Edgy gran turismos were all the rage in the early 1970s. These were four-seaters that started a new direction from previous GTs or incarnations. One of these we recently discussed: a French vision of what a GT could be. But what about the Italians? Our Pick of the Day, a 1973 Alfa Romeo Montreal listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a Dutch dealership, shows the direction Alfa went.
Yes, the Citroen SM looked at GTs of the past and turned those ideas upside-down thanks to front-wheel-drive and hydropneumatic suspension. When combined with Citroen’s trademark aerodynamic styling and Maserati V6, the SM was an arresting mix of Franco-Italian engineering that made it unlike any car in the world.
Around the same time, Alfa Romeo was developing a GT that did the job on its own terms, contrasting sharply with the Porsche 911, BMW 3.0 CSi, and V12 Jaguar E-Type. Initially appearing as a concept car at the Expo 67 in Montreal, the Marcello Gandini/Bertone-designed 2+2 coupe featured a Giulia Sprint GT chassis with a twin-cam 1.6-liter four. It was leading-edge style for 1967, what with its semi-concealed headlights and C-pillar gills copped from the front fenders of the Giugiaro/Bertone-designed Alfa Romeo Canguro, which gave the impression the concept was a mid-engined car.
The production version, christened Montreal in honor of the event that inspired its creation, debuted at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show. To give the Montreal distinction from other cars in its class, Alfa Romeo developed a fuel-injected, 2,593cc DOHC V8 (derived from the 33 Stradale) and paired the 200-horsepower engine with a five-speed manual from ZF. Ironically, the Montreal was never sold new in Montreal as Alfa Romeo chose not to submit the Montreal for emissions testing in Canada as well as the United States.
The Montreal was no less futuristic in production form though, like all concept-to-production vehicles, concessions had been made to bring it to reality. Those concessions—at least those that can be seen—did not detract. The NACA duct on the hood was not functional, but it was a design item to distract from the power bulge. Under the skin, a live axle and manual steering may have been compromises, but the Montreal was still an Alfa Romeo, so its chops on the road were still true to the brand.
Unleashed in March 1970, deliveries for the Montreal did not begin until 1971. Sales peaked in 1972 with 2,350 built, but—like for the Citroen SM—times were precarious in the automotive world as emissions, safety standards, and the first oil crisis put a damper on things. Alfa spent five more years selling the remaining inventory, which totaled approximately 3,925.
This 1973 Alfa Romeo Montreal rolled off the production line on the last day of 1972 and was sold to a lucky guy/gal in Frankfurt several months later. Over time, it made its way to Sweden and then, in 2014, the Netherlands, where it received a restoration that was completed in 2017. “Fully matching numbers and colors,” says the seller.
If you are an Italophile, we know the Montreal is on your list of dream cars, but it also has strong appeal to V8-loving Americans. Why not skip the Road Runner and try this Alfa on for size? At $79,500 (OBO), you still have that V8 burble with looks that would make Sophia Loren jealous.
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