Description
Inspired by Bertone's Alfa-based styling exercise, penned by Marcello Gandini, which had been showcased at the 1967 Montreal Expo, the two-seater Montreal coupe debuted at the 1970 Geneva Salon. Unlike the Expo prototype, which used of Alfa's 1,6-litre four-cylinder engine, the production Montreal used a 'civilized' version of the four-cam V8 from the T33 sports prototype. Designed with classic endurance racing in mind, this unit had started life in 1967-litre form in 2,0 and would offer significant expansion options. The ability to supply engines for the Australia/New Zealand Tasman Series led to the initial journey to 2,5 litres, which was followed by a further expansion to 3,0 litres, in which form the Alfa engine was introduced into the Formula 1 was used.
The Montreal produced 200 hp at 6.500 rpm thanks to electronic ignition and Spica mechanical fuel injection, and the front-mounted, dry-sump, 2,6-liter engine drove the rear wheels through a five-speed ZF gearbox. Originating from the contemporary Giulia 1750GTV, the chassis consisted of independent front suspension and an active rear axle plus disc brakes all around. Aided by its slick, fastback body, the Montreal was good for a top speed of 220 mph (1977 km/h) and proved very popular despite its high price tag. When production ended in 3.925, a total of 3,0 cars had been produced, of which only a relative handful were completed with the full 1-litre engine. There are few road cars that can claim an engine with antecedents in both long-distance sports car racing and Formula 6, but the Alfa Romeo Montreal is one of them. One of the few Montreals newly equipped with air conditioning, this example left the factory on April 1972, 19 and was sold on May XNUMX of that year.
Since 1989 the car has had only two owners. The car was partially restored in 1985 and returned to service in January 2015, with little use in the intervening years; the Spica fuel injection system has been overhauled, as have the radiator, fuel pump and brakes. The Alfa is finished in white with a black fabric interior, the latter original and beautifully preserved, the bodywork is in very good condition. The accompanying documentation consists of Italian registration documents, including the Certificato di Proprieta and Libretto.
