I would not care if it drove like a Lada. Opening my garage and seeing such a beautiful car would be enough. Thank you for an excellent review. At one time you could buy them for nothing.
I wouldn't have known about this car if it wasn't on every car play card in the 70's and 80's. I knew back then as a littlie boy that this was my type of car. And I liked the Maserati Khamsin just as much.
@@asensibleyoungman2978 nothing cheesy about it. It's a great looking/sounding car. Like many other Alfas it may not be engineered as something German or Japanese, but it has soul.
@@autoavids Some people obviously misinterpret bad handling, poor performance and inadequate development as 'soul.' It's probably the engine sound. They can't separate a good sound from a poor car. To them (i.e you) if it sounds good, it must be good, so it has 'soul.'
Having owned a bunch of ALFAs (currently 5) I can tell you that, notwithstanding the noted (for the most part accurate) negatives, the Montreal is a great car. Out of all my cars it brings the biggest smile to my face while driving and draws the most attention. Driving it is really a special experience. I think it is the fact it is so rare and unusual looking. When i'm driving it is common for people to take pics and video me. At car show people walk right by mclarens/ferraris/gt40's/etc. to gawk. Every time I get gas (it uses a lot...) people come up to ask about it. When I'm in my ferrari or porsche people ask "how's that mid-life crisis going??" In the montreal it's always "awesome car". With the Alfaholics suspension, as mine has, they handle well and are comfortable to drive for long distances. It's plenty fast, a great GT, if not sports car.
My brother purchased one back in May , 1979 in Italy. Unfortunately it was totalled in an accident in August of the same year. It was a red 1971 model , the video is correct to point out some of the car's defects. The live axle at the back is just one of them , the Montreal was built on the old Giulia platform , totally inadequate for this vehicle. The engine is a true racing component , the displacement was increased from 2000cc. to 2600cc for driveability reasons and the horsepower was dropped from 240 to 200 hp. Whoever gets their hands on one of these cars should keep it because it's value will go up greatly.
I was 17 and went to the world's fair in Montreal from Toronto and I saw that car and fell in love with all Italian vehicles on the spot. I now live in UK and have a home in Italy near Bologna and I am STILL a fan of Italian motorcycles and cars...including the Lancia Fulvia which I first saw in England at about 20 years of age.Another love at first sight moment. Thanks for your excited love of cool cars. I do enjoy your infectious passion for cars!
One of the most beautiful cars ever made. We had a customer in our petrol station who had one in orange and because of that I did see my first one in 1977. From that moment I always liked the Montreal.
I had the pleasure of getting to sit in one of these recently at a car show, and to be honest, compared to other Italian sports cars of the era that I've sat in, the Lamborghini Silhouette, Miura, and the De Tomaso Pantera, this was surprisingly spacious and comfortable. I found it was even more enjoyable to sit in when compared to a Jaguar XJ-S, which felt like I was lying in a bed with the steering wheel cutting my knees off! The Montreal, for all its faults and underperformance commercially, is truly a unique thing of beauty, and I think its appeal for me is only added to by its rarity and lack of mainstream acknowledgement. To my mind the very definition of an underdog. 🙂 Also, that engine sound, woof! 😍
Great video. I confirm as a citizen of Montreal, the International and Universal Exposition of Montreal was held in 1967. I saw the Alfa Romeo Montreal at the Italian Exposition in 1967 I was 6 years old. The styling was amazing.
A remarkable looking car - like a mini Miura. A pity it didn’t live up to the exotic looks! Great headlamp covers though, and what an amazing dash design. Thanks again Jack!
It's a shame Alfa hasn't tried to mimic this car in the later years. The Giulia is somewhat pretty. But if you took away the grill it could be any car. I think they played it too safe.
@@PrivateEyeYiYi The guy said was a failure very few were sold . Now bet was a Pininfarina design and they look much alike , Miura is one if not the best car ever designed , had one big I mean huge problem . They would and fid went up in smoke very easy .
6:00 you are absolutely right. At least the rear axle was completely taken over from the Tipo 105, and it was its weak spot. 200 hp (in Italian spec) was too much for it, contemporary car magzine reviewers wrote.
I remember seeing one in a dealer showroom in '72/73, impressive looking car, still is. Your comment about driving it today concurs with my general feeling for any old vehicle. All the fast cars of 50 year ago, are by today's standards not any longer cutting 'la moutarde'. Appreciate them for what they are now, survivors, and drive accordingly. This will get more appreciative comments and looks from people than a new Ferrari will.
