Category: Blog

Pictured above is Roadster Salon’s turbo test mule. It may not look like much progress, but the turbo plumbing, intercooler and exhaust design has been installed. We are happy to report everything fits and we can now move on to the next steps which will include development and installation of our new proprietary fuel injection system. The design will incorporate a programmable fuel management computer and modern high-flow injectors. We aren’t prepared to quote horsepower goals or pricing. But since the system can by dyno tuned and has the potential for high boost pressures—a theoretical 200HP is a realistic goal. If those numbers are achieved, more chassis development will need to accompany the dramatic increase in power. Keep your eyes on this space for more details. Porsche Boxster owners beware. You are in for some serious “indigestione”

There is no easy way to say this, but our best laid plans to increase production to meet demand this summer driving season are off to a rocky start. This Spring, several of our best suppliers have reported stocking issues with numerous categories of components. These parts include alloy wheels, leather material, steering racks, and certain drive line items. Obviously, all are critical to our build process. While nothing new in post COVID times, we were caught unprepared and forced to locate other supply lines to fill in the gaps. We have only been partially successful finding alternatives to many items.

According to our Director of Operations, “in spite of our efforts to plan ahead, these shortages have put our summer ramp-up process in serious jeopardy. The past few years have been challenging—as we’ve watched friends in our industry continue to struggle in this unpredictable business climate. It is gratifying to report that Roadster currently has several years of back orders. At face value this is a wonderful problem to have. But in reality, the daily stress of meeting customer expectations set prior to the pandemic can be daunting to say the least”. Watch this space and email thread for more updates.

It may not look like much, but the photo above shows a portion of our proprietary custom rack and pinion steering upgrade. Back in December, we ordered our usual allocation of steering racks from our supplier—only to find that the unit had been discontinued without any warning or notice. Their excuse was lack of demand after COVID.

When you consider that our entire steering system design has revolved around this product since 2017, it was quite a blow. To the uninformed, it’s hard to appreciate the scope of this problem. Put simply, you can’t drive a car you can’t steer. Since the rack is connected to the cross member, you cannot install your engine without it. Further, interior installations must also be put on hold, as you are unable to weld beneath the car with anything combustible above it. This means production has ground to a halt. Luckily, we found a supplier in Germany who is willing to work with our specifications and re-supply our team in a timely fashion. Watch this space as the situation develops.

Your eyes do not deceive you. After several years of conversation and pre-development, Roadster Salon’s engineers and subs have committed to building a contemporary turbo system for the 2.0 fuel injected spider. The modern turbo idea was first entertained in the early 2000’s by Roadster’s sales team led by Ray’s father prior to his passing. The original Legend industries turbo was a bolt on disaster, designed to take advantage of the “turbo craze” in the early 1980’s. Only 700 were built. They offered cool body graphics, a neat boost gauge in dash, and enough performance to notice a gentle push forward in second and third gear. If all elements aligned, you enjoyed a modest 20% increase in power until the system went south. Unfortunately, this usually happened after a scant 30K miles—less if you drove aggressively.

Our concept won’t come cheaply, as the design isn’t compatible with the stock fuel injection or the original computers. But Roadster Salon’s new contemporary turbo has tremendous upside. Watch this space as the project develops.

Roadster Salon’s pandemic rebound continues into 2023. After two years of snail-paced productivity hampered by parts shortages, vendor closures and staffing challenges, Roadster is poised for a significant rebound this year. Roadster Salon is implementing number of major changes including staff additions, sub-contracted engineering, and more.

“Prior to the pandemic, Roadster Salon’s business model allowed for steady progress on multiple projects simultaneously. But it has been more than two years since we’ve seen that level of productivity,” said our Director of Operations. “The number of projects under Roadster Salon management has literally tripled since 2019, and we have been unable to keep up with demand.” According to Baird, to enhance overall efficiency without compromising quality, major changes were necessary. “We are now directly importing a number of parts rather then relying solely on Domestic suppliers. Roadster is securing our own body shop facility to do our projects exclusively. Body/Paint work has been a huge impediment to our overall ability to finish cars. Our volume has allowed us some influence on timelines, but it isn’t the same as having 100% control,” said Baird.

