Spyder but why?

zagatoes30

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20,976
I have had this discussion many times with Alfa friends pointing out to them that it should be Spider not Spyder as there is no Y in the official Italian alphabet. In fact you rarely see Spyder in any Alfa literature.

So why do Maserati & Ferrari for that matter use this particular spelling?
 

CatmanV2

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48,843
Some rapid googling, cos I was interested:

The facts are, that it is Spider and not Spyder because of an official statement by National Federation of Body makers in 1924 in Milan (Italy), that declared the word to be written that way. The "y" was not in the Italian alphabet since it was a fascist and nationalist period. It's, as you know, the equivalent for "roadster", "speedster" or "two-seater".

May or may not be true, I shall dig around.

C
 

BennyD

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I always thought it was Maserati spyder but Ferrari spider. That's what it says on the glovebox badges.
 

zagatoes30

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The Americans seem to call the Ferraris Spyders but then again they do speak a different language
 

hodroyd

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14,150
So when is a Spider not a Spyder, when it has fascist tendencies and is not allowed to play with the other spiyders, hahaha, what a load of ********, it's a ssoft top then...!!
 

BennyD

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Classier, especially the owners - ermm, never been called classy, best I ever got was different but not sure that was a compliment :)

But you didn't have a Maserati spyder then! When you get one, things change, doors open and you could end up just like me....bollox, that's spoilt it!
 

hodroyd

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As soon as you sit in a Mas' Spiyderito, you are covered in a warm glow, little stars start floating around the car then you realise you are on fire, now that's special..!!
 

philw696

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25,537
I went around Llandow in Matts last March with the roof down and was mighty impressed and would have one in my stable.
 

BennyD

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I went around Llandow in Matts last March with the roof down and was mighty impressed and would have one in my stable.

They sound good doing burn outs on Arnage high street as well, although I have to admit they probably don't smell as good as they sound! ;)