When I visited Modena several years ago I saw one being driven in the streets. It was metallic green and sounded awesome. I took a pretty bad picture of it as I just spotted it a few blocks away. But the sound and opportunity to see it running was the best thing ever. And seeing it there at home was fantastic
Great video Jack. Been looking forward to this one. The Montreal has been a dream car of mine since I was about 10 years old when I owned a book of dream cars and an orange Montreal just like this one was the car on the cover. Although I’ve never driven one, there are a number of them in my local Alfa Club so I get to see them quite regularly, including a beautiful orange one. They’re a special car for sure.
The sound is very throaty if feel far more exotic that other Alfas , in 84 I test drove a Muira but it was $29,000 my budget was $7-8k , next a Montreal it was $11k with the owner refusing any negotiations, a glanced at a mint 911 E that was $13k But bought the Alfetta GTV for $7k , kinda wish I’d sold a Kidney & bought the Montreal. 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful skill .
There's just a chap working on this car in his garage 200m from my house, same colour. Next time I see it, I will definitely take some time to walk around, cause it's just such a rare beast. So cool, it somehow sits price and character wise next to the first gen Mazda Cosmo in my book. Not massively overpowered, but pretty and from a brand you just wouldn't expect it. Good choice for the channel!
Jack I love your videos: the Montreal was 100% based on the Giulia chassis and, at the time of presentation at the World Fair, it was equipped with the standard 1.6 liter twin cam engine. The Canadian and North American dealers loved the look but asked for a larger engine and Alfa managed (we should say "forced the engineers") to fit the V8 (the only big engine they had) under the bonnet which, by the way, needed to be modified to accommodate the much larger engine. All in all the transplant was not successful because the weight distribution changed significantly, as you have noticed in your test drive. The Spica fuel injection system was also always problematic. Cheers from Italy
Thank you for another excellent video, this seems a particularly fine and healthy Montreal. I worked with an Alfa Romeo dealership in Edinburgh for fifteen years at the time of the Montreal and got to know them quite well. I loved the looks with a Miura DNA in the styling. The car had its handling characteristics due to the suspension design shared with the 105 series; Alfa did not really have the funds or resources to do anything else at the time, a lot of the money went into the engine which was an absolute gem both to work on and use. I remember spraying WD40 on the cam covers and engine sump to protect them as they were made of magnesium. The Montreal is one of these cars which is about how the car makes you feel rather than how fast it is. I have a preference for front engined grand touring motor cars which endeared me to the Montreal and I developed a soft spot for them. I also had experience with the Porsche 928 and Ferrari’s 365GTB/4 Daytona which rubs me up the same way; there is also a certain Aston Martin V8 Vantage (7-litre by Richard Williams). Fond memories! Amanda has excellent taste.
@@Number27 I think you’ve just summed up why so many of us love Alfas. It’s how they make you feel. I owned 3 in the 80s and drove many more of all sorts for a hire company at the time, loved them all, flaws and all - that’s part of the ‘character’ that Alfas have, mostly the engine at the heart of it. Never got to drive a Montreal though!😢 That’s a special car. Great to see so many Italian classics in your honest reviews.
Awesome car. That colour is absolutely beautiful. Thank you to Amanda for letting this car be documented on video. Looking forward to the next video. Keep up the good work.
a lot of italian cars of that era had crap brakes, well, all the ones i drove certainly did, but they were about 7/8 years old by then. we are definitely spoiled these days, never drove a car with poor brakes for about 15yrs, but still drive plenty of poor cars. keep up the good work young man
I remember these cars from Top Trumps, and from seeing them in Switzerland.Always interested me and a rare sight today. , probably a more interesting ownership proposition than a Interceptor. .You manage to describe the driving experience and feeling /character of a car where many youtubers fail , Another great video jack.
My girlfriend at the time , her father had one , never got to go out in it , but well remember my first look when he opened the garage door to show me , fabulous looking car.
I disagree on the heading about the Montreal being a "flop". With 3900 units built of what was an extremely complex (for its time) race-derived V8 GT, built by a brand that was already a generalist and didn't have the aura of Maserati or Ferrari, this was a damn good result. In the same period, 1100 Maserati Indys and 2800 Ferrari 308 GT4 were built, and perhaps 10,000 Porsche 911 S Coupes. So 3900 was not so bad considering the 1973 fuel crisis killed its market!
Great video, Jack! 😀 The switchable horn is something my Fiat Dino Coupé has also and the manual for the car states that the louder one is for country driving, where speeds are higher and therefore road and wind noise is more present. The quieter horn is meant for city traffic. Anyways, it is a funny little quirk that only the Italians would come up with and it is endearingly charming to me. 😀 By the way, something else my Dino has two of is ignition systems. In the early 70s, Magneti Marelli built their first ever fully electronic ignition system. They must not have been entirely confident in their own product, because the Dino Coupé with the 2.4L V6 also comes with a conventional distributor ignition system , as sort of a backup in case the electronic one should ever fail. You can even switch between the two systems on the fly with the engine running, using a flip-switch on the ignition box. 😉 I love these little details! 😀
At the center of my Leno level fantasy car collection is a whole section devoted to my favorite designer, Marcello Gandini. Absolutely includes a Montreal.
