Alfa Romeo Montreal 1972, Itália

Alfa Romeo Montreal 1972, Itália
Fotografia

Alfa Romeo received a tremendous honor in late 1966 when it was selected to create a conceptual exhibit of man’s aspiration for the automobile at the 1967 International and Universal Exposition, held in Montreal, Canada. Alfa Romeo assigned coachwork duties to Bertone, and the project was spearheaded by Marcelo Gandini, the young designer who had leaped to the forefront of the automotive imagination with the Lamborghini Miura.

Two identical prototypes featuring inline-four engines were prepared for the exhibition, and Gandini did not disappoint. Channeling many of the same cues that made the Miura so innovative, the new Alfa Romeo was wide and low with a shark-like nose extending through a curved fender and shoulder haunches into a truncated tail. The headlight “blinds” and stacked horizontal vents on the C-pillar were attractive as well as futuristic in concept.

Strong customer interest prompted Alfa Romeo to develop a production version, which continued to be based on the respected 105 Series chassis. The 105’s standard twin-cam inline-four, however, was replaced by a modified version of the competition-pedigreed V-8 from the Tipo 33 prototype race car. It featured aluminum alloy construction, dual overhead-cam actuation, and a dry-sump lubrication system. Aided by its aerodynamic body, the Montreal was good for a top speed of nearly 140 mph. Approximately 3,925 examples of the Montreal were built between 1971 and 1975.

Chassis number AR 1425442 is finished in a brilliant shade of red. Its sleek Bertone coachwork is accented by a driver’s-side Talbot-style mirror. The car rides on Michelin XWX tires mounted on painted factory wheels. The Alfa Romeo’s interior is completed in black with red carpeting and features a wood-rimmed steering wheel, power windows, as well as upgraded speakers and a Blaupunkt radio with cassette. This very attractive Montreal is accompanied by a tool roll.