I've owned this 1983 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce since 1995, when I bought it with a blown head gasket (a fairly common problem with 2L Alfas).

Below: The Alfa, with yours truly -- a shot used on the cover of the IAP catalog.

If you receive the International Auto Parts catalog, you've seen this car many times -- it's been pictured in every issue from 1997 - 2006 (I worked there until recently). Over the years, it has been a "test bed" for dozens of parts. Here are some of the goodies it has now ... 10.0 compr. Borgo pistons & liners (I ran 10:4 but broke two pistons) ... IAP big valves ... IAP performance cams (replaced Colombo & Bariani cams) ... 40DCOE Webers running 34mm venturis ... IAP headers ... European intake manifold ... curved velocity stacks that mount to a Sprint air filter from Italy ... electric fan conversion ... custom aluminum radiator ... lowered, with IAP performance springs ... chassis stiffener kit from IAP ... braided stainless steel brake hoses ... drilled & slotted brake rotors ... Ferodo brake pads ... Momo steering wheel ... and more... I also rebuilt the gearbox with new syncros & bearings, replaced the carpets, top, leather, etc. My time at IAP was very good for this car!

Below: The Alfa was turd-brown when I bought it; son Garrett was driving in this pic, before he got his own Alfa ;)

Below: I stripped the car to bare metal and replaced a rocker panel and a bit of rear fender before sending it out for paint. That little bit was the only rust in the car, and was due to a blocked top drain hose.

Below: Off to the paint shop.

Below: Here we are, back from painting...still in need of some assembly!

Below: Here's a shot in the IAP parking lot.

Below: I was bored and took these two from a motel balcony near VIR.

Below: A boot cover protects the top from sun damage.

Below: The Alfa was pressed into service for a 'how-to' manual for AutoSport Car Care (a sister company of IAP).

Below: New 10.0-to-1 pistons to replace the 10.4, which were too much with the shaved head. I blew the head gasket once, and broke 2 pistons another time. It is said the 10:1 pistons make as much or more power, due to better breathing...

Below: My son Garrett helping dad with the chores ;)

Below: A shot of the European manifold, with the Webers. I had been running a "SPICA conversion" manifold, but this makes a cleaner installation. I had to weld up a throttle linkage, since it pushes where the SPICA setup wants to pull.

Below: A shot of a FACET fuel pump mounted in the rear of the car; this is one of many types I tried out for the company (you can regulate this one, so I was able to dispense with the pressure regulator). You can also see the corner of the chassis stiffener, which runs under the car and ties the rear trailing arm mounts to the front steering gearbox & idler arm mounts.

Below: Here's a shot with that lightweight IAP aluminum radiator. I like not having a fan there; the electric fan is a "pusher" I mounted in front of the radiator.

Thanks for looking through these photos - Mark Lee