OK, Jack... Well, here is one car you've reviewed that I never owned. I lived in the states when these were current, and the Montreal was never certified for US sale. I did look at one that had by some Italian magic been documented as a 1967 model, so it could be imported and sold in the USA. As an Alfisti of some standing, I was delighted...until I drove it. Great engine, great gearbox, barely adequate brakes but the chassis just wasn't up to the other parts. And the interior wasn't up to the asking price (OK, it was cheap). Plus, I had my eye on a 4-headlight Ferrari 330 2+2 that was about the same money. Bought the 330 and kept it for 20+ years.
It was supposed to be a central position engine and Bertone was livid when Alfa decided against it at the end of the design phase. Most of my friends who have one have figured out the flaws and are more than very happy with it. Excellent video, as always!
The Montreal was never planned or designed or tested with the engine behind the driver, as explained in books and articles by Alfa Romeo themselves as well as Gandini. The slats are there for purely aestethic purposes (they contain the cabin vents though) and wouldn't have worked very good as mid engine air intakes anyway. The "mid engine" myth comes from the motoring press during Expo '67 where two Montreals were on static display but couldn't be inspected up close. The two show cars had a 90hp 1600cc engine from a Giulia Super so they could move under their own power, and this engine was under the bonnet up front. Bertone was indeed livid when Alfa Romeo took it to production, but that was because they ruined its design to accommodate the relatively large, heavy and powerful V8. The prototype/show car was arguably much sleeker and better looking than the production version, but it was to compete in a market with E-type, 911, Citroën SM and Dinos where a four banger was simply out of the question. Disclaimer: I have written extensively about the Montreal and also restored one.
Brother, you must have been a good boy in another life (and this one I suppose), to have had the string of cars to sample lately!! I was born in 1967 so I guess the Montreal and I both being somewhat Canadian (me a bit more if I'm honest) are siblings of a kind, although I must say the Alfa is aging much better than I am. The looks of this fabulous car always get me and being in direct competition sales-wise with the Dino can you imagine going into an Italian car sales shoppe back in like 1972 with the frightening sum of around $10K to buy insure and tax a car and seeing those two cars in the showroom? Now had Ferrari thought "You know what? Instead of our 6cyl that Enzo seems to hate why don't we buy that lovely Alfa V8 and throw a special Ferrari tune on it to maybe eek a few more rampaging Italian horses, and then stuff it into the Dino's absolutely stunning body and chassis?" Now that would have been a car and a half even by today's standards! Cannot wait to see what you'll show up in next, great and educational film!!!
It sounds like an American car because they mostly have 90degree cranks as well. 90deg crank V8 engines have perfect primary and secondary balance so are very smooth. The US sound comes because they fire two cylinders (at 90 deg intervals) on one bank, then two on the other, and so on. Gives that nice burble effect with twin exhausts.
I am not an expert on Alpha's though I like most of them.This car is so well designed in terns of looks. I would go as far as to say that the design has not dated much. Such a shame that it did not do so well at the time though the things you mentioned, oil crisis being a major factor with other cars of the time as well. I love the Alpha quirks in this, so Italian. Thanks jack for yet another great review. 👍👍
Gandini was a bit unhappy with it. He later stated that he's dissapointed that Alfa decided to put the V8 in it, and for that had to raise to bonnet well above the concept car. Still, it looks amazing to me as well.
Gorgeous thing. Always loved these and great to have a real world review, thanks Jack. Partic loved seeing underneath it (do more or those please) as it gave real insight into why the period reviews weren’t great.
Wow… you really are driving some amazing machines these days Jack. Despite the Alfa not being a game changer I would definitely have one in my dream garage/warehouse ❤
Stunningly beutifull design but seems to have been a kind of "parts bin special" as it looks like Alfa used what was available in the shelfs at the time, no matter if it was up to the task or not. And way more beutifull in person than on pictures.
What a wonderful car and thanks a lot for your sympathic presentation .I like the original exhaust pipes which provide an elegant V8-sound as it was common in the cultivated 70ies .
A friend of my dad had one, back in the late70's. We had some ride in it sometimes, I was 16 and I fell in love with that engine sound. But yes, the Montreal didn't have the chassis that deserved its engine.