Roadster Salon is also making changes to their supervisory structure at the shop, integrating additional technicians and fashioning more efficient workspace. “We are creating an environment with more emphasis on team building and cooperation. Roles will now be more interchangeable. Previously we focused on performing tasks that were tailored to individual skill sets. It made everything take longer than necessary. One person off work made projects grind to a halt. This is going to return big dividends in the future”, said Baird.

As our loyal followers are aware, aftermarket development of the Fiat Spider has been moribund since the 1990’s. Roadster Salon has been the leading creative source for engineering improvements of the original spider design. We’ve stood alone, championing upgrades intended to enhance the Spider’s driving experience and overall safety.

For years, our engineers took an old school approach to design and development. This involved literally “drawing up changes on a napkin” and countless hours of trial and error during fabrication. It would take months or even years to bring concepts to a prototype stage. It was a well-meaning effort, but a costly way to make even minor improvements in performance, road manners and reliability.

Roadster Salon has now fully advanced into the digital age. Director said, “While we still originate our own design concepts in house, we are contracting with an outside engineering firm to computerize them so we can work exclusively in the digital domain. This Fall, our engineering firm spent several days doing complete digital scans of the spider chassis and major components. They used sophisticated laser interpolation and tens of thousands of dollars in modeling software to create a full digital picture of the Spider,” said Baird.

“We now have precise measurements of every critical part of the original car. Modeling of newly designed components can now be tested within a computerized environment for precise fitment. Changes and updates are made easily. Strength and durability of new components can be measured and tested theoretically without ever installing them in a Spider. Specifications for new parts can be quickly finalized and put into production. It’s a game changer.”

The coming year looks to be the most creative period in Roadster Salon’s history. New designs include high performance crate engines/transmissions, next generation chassis upgrades, an improved turbo system and our latest EV design. Watch this space as these new products come to market.

Roadster Salon has built a worldwide reputation as being the premier restoration and modernization facility for Fiat Spiders. But a lesser-known fondness and expertise for the Alfa Romeo Duetto has recently come to light. The lovely “boat tail” Pininfarina masterpiece know as the Duetto gained exposure and popularity when prominently featured in the 1967 Dustin Hoffman classic film, The Graduate.

The Duetto was officially imported to the US from 1967-1969 before adopting the less popular “cam-tail” design change in 1970. Collectors and Aficionados are very specific about which model year of the Duetto they prefer. Director has become quite knowledgeable in this regard. “Many of the original Duettos have been lost to deterioration and rust. Of those remaining, the 67-68 version with the carbureted 1600cc engine is much more desirable than the later version.”

According to NADA Classic Car Guide, the best examples of the earlier Duetto can bring well into the six-figure range–whereas the more plentiful 1969 version (with mechanical fuel injection) is worth about 50% less for a comparable car. “Be careful here, because the restoration costs for a 1967-68 version is about the same as a 1969 Duetto. Although the model years look very similar, the end value is quite different,” Baird said. Still for those on a tighter budget with a fondness for the Duetto style, the 1969 can be a much more affordable alternative.

According to Senior Technician Roberto D’Avola, restoring a Duetto is a long and painstaking process. “Alfa Romeo used two different braking system designs and had other minor parts differences during the production run. They are bellissimo, but you must have molto pazienzo (a lot of patience) to restore a Duetto properly”.

Due to intermittent parts supplies and spotty quality control, a full Duetto project can take twice as long to complete as a comparable late model Fiat Spider. It’s important to note that unlike our Fiat builds, nearly all our Duettos are restored to an original standard without modifications. To maintain peak value and preserve the classic driving experience, Duetto customers seem far more willing to accept the original car’s foibles and eccentricities than a Fiat owner.

D’Avola commented “The Duetto is a very different car to drive than an Alfa Veloce or Fiat Spider from the 1980’s. It feels very feminine, almost delicate.” Even with a fresh transmission, the car does not respond well to rough treatment. Reliability is always a concern with classics from this era. “We don’t mean to imply the Duetto was poorly built. They are actually quite solid and very pretty. But they are too valuable to toss around the way you would a later Alfa Spider, D’Avola said.

