condition the driving experience would be better than the Jag: better brakes, better handling, better gearbox. Those would easily trump horsepower for overall driving experience.
Great video! It will be interesting to test the W113 Mercedes Pagoda as well, just to see how the germans compare.
I think you didn't went deep enough on the specs of the cars. The E-type has the engine behind the front wheels that makes it mid engined and you feel that on it's balance. It does lean on the corners but it corners with lot's of stability once you settle it with little understeer. It's not as agile as we would wish because the suspension is tuned for confort and bad 1960s roads. Its roots in 1950s engineering can be felt on the interior space, large sills and lower glass. The Alfa on de other hand is a more economic but modern approach: full monocoque with the engine over the front axle to make more interior space. The engine over the front axle can be felt as you easily can overwhelm the front axle if you throw it on to a corner. The rear axle has a good suspension arrangement but it has it's limitations and you can easily make it lift a wheel and loose traction. Having driven both cars a lot of kms, I don't think a standard Alfa would ever convince me out of a E-type but my Alfa has Alfaholics goodies that makes it completely different experience. A E-type is as fast as a 986 Boxster and that says a lot about its performance, with some suspension tuning and good set of brakes it is a serious B road weapon...
Both wonderful but, being miserly by nature, I'd have one of those glass fibre E Type replicas, built with XJ6 underpinnings and insist on having the genuine Jag speedo and rev counter. I do wonder if anyone's ever coaxed a Busso V6 into a Duetto {and maybe a bag of cement into the boot, to offset the extra weight up front}.
Sorry, but can I have both please?
If you have the money
Very good report! I have a coupé bertone and a fhc 67 e type. Your impressions are just like mines. I feel like the E type make you feel more special than the alfa. But the alfa gives you confidence
Great to hear, thank you Mathias!
When I was young, the Duetto for sure. it was a young guys dream car who wanted fun on the twisty roads and not just straight out speed. A bonus was the girls loved them.
I had a 62 E Type Coupe and a S4 Alfa Romeo Spider and liked them both. In the most simple terms the E Type was a weapon to go fast and the Spider was a girlfriend for a beautiful afternoon drive. Today I drive a 2002 Maserati Spyder...a buy of a lifetime.
Yes you are Mad Mad a bloody Series 1 Etype genuine. 150mph car against a Alfa Spider duetto 😂😂
Etype eat that is 3rd gear mad that up my Mum had series1 4.2 Roadster, yes my mum and she could manage it okay she got looks for sure also maybe because she was black lady,I kinda remember I was a little kid 10 or so I am 59 today so so rapid old English White with original factory hardtop it was the bollocks ah good memories RIP Mum love ya.
Every time see Series 1 I see Mum 😂
Hi jack , that jaguar sound is amazing.
In the case of what £4k buys back in the day the E type is the best value, that said the running costs would be higher overall so £100k difference in todays valuations the Jag would have cost £100k more to run and maintain! over the 60 odd years!, the way the cars drive is down to what the buyer was looking for? the Jaguar sales mans job was pretty easy i would say with the "E" type sat in the showroom, has an ex sales man myself (not Jaguar) buyers buy with their eyes and the "E" type seduces instantly, the on the road price would close the deal !00%
I'd buy the Jag, back then. Nowadays I'll buy neither and drive a souped-up Fiat x1/9... and a Mini... and a Capri... and a Fiat 500.... and a Range Rover,
plus a (more modern) Jaguar S-type.. For the same money or probably (in case of the E-type) a whole lot less. 🥰
Although I enjoyed the video. It would have been better off comparing the Jaguar XK-E type with an MGA MKll. I have owned and unfortunately sold both and feel that keeping it in the British family would have made for a "cool" video, since both autos started life on the track. Still, I agree with your viewpoints. Hands down the E-type presents much more bang for the bucks needed to buy either. Side note: I have a 1965 Road and Track magazine that has a Jaguar advertisement by the company. The FHC, $5,195 the OTS $200 less. Yep back then an open seat E-type was $4995 USD, $200 less expensive! Jaguar must have lost money on every E-type they made.
Yes, it's a daft comparison that nobody other than an Alfa tragic will comprehend. If you're chasing an exciting and accessible drive from the era, it has to be an Elan.
I was lucky enough to do this exact test down in Nice last month. I own a 67 Duetto vs my friends glorious 69 etype 4.2. Must say I came to the same conclusion as you... need both..
The Alfa is the "friendlier" looking car. Way less pretentious. Definitely lusted after them as a child though. Had a '79 GTV. Not much drives better.
Just got a '67 Jag 420 compact 4spd. o/d. Sexy like a Jaguar should be and has all the electrics, fuel, hvac & etc. all modern stuff at great expense to the last owner/builder.
I worked at British Motors of Monterey (Calif) 1968-1972. This was a Rolls, Bentley, Jag, Aston Martin, Austin, MG, Lotus etc dealership. My choice of those, Aston Martin or MG. I worked on many Jaguars. For style and showmanship the E-Type was paramount, but for comfort, quality and reliability, any other Jaguar.
I very much like the Alfas, but for Italian cars of the era, I preferred my Fiat 124 Sport Coupe, and could easily enjoy a Spyder.
I would not feel comfortable owning or driving an E-Type.
As to the Alfa.. The MGB is , in many ways, a better choice.
My response, neither. But if forced, it would have to be the ALFA. I would take that red one and fix all its niggling problems and leave the cosmetics as is.
Excellent video.
Slightly false premise as they were only similar on price in UK because of pre EEC import duties. By the time that changed, the E-type was pretty much obsolete. UK Alfa buyer really needed to want the Alfa!
