1972 - Alfa Romeo Montreal - Lot 61

Lot 61
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Estimation :
60000 - 80000 EUR
1972 - Alfa Romeo Montreal - Lot 61
1972 - Alfa Romeo Montreal One of the symbols of Italian motoring in the 1960s/70s French registration Chassis n°1426716 Engine n°01126 - Design by Gandini for Bertone and engine derived from the T33 - One of 480 French examples (SoFAR) out of 3925 produced - Classic original configuration with optional electric windows - Limited number of owners and only 83300 kms - Excellent condition, over €42,000 in invoices since 2018 - Extensive history file and appraisal report available Initially appearing as a concept car designed for the 1967 World's Fair in Quebec, hence its name in homage to one of that Canadian province's main cities, the Alfa Romeo Montreal was officially presented at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show. Marcello Gandini of the Bertone coachbuilder, who had just signed one of the most beautiful masterpieces of the automobile, the Lamborghini Miura, was entrusted with the delicate mission of creating a spectacular, sporty, livable and modern car. This demanding brief was brilliantly fulfilled. The final pencil sketch offers a sporty, racy line, enhanced by styling details such as the side air vents. Given the success of the show car, the Milanese brand decided to produce a derivative of the show car in order to restore its reputation and develop a top-of-the-range model. The main stylistic evolution between the prototype and the final car is to be found in the front end, with the openwork, retractable semi fairings under the round headlamps that have become the Montreal signature, and the central Naca air intake on the hood. The small four-cylinder Bialbero is replaced on the production car by a 2.6L V8 aluminum engine with dry sump lubrication and Spica injection, derived from the 2L of the T33 racing car. It's mated to a ZF 5-speed manual gearbox, with first gear down on the left. Suspension is independent with double wishbones and telescopic shock absorbers at the front, while the rear axle is rigid and features anti-roll bars on both axles. This gives the Montreal good roadholding, despite a weight distribution with all the engine's weight on the front axle and the absence of power steering, which deprives it of optimum driving precision. And yet, this plush coupé with its particularly communicative powertrain is comfortable to drive. Braking is assured by 4 ventilated discs in line with performance, for a very sound overall performance. The interior is uncluttered, with an Italian design style that emphasizes the driving position. The tulip-shaped 3-spoke steering wheel with wooden rim, the traditional Alfa Romeo dual speedometer and the low, elongated seating position are above all an invitation to travel for the driver. Plenty of chrome, lots of leather, a tilting instrument panel with aeronautical references, not to mention plenty of light thanks to generous glazed surfaces, all characteristic of the avant-garde style of the 1970s, give the interior a Grand Touring ambience in keeping with the car's vocation. A symbol of the Italian automobile, combining beauty, performance and history, only 3925 Alfa Romeo Montreals were produced between 1971 and 1974, of which fewer than 500 were delivered in France. The Montreal on offer is one of those rare examples sold new in France. It left the factory on April 11, 1972 for the Ambérieu-en-Bugey dealership in the Ain region, and was put on the road on May 16, 1972. It was then registered in the Bordeaux region, where it had two owners between 1981 and 1987, then later in Creuse, where it also had two owners between 1987 and 2018, before being acquired by the current owner in March 2018. At the time, the car was in good overall condition and had a significant history file. However, our demanding collector owner has undertaken extensive work in recent years to ensure that this Montreal is now beyond reproach. In 2019, the front seat upholstery was changed and the dashboard rebuilt. In 2021, the body was completely stripped and a new paint job applied, in the famous original Rosso shade. The engine was also completely overhauled in 2023 at Bürgi in Switzerland, undoubtedly the model's best specialist, who also overhauled the gearbox and running gear, in addition to the Spica injection pump, all for nearly
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