D’Avola and his right-hand man Rosario Fricano, frequently tag team our Duetto projects so they are both fresh and keep frustrations to an absolute minimum. Currently Roadster Salon has four Duetto projects in our build que, as well as some not so “pazienzo” customers anxiously awaiting their completion.

Roadster Salon has one rust-free red 1967 Duetto project now available for purchase.

The word “Iconic” is defined as something widely known as exceptional, and having distinctive excellence. The timeless beauty of the Fiat Spider by Pininfarina is truly “iconic” in every sense. From the curvaceous body lines, advanced engineering to its brilliant technical design—the Spider looks equally at home in the company of the most revered classic sports cars ever built, regardless of price.

For the last twenty years, Roadster Salon has been dedicated to the preservation and restoration of these vintage cars. As the number of survivors dwindle, it’s become clear the remaining examples deserve a higher level of attention to detail not possible with entry-level builds. The cost of parts, materials and labor necessary to return these lovely cars to their original splendor has become significantly more expensive today than in the past. Further, the value of the finest spiders has increased to a point where more lavish treatment is easier to justify.

Roadster Salon customers typically fall into one of two categories—Purists and Pragmatists. The Purists longs for the nostalgia of the original spider, and prefers the car restored to an original standard. The Spider Icona is intended to appeal to the Purist customer. The Pragmatists love the lines of the classic spider, but are concerned about the practical considerations of driving on today’s roads. They want an improved driving experience that rivals contemporary sports cars. For them, the Rinata awaits.

The Spider Icona maintains the original character of the Spider through the use of factory approved replacement parts. Where possible, Roadster Salon has dramatically improved the quality of the original spider’s fit and finish during re-assembly. Original vinyl is replaced by sumptuous premium leather. Your choice of real hardwood veneers replaces the factory laminated material. Luxurious carpets with added insulation are installed. The result is a walk back through time. Put on your Members Only jacket, styling mousse, aviator shades, and feed your favorite New Wave CD into the disk player. It feels just like old times—only better.

The Spider Icona is an advanced level restoration that includes all the essential mechanical elements to assure your Spider will be reliable and fun. Outstanding cosmetics include the full disassembly of the chassis prior to paint, and bare re-spray in your choice of color. The scope of mechanical work includes the removal/rebuild of the engine and transmission, as well the replacement of all wear items. The original 102 HP engine with fuel injection is retained.
If you are a purist looking for a nostalgic driving experience that will transport you back to a simpler time—the Spider Icona is your ride to get there.

STARTING $59,995 PLUS CHASSIS

Original style air conditioning $2995 with upgraded components

Inspired by current Maserati and Ferrari models, our Diamond interior is a standard feature on our new Spider Estrema, but can be added to any current build as an option. Made with the finest leather, Diamond stitching Is an elegant detail that complements other high-end interior elements already featured in Roadster Salon models. Choice contrasting or blended thread colors for a personal statement of excellence. It’s a tasteful addition that’s in perfect harmony with your car’s exterior.

The original Roadster Salon Lusso was the most popular single model in our history, with nearly 100 built since its inception. Harkening the look of vintage Spiders from the 1960’s, we lightly sprinkled in some Ferrari inspired DNA and created–magic. The result improved the spider’s driving experience without betraying the original car’s charm and personality.

Translated from Italian, Rinata means “Reborn.” While many will consider Roadster Salon’s Rinata to be the Lusso’s spiritual successor, it is much more. We think of its proprietary modifications as the “rebirth” of the Spider. The Rinata features key technical innovations and refinement not found in previous versions of the Lusso series. While many of the Lusso’s exclusive cosmetic elements continue, we’ve upgraded the car’s performance and added more standard equipment.

The Rinata is ideally suited to pragmatic buyers who remember the original, but crave more refinement. In short, a car that can be driven confidently regardless of conditions. See the model section on our website for a complete list of standard features and options.