"Spider" versus "Spyder" - Which is "correct"?

Let's think of it like Ferrari nomenclature slang.

Or a little contraction similar to saying "F-car" or "Lambo sucks."


Use it then when it really matters: "Oh my God, I'm doing 186 and there's a spider in my spyder!" (The little red spell-check line comes under the word "spyder." Microsoft disagrees with us.


_J

 

good one LOL ....

 

Is it Daytona or Daitona.

 

Spider, there is no debate.

 

the only spyder that mattered was the porsch-a 550......

 

All convertible Ferraris from the beginning of the company were spyders (or, in some cases, cabriolets or barchettas). With the introduction of the 348, Ferrari changed over to "spider". There's no "y" in the Italian alphabet*, so I want to assume that's why the switch was made. As we all know, the term spider originates from horse-drawn carriages. In Italy, the National Federation of Body makers decided in 1924 that the word was to be written as "spider". When Ferrari released their first convertible, they deliberately used the word "spyder".

*The lack of a "y" in the Italian alphabet brings up an interesting story. A story our very own Wayne Ausbrooks debunks as pure myth. Still, it's interesting enough to at least tell. When Ferrari captured a 1-2-3 win at Daytona, it was rumored that his new car, the 365 GTB/4, would be called the Daytona. But American press laughed at Ferrari because he supposedly spelled Daytona with an i, i.e., "Daitona". But again, this is a rumor as I have nothing with which to substantiate it; and my "knowledge" of Ferrari history is dwarfed by Wayne's, so I think it's safe to say it's a myth. But that doesn't change the fact that it's still a cool story.

 

I was going to say the exact same thing.

That is the reason. Many Italians I know, don't understand why in N.A. we spell it with a 'Y'. Its the Americanized version.



Thread Closed.

 

"Daytona" was never the official name given by Ferrari (and still not to this date)...

 

the dashboard on my 2002 F360 F1 says "Spider"

 

IMO "Spider" in the beginning was not a model name (For example Ferrari call their 250 California Spider "250 GT California" - and I have the proof from their yearbook to prove it -) but a description of the body of the car. Therefore for the English speaking market they would translate the original Italian "spider" to "spyder".

Also it's not true that all their convertible were named "spider" or "spyder". One early example is the 250 GT Pinin Farina convertible (produced, I believe at the same period as the California's) based on the 250GT Pinin Farina coupé...
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spider...
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and a nice black/tan it is....but those rather daitona red highlights....well, not my favorite.

 

The 250 GT Pininfarina convertible was officially known as the 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet; no Ferrari has ever had the word "convertible" in its official name.

 

Not cool, man; just so not cool. Some of us are scared of those things.

 

Interesting that Maserati is specifically a Spyder and Ferrari post 348 is specifically a Spider. Brand differentiation????

 

Perhaps; Maserati convertibles have no model designation other than "Spyder", so I wonder if that has something to do with it. The 360 Spider is the 360 Spider; as is the F430 Spider, 355 Spider, etc.; but Maserati's drop top is simply the Spyder.

 

We'll just call you Spyder Man from now on.

They're all speeders to me.

 

It doesn't matter, once everyone knows what it actually means.

 

It doesn't matter, once everyone knows that it actually means the owner couldn't afford the rest of the car!

It's pronounced "koop"... or if you are Clarkson, "koop-ay"

 

well, spider sounds better than spyder to me. well, not sounds, but looks i mean

 

ur kidding right? I guess ur scared of snakes too?

 

No, I had a Red Tail Boa as a pet when I was a kid. His name was Squeeze Me. But I can't do spiders; I freeze up. In some cases, I scream like a little school girl.

 

NNO has the definitive word on this. After all, IF there had been a "Y" in the Italian alphabet, we might have been driving Enzo's dream differently and, well, this is just wrong:
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The bigger question I have is how does Spider = convertible? What does the root word of spider have to do with no top on a car?

Oh and some fun images for all you spider lovers (and haters...sorry).
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In Italy, there was a carriage/vehicle, that had a convert. top, where four poles on either side were used to support the top. When the top was taken away or removed, it left eight poles pointing skyward, and it tended to look like a Spider: Thus the name.

rik