by Darrin Simons, Illinois
This story is about our family — Brooke (my wife), Sophia (our teenage daughter), Jack (our younger son), and me — and how a 1977 Alfa Romeo Spider became something far more than just an old sports car. It became a bridge between generations, a classroom, a stress reliever, and, unexpectedly, a magnet strong enough to pull teenagers away from their iPhones, TikTok, and Snapchat; at least for a bit..
We live in St. Charles, IL. In August 2023 we bought our Alfa from a friend for $4,000; at the time, Sophia was 13 and Jack was 10. The car hadn’t run in more than twenty years and came with a vague warning about a fuel leak; something about the oil smelling like gasoline, and needing a new fuel pump…
After a couple of months of tweaking it we were able to get it on the road, but it wasn’t running well, suffering from what appeared to be fuel system issues. Wes Ingram helped me go through those critical systems systematically; we ended up discovering that the existing SPICA pump had been plumbed backwards by a previous owner or mechanic! Surprisingly, Wes explained, the car CAN run this way, just not well.
Nevertheless, the pump was leaking & the engine oil smelled of gasoline, so it was clear that a SPICA rebuild was needed, and I bought a unit from Wes. Getting the fuel system and related adjustments worked out made a world of difference.
We spent much of the winter of 2023/2024 working on that and several other issues, and the car ran fairly trouble-free during the summer of 2024 and summer of 2025. The “to-do” list seemed typical for a car that had sat for 20+ years with plenty of prior use & wear, and with 95K miles on it. We replaced the fuel pumps, injectors, thermostat, plugs and wires and installed electronic ignition, replaced all belts, hoses, fuel lines, tires, did the brakes, brake lines, brake booster, clutch master and slave cylinder, replaced the transmission and engine mounts, sorted out numerous electrical issues and replaced all the fluids. The suspension components were inspected by a local shop and were pronounced old but safe, so I’ll replace those later on.
Guidance That Makes the Difference
I’m a mechanical engineer and grew up working with my hands with the guidance of my father. This restoration reinforced an important lesson to me: experience matters. I had the background and tools; but not always enough real experience to get to the finish line. Wes wasn’t just helpful — he was a true coach. He has seen nearly every failure an Alfa can throw at you, and when I hit a “head-scratcher”, he calmly pointed us toward the solution and the right direction so that a “head-scratcher” did not become a “show-stopper”.
Learning With Our Hands (and Getting Dirty)
We did all the physical work ourselves, with the exception of having a local shop do the exhaust and trans mount. Both Sophia and Jack contributed significantly, finding a sense or real achievement in their efforts.
Jack was quick to crawl under the car and check it out— eager, fearless, and ready to grab a wrench. He also learned quickly that enthusiasm alone doesn’t solve problems, and it’s not always as easy as YouTube makes it seem. Patience, observation, and doing things the right way matter just as much as effort.
Sophia Puts the Phone Down
Sophia surprised us the most. She willingly put down her phone — no small feat for a teenager — and spent hours in our garage with me rebuilding brakes, tracing wiring, and learning how mechanical systems actually work. She hasn’t quite mastered the clutch yet, but as she gets closer to earning her license, her determination only keeps growing.
My Wife’s Well Deserved Escape
And then there’s Brooke. For years — and far longer than we ever planned — she faithfully drives the family Honda Odyssey minivan. She rarely complains. But when she takes the Alfa out on a nice spring day, top down, hair blowing in the wind, I think she feels a well‑earned escape from the grocery‑getter routine. Even a Costco run somehow feels romantic in a classic Alfa!
Two Seats, Real Conversations
At first, we worried that a two‑seat car would be impractical for a family of four. Instead, we learned the opposite. Two seats force one‑on‑one conversations — the kind that are fleetingly rare with teenagers and critically important for couples on a date night.
More Than a Car
This Alfa Spider isn’t just a car. It’s iconic, memorable, and deeply therapeutic. It taught our kids perseverance, rewarded curiosity, and reminded all of us that sometimes the best connections happen when you slow down, get your hands dirty, and achieve something together.