If you use a level playing field, US market price of the Alfa in late 60s was $4700 and E-type $7000. For comparison,TR6 was $3600 and Porsche 911T was $7000.
TBH, who would choose the Duetto over an E-type on a strictly like for like basis? E-type is a different class of car especially the purest early 4.2 version.
Hm,this is an unfair comparison....There is no match. To see the difference between different philosophies I would have chosen a Jaguar E type drop head versus a Maserati Mistral convertibile,or an Alfa Romeo Duetto versus an MGb or a Triumph. But anyway if we play your game you made a big compliment to Alfa,comparing the Duetto with a 6 cylinder supercar as the Jag is and was. The E type is one of the most beautiful cars ever,with a big engine and top performances in her time. Is a wonder in every sense,even if the mk 1 brakes were not the best,even if on the wet she likes to dance,but if you go everywhere with her you feel a king. The Alfa has excellent performances for a 4 cylinder 1,6 engine,and is an involving sports car,lighter,with better brakes and the Giulia gearbox that here,in Italy,is remembered as one of the best produced by Alfa Romeo. I would like both,exactly this E type,with the 3.8 engine,genuine as it was conceived,and an Alfa mk2 2000 Spider Veloce,the top evolution of the Duetto,of any colour but not red,better with a non common colour,as bronze metallic with a pale brown capote. The first Duetto "osso di seppia" (cuttlefish bone) is anyway beautiful: this one has not the original steering wheel and gear knob.A nice comparison? Fiat Dino Coupè 2400 Bertone versus Citroen SM? Or Jaguar XJ-S convertible versus Mercedes SL (R107 "panzerwagen")? Or Triumph Dolomite Sprint versus Alfa Romeo Giulia? Grande Giacomo!! Sei un mago,hai sempre auto fantastiche.
There's no mach. Jaguar E is a 6 or 12 cylinders. Alfa is a 4 cylinders. The mach will be right with a Maserati 3500 or a Ferrari 250.
The e type in a heartbeat!
Both Gorgeous Classics . The Jaguar would improve DRAMATICALLY handling wise with Solid Disc Wheels .
Wire wheels are Pretty , yes , but high maintenance and , quite frankly , WOBBLY .
Spokes are fine on Motorcycles , because the Bike leans and maintains Centreline centre of mass , and Spokes have less un-sprung weight .
Whereas on a Car those lateral forces create a " Shimmy " in the Spoked wheels . Wiggle Wiggle .
My pick would always be with the ALFA. The Jag is a gorgeous car with legendary performance, but it just doesn't have the character and liveliness of the ALFA.
I'm sorry but the Spider in the Video isn't a real Duetto. Duettos are Alfa Spiders built from 1966 to 1967 with a 1600ccm engine.
The Spider in the Video is a 1300ccm Roundtail. The low cost Spider model from Alfa Romeo, built 1969.
For instance you can see it at the fixed triangle windows at the doors.
And by the way a comparison of a full restored E-type with a 1300ccm Alfa Spider not rstored isn't fair and makes no sense to me
For the price of a nice E-type, I could have a nice Alfa Duetto, a GTV, a GTV6 and a bunch of parts.
A fairer price comparison would be in a 3rd country (ie not the UK or Italy), like the US or Germany.
Hmmm... If I had been able to buy a new car in the mid 1960s I wouldn't have bothered with either the Jaguar or the Alfa Romeo. Both cars had reputations for questionable reliability and poor electrical systems. I don't know how the British feel about the Joseph F. Lucas company, and its products but in the United States they are the butt of jokes, ranging from Lucas being the Prince of Darkness to an explanation as to why the British drink warm beer (they have Lucas refridgerators). From what I've heard, Marelli is little better. Thus my choice would be between the 63-67 Corvette Stingray coupe with a 327/300 hp V8 or possibly the Porsche 356.
The Corvette is sort of the American E-Type very sexy and with a lot of performance for the money but it lacks the reliability and parts issues that generally put me off of European sports cars, particularly British ones. It also has a good air conditioning system which is important where I live.
The 356 has intrigued me for some time. I find the styling appealing and layout clever. It was one of the few European cars that I might have taken the plunge with, but they're somewhat thin on the ground where I live and the climate is a little warm for a car that didn't come with air conditioning.
Let's get real here - the Jag has TWICE the displacement of the Alfa. The '72 Duetto had 1750 cc and mechanical fuel injection - a great performance plus. It's appropriate to gush over both of these gorgeous sports cars, but for different reasons. The XKE is reminiscent of the bigger, old school, British technology. The Alfa, as a lighter & more balanced car, was a true sports car; a humble, almost supernatural sprite of a car ! The big question here would be "what are YOU looking for ? Handling or top-end ?
Oh for God sake, I love your show but please do not compare Italian rubbish to an E Type which is an iconic beautiful car.
Though I appreciate E-Types more as they get rarer (and with what Eagle have done) the Alfa Spider was a very early itch which I have never scratched. I did have a 105 GT1600Jr as my car at university, and that just makes it worse. I wish I still had that car now. So I think I would still go for the Spider, though probably the 2000 Veloce.
Thanks for the comparison. I like your videos a lot! But weird, I also got a Series 1 E Type, but the fixed head version. It does not feel wobbly at all, it does not really lean in corners, especially compared to other classics I drove. Maybe something wrong with the set-up or suspension? I also then changed to the wider competition laces wheels with sticky 205 Avon, made it even better. Plus: A 3.8 does not weight 1400kg, the most reliable sources like Porters book on E Types say less. Last but not least: I am 1m80 and fit easily in to my FHC, how tall are you?
I agree, the FHC has a lot of room. But these cars lean on stock suspension, it's all relative. they might not lean in comparison to other period cars but they lean compared to more modern stuff...