It's not often you can pinpoint when a car becomes an icon, but in this case it's easy - for one, the brand was already an icon, with Alfa Romeo having a rich and storied history, particularly in motor racing. Secondly, having a sporty Italian car appear in a (then) hipster movie about having intimate relations with a mother and daughter pushed the little Duetto over the top - and not by accident, either. It turns out Dustin Hoffman's uncle was none other than the famed Max Hoffman, the man who brought Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and BMW to America in a very profitable and official way. Uncle Max gave three Duettos to the production company for his nephew's movie. Nice work if you can get it.

So The Graduate made the little Spider an international icon, and it went on to be made for 30 years. Long after its contemporary competition faded, the Spider was battling cheeky newcomers, like the Mazda Miata. And while the Miata had superior handling and dynamics, the Alfa had class, charm, and panache. And it has aged very well.

Full review and test drive by Bill. Vehicle for sale at Autohaus of Naples, www.AutohausNaples.com.