1973 Alfa Romeo Montreal

Alfa Romeo was selected to create a conceptual exhibit of man's aspiration for the automobile and to present their creation in 1967 at the International and Universal Exposition (Expo 67), held in Montreal, Canada. Sixty-two nations participated in this 'World's Fair,' and it held the distinction of attracting the most attendees to that date and set a single-day attendance record for a world's fair. The prevailing theme of the exhibition was 'Man and His World.'

Alfa Romeo's contribution to Expo 67 was a pair of 2+2 coupe sports cars that were displayed without a name, but the public soon called it the 'Montreal.' When production began in 1970, it did so under the 'Montreal' moniker.

The Concept
The Alfa Romeo Expo 67 Concept Car used the short wheelbase chassis of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT and the 1.6-liter engine of the Alfa Romeo Giulia TI. Bertone was tasked with creating the design and coachwork, with the project spearheaded by Marcelo Gandini, the young designer who had penned the Lamborghini Miura. Several of the design cues that had made the Miura so successful were incorporated into the two concept cars, with a low overall stance, gentle curves, a wide, shark-like nose, and a truncated tail. Futuristic elements included the stacked horizontal vents on the C-pillar and headlight 'blinds.'

From Concept to Production : The Alfa Romeo Montreal
The enthusiastic reception from the Expo 67 prompted Alfa Romeo to put the unnamed concept into production. The overall stance of the production version would follow a similar footprint to the concept, including the use of the 105 series chassis, but its mechanical specification was very different, along with several noticeable changes to the exterior. Production began in 1970 and would continue through 1977, with approximately 3,925 examples built (possibly 3,917 units). Ironically, the Montreal did not comply with North American emission control requirements, which meant it was never sold in the United States and Canada. With an initial price in the U.K. of £5,077, the Montreal was more expensive than the Porsche 911 and the Jaguar E-Type. By mid-1976, the cost had risen to £6,999.

The first production example, Tipo 105.64, was put on display in 1970 at the Geneva Motor Show. The Alfa Romeo plant in Arese handled the production of the chassis, engine, and mechanical components, while Carrozzeria Bertone's plants in Caselle handled the body fitment. From there, the car was sent to Grugliasco outside Turin, where the interior was fitted, and prepared to be sold. Additional tasks included degreasing, zinc coating, and manually spaying the exterior. Upon completion, the car returned to Arese where its engine and remaining mechanical components were installed.

Mechanical Specifcation
The Expot 67 concepts were equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, while the production versions fully embraced the supercar motif, with power from a V8 engine. A 'civilized' version of the T33 sports prototype's four-cam V8 displaced 2,593cc with a bore of 80mm and a stroke of 64.5mm. The dry-sump lubricated, 90-degree, cross-plane engine used electronic ignition and SPICA (Società Pompe Iniezione Cassani & Affini) fuel injection and developed 200 PS (197 hp). Designed with the classic endurance races in mind, this unit had started life in 2.0-liter form back in 1967, later growing to 2.5-liters when used for the Australia/New Zealand Tasman Series, and 3.0-liter capacity for Formula 1 competition by McLaren. The factory-backed Autodelta team campaigning the 2.0-liter T33s was very successful in international sports car racing, earning many class victories.

The first road-going Alfa Romeo to use a V8 engine was the limited-edition T33 Stradale of 1967. It used the original 2.0-liter configuration while the Montreal had the larger 2.6-liter displacement. The front-mounted engine powered the rear wheels via a ZF five-speed gearbox (regrettably, the Type 33 six-speed transmission and transaxle were not used). Running gear sourced from the contemporary Giulia 1750 GTV included the independent front suspension and a modified 105 series rear axle plus disc brakes all round. Double wishbones and coil springs were at the front while the rear had a live axle with a limited-slip differential.

A small number of Alfa Romeo Montreal's were equipped with the 3.0-liter engine.

The Alfa Romeo Montreal had a 92.5-inch wheelbase, was 166.1 inches long, stood 47.4 inches tall, and was 65.8 inches wide.

The Design
The essentially handmade Montreal retained several of the signature design elements of the concept, including the louvered headlight covers and the six horizontal strips at the B-pillar. The four headlamps were partly covered when not in use and retracted when the lights were used. The NACA duct on the bonnet was non-functional and blocked off, with its purpose of concealing the power bulge. Like the NACA duct, the slats behind the doors primarily served cosmetic purposes but did contain the cabin vents. The sleek aerodynamic body style was a tribute to the company's race history. Throughout its production lifespan, the Montreal remained generally unchanged.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2023