Cohort Classic: 1970-77 Alfa Romeo Montreal – An Alfa With a Racing Heart

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– Posted on May 24, 2024

(first posted 5/24/2018)       As I have changed from being a Ford driver to an Alfa Romeo owner, I am much more attuned to catching examples of Alfa’s wonderful heritage as life goes by. Sadly, that has not included a Montreal. But a recent sighting of one by CC Cohort William Rubano means I can share something of what I have missed, so far.

The Montreal has an unusual back story with its share of twists and turns, including some surprising features and some predictable ones. Perhaps that makes it a typical 1960s/1970s Alfa; perhaps it also helps tell us why Alfa is where it is today.

The car was initially a Bertone concept, displayed at the 1967 Montreal Expo 67. It was essentially a rebodied 1750GTV with its four cylinder twin cam engine and five speed gearbox. It was styled by Marcello Gandini, and perhaps could be seen as Bertone’s bid to be allowed a proposal for a 1970s GTV, if you wish.

Key elements were a much more modern profile than the existing GTV, recessed and partly covered headlamps, and a side window profile and vents that took inspiration from the Lamborghini Miura, also a Gandini design. Unarguably much more modern looking than the Tipo 105 Coupe, it was truly contemporary, and with features that found their way into many cars over the next few years, even in the US.

So far, fairly predictable. An existing car presented with a new body by one a carrozzeria, picking up elements from an acclaimed upscale product at a time when the manufacturer’s thoughts would be turning to a replacement, and shown in a high-profile environment.

At the 1970 Geneva Motor Show, Alfa Romeo presented the production Montreal, adopting the unofficial name of the Bertone concept.

The production version Montreal was a mix then of four things – Bertone styling, the suspension and floorpan of the Alfa Romeo 1750GTV (based on the 1963 Tipo 105 Giulia saloon), Alfa’s ambition to go onward and upward in style and prestige, and the surprise element – the V8 engine from the Tipo 33 sports racing car.

The Alfa Tipo 33 was, arguably, Alfa’s last truly successful foray into top line motorsport as a car constructor rather than an engine supplier, outside saloon car racing.  Ultimately, the Alfa 33 won the 1975 and 1977 World Sports Car Championships and has a status to match among the Alfisti.

It was also the basis for the road going 1967 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, and was successful enough to give its name to an Alfa Romeo saloon as well. As always, “road going” should not be inferred to mean “practical daily driver”, any more than it should for an Aston Martin Vantage N24.

The engine, perhaps the most surprising part of the story given Alfa’s history of twin cam straight fours and sixes, was originally built by Autodelta, Alfa’s racing team, as a 1995cc, 270 bhp twin cam unit and used by Sir Jack Brabham in the Australian Tasman Cup series. It was later stretched to 2593cc and over 300 bhp for the 1968 Targa Florio,  and ultimately 2998cc and close to 450 bhp.

For the Montreal, Alfa used the 2593cc version, tuned for road use with close to 200bhp, and happy to pull right up to 7000 rpm. It featured fuel injection and electronic ignition by SPICA, which is often considered sufficiently troublesome for owners to replace it with Weber carburettors. Fuel economy was a major weak spot, with something like 13-15mpg (Imperial) being typical. That’s big V8 consumption, not the expected rate for a 2.5 litre engine in a compact car.  The gearbox came from ZF, as Alfa had nothing strong enough to take the V8’s torque.

This engine was key to a major change in the nature of the Montreal from Gandini’s original proposal for a GTV for the 1970s. Rather than being a 1970s update of the GTV formula, here was a budget supercar, with some practicality, striking, modern styling, a great heritage and a true racing car-based engine, rather than a replacement for the Tipo 105 Coupe.  When properly tuned, the Montreal would do 135 mph and 0-60 in around 7.5 seconds, so it was no slouch, if not a full supercar.

The styling stayed very close to the concept car, and clearly was directly evolved from it. The key features were still there – the profile, the side vents, although only 6, not 7,  the eyelids over the headlamps and the Miura-esque window profile. The clamshell bonnet had gone, although the bold shut line on the trailing edge of the door stayed and a distinctive air inlet had been added to the bonnet. The wheel arch cutouts no longer matched front to back though, unusually. There is no doubting its visual appeal, and indeed little doubting the age it came from.

Inside, the car was perhaps a little more predictably Alfa, with the twin instruments forming their own binnacle, with the minor instruments below.

Many period typical Alfa fittings are visible, from handles to stalks to switches. The gear lever, mounted on the high transmission tunnel, shows the dog leg first gear on the five speed box. The ZF gearbox was front mounted, though, not rear mounted as in the later Alfetta saloon and its derivatives, up to the 75 Milano saloon.

Nominally, the Montreal was a 2+2, but the rear seats were pretty much useless for people with legs. Likewise, the space under the opening rear window was small, limiting its practical use to small parcels and bags.

These were more petite than might be expected, especially in contemporary terms, with an overall length of 4.22 m (166.1 in), and a height of 1.205 m (47.4 in). The contrast to the compact-based Chevy HHR behind it brings that fact into proper perspective.

To drive, the Montreal got a patchy review. The engine’s flexibility and willingness to rev was praised, making in-town driving easier than one might imagine. The ZF gearbox was admired for its ease of use, not something that could always be said about Alfa’s five speed boxes. The suspension, using wishbones at the front and a live beam axle with trailing arms at the rear, was carried over from the Tipo 105, and was perhaps softer than many expected, whilst the V8 didn’t always add to any feeling of confidence in the wet, allowing the unwary to be caught out. There was a limited slip differential which helped rein in the torque, but it took practice and familiarity to get the best from the car. Brakes were sometimes weaker than ideal also.

On the debit side were the poor accommodation, appalling economy, disappointing brakes (then a perennial Alfa issue) and soft handling. Strong understeer was followed by sometimes violent oversteer with the limited slip differential helping the driver out of trouble, with a side order of body roll and pitch under braking.

Rear visibility, rear luggage space and indeed rear accommodation were all pretty much non-existent. This was not really a 2+2 after all.

Production cars came to the market in 1971, with assembly by Bertone and sales reached a peak of 2377 in 1972, before declining sharply to 319 in 1973, and ending in 1977. Rumour has it that the cars sold in 1977 were actually built in 1975. The fuel economy can’t have helped, along with 3000 mile service intervals. Total production reached 3917, with just 180 built in right hand drive. Some reports say there are still 150 here; official figures say 33.

But for some, the appeal of the race bred V8 was enough, even at over £5000 in the UK, from 1972, within 10% of a Ferrari Dino and twice the cost of a V8 Triumph Stag. This was a car that the Alfisti might take in preference to a Porsche 911, but which an objective marque neutral buyer might struggle to accept.

The legacy of the Montreal is debatable. Elements of the style, such as the recessed if not semi-hidden lights, the roof and window profile and the rear end made it to the 1972 Alfetta GT and GTV coupes, although these cars were designed by Giugiaro, not Gandini. Arguably, some of the elements were in the smaller Alfasud Sprint as well, another Giugiaro car.

The Montreal may not be a fantasy garage car – it loses out for me to the Citroen SM for a left field GT of that era –  but for many Alfisti it will take some honours. For me, it’s preferable to a Jaguar E Type V12, even at a much higher price than the Jaguar and with fuel consumption that was just a shocking. My V12 Jaguar will be an XJ-C.

In summary, an attractive, intriguing and flawed car, with a very appealing engine and drive train and styling which were poorly supported by the handling, space and practicality. Did someone say it was a 1960s Alfa sportscar?

But you can see the appeal. After all, at heart it’s a 1960s Alfa sportscar.