Highly prized by collectors, the Alfa Romeo Montreal is a coupé based on a styling study by Marcello Gandini, a young recruit from the Bertone workshop who had just signed the Lamborghini Miura. The car was presented at the 1967 Montreal World's Fair, hence its name, and was intended to reintroduce a prestige model to the Biscione range. With its aggressive lines and original louvered headlamps, the Montreal had a real personality.
The origins of the Alfa Romeo Montreal: a difficult gestation period
Nevertheless, the production version was fundamentally different from the prototypes. Indeed, Giuseppe Busso explained that, for budgetary reasons, the specific chassis originally planned was abandoned and Alfa Romeo fell back on the chassis of the existing Bertone GTV 2000 coupé. This change led to difficult technical development, particularly in adapting the prototype's shape to this chassis, with the result that the production version didn't arrive until 1971, four years after the show!
The choice of the Alfa 33's V8 engine added to the difficulties, since the prototypes had been imagined with the Giulia's 4-cylinder, double overhead camshaft engine. But management decided that a V8 was more prestigious. The engine had to fit into this GTV coupe chassis, which meant raising the entire beltline, as well as integrating the highly curved side windows. The GTV's short wheelbase resulted in a taller Montreal coupe with greater overhangs than expected, which, for dissatisfied purists, altered the overall weight balance and aerodynamic fluidity.
The engine was a 90°, four-overhead cam V8 rated at 200 hp, derived from the Alfa 33's 2-liter racing V8, re-bored to 2,593 cm3 with Spica mechanical fuel injection (which was to cause many a problem!), and mated to a 5-speed ZF manual gearbox. The Autodelta company offered engine preparations to boost power from 220 to 250 hp, but only 3 examples were built.
Appreciated for its racy lines and the raging sound of the V8, the Montreal had more the temperament of a road-going GT than a sports car, and its driving dynamics failed to live up to expectations. The chassis was based on an outdated design, and the weight distribution, which was clearly towards the front because of the big V8, made it understeer and not nimble enough, while the braking system proved to be a little light. This is undoubtedly what doomed the Montreal to a short career in competition.
Alfa Romeo Montreal, by OKTech!
In fact, those with the courage and the means to do so have embarked on a series of modifications to Montreal, to bring it more into line with the spirit of the original project. Among them is OKTech, which we recently reviewed. supercharged Alfa Romeo 75 Busso and Bialbero. Its name? Montreal "Flatplane"? And why? The name refers to substantial changes to the engine, which is still a V8, but this time its displacement has been increased to 3.3 liters. Cooling of the monster has been increased, resulting in a more prominent air intake on the front hood, giving the Montreal an American muscle car look.
In the original Montreal, the crankshaft was of the "cross plane" type. This configuration, widely used in V8 road cars, had the advantage of producing an engine that was smoother and more usable on a daily basis than a V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft, a technical solution used in the 33's V8. The 3.3L Flatplane comes full circle, giving the Montreal an engine in the spirit of competition! The latest data posted by OKtech on its social networking sites suggest 350 horsepower and a maximum rpm of 9,000. We can already imagine the melody!
The other obvious change is the lowered ride height, giving the Montreal an even sportier look. We were unable to obtain further technical information, but we can imagine that the suspension has received its share of modifications and upgrades.
Last but not least, the Montreal OKTech is fitted with TARGA 33 wheels produced by Italy's Alfa9 Supply, directly inspired by Tipo 33 Autodelta wheels. As for overall aesthetics, the combination of gold bodywork and water-green upholstery is rather elegant and very Seventies!
Reception of the project was generally enthusiastic. The recurring thought in many comments is that this is the Montreal as it should have been marketed in 1972.
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