This has been one of my favorite cars along with the Iso Grifo since I saw them listed in a 1974 German car buyer's guide. I didn't know it was related to Expo '67 and I visited as a child. I've only seen one Montreal on the road, in Pt Loma San Diego, and another at a car show. But I now I wish I didn't know it has a live axle, seems out of place.
Put me down as a lover of all things Alpha. I've always had a soft spot in my heart (and head?) for the marque. With this model we can certainly invoke the word 'unique' without abusing the adjective. This is not the only video review of the Montreal but it is the best. Thanks for another brilliant episode!
I only just found your channel but I already love it!! I love all these classic European cars! They're really a thing of charm and beauty unlike anything today in my opinion.
I always loved the look of these. I wouldn't care how it drives, I would be happy just having it to look at. It's a masterpiece in my eyes ........ the color is spot on as well
I really regret selling mine as well 😢. I had # 10564 2001062, a 73 in AR 347 Blu Medio , 1983 - 91. I was totally familiar w the Spica injection and took MANY trouble free cross - USA trips. I only sold it so I could buy my 1st house, stupid move
Great video of a wonderful car. I’ve admired these for years (looked at one for £12,995 in 2003) but had no idea they were the same price as a Dino new. Shows what value they are now!
In the late 80's / early 90's this was a $15k car. Was impressive to see in the metal with the SPICA fuel injectors. Mechanical injection pump was huge. The rear differential sump was necessary for cooling from the higher power level, Think you can still get it from a German website. Also sat in a mid to late 60''s Cooper-Alfa Romeo F1 car that was crazy. Had fuel running through the roll bar..
Hi Jack ... Nice one once again. Did meet a chap with one of these cars one time , he said the carbs were always going out of tune as the set up was never perfected. Cheers Andrew
@@Number27 Because of which quite a few were converted to carbs (can´t remember which or how). But now they get converted back and are reliable when sorted. In fact Spica is not that scary and was fitted to most US Alfas post emmissions, just unknown in Europe. It´s a mechanical system and an old school diesel tractor mechanic might not be too phased......
One of my bucket-list cars. Intriguingly the p/w matches the last V6 156 (which I have now) which is also 1300kg wet with the 2.5l 24V Busso putting out 200bhp and 200nm torque - which is amazing to think about.
I have been looking forward to this. For me, this cars claim to fame is that it did the first boy/girl fun car race scene with Michael Caine against a Porsche 911 that was later replicated in Mission Impossible 2 and Goldeneye!
What a great vintage car. Never sold in the USA. Did not realize it was a flat plane crankshaft. Now drive a 33 Stradale in a drive on the right country.
Here in Australia there is a youtube channel called The Skid Factory,they build the most amazing cars ,if you have a long last younger brother then ive found him and hes name is Woody from The Skid Factory,love this channel glad to be a subscriber
One thing that someone may be able to answer??. If you watch the jay Leno review if this car, he states his will rev to 9k with the sweet spot around 7k.. His is a Italian one from 1971?. From other reviews and what I have read, this car revs to 6.4-6.5k and has 194-5 bhp? His revs to 9k and has around 240bhp. Were there different ones out at different times or slightly different outputs over the years? Either way a beautiful car which is reasonably priced (£60-100k) for such a beautiful classic Italian car..
He doesn't say it's turned.. If fact he says apart from the tyres it's standard?? But all I have read would suggest it revs only to 6.5k.. Thank you for your reply..
Great video. I never realized that the Montreal suspension was basically stock 105. Having owned and driven a couple of 105s I can attest to the joy of steering with the throttle, but those weren't $100K+ cars. Still, with the right tweaking the 105 suspension can be made enjoyable.
When I first read about this car in the 1970s, I remember the testers saying something like, ‘It might not go very hard but brother does it stop’. This was accompanied by a head on picture of the car practically standing on its nose. These were Australian delivered Alfas but I can’t imagine there’s that much difference. I think it’s significant that these were the only reports I have read that say anything positive about the brakes. All the others are along the same lines as what you said.
Thank you for that Jack, I have seen a few recently and love the look of them and always have, but have never driven one. The thought of finding engine parts always put me off a bit. I agree with you that they are undervalued. Pretty car.
You are in a spate of covering cars from my past and I agree with most things you say about the Montreal. It is a looker, but attracted too much of the wrong attention for me (my car was a stunning metallic green!). But the Montreal is a boat, handles terribly and the front end lifts when you accelerate. The brakes are awful. Both these things can and must be corrected by Alfaholics upgrades, which will transform the car (maybe save an expensive accident) for about 2000GBP. You are right about the blindspots, terrifying in city traffic, not one of those nice cars which shrink around you. I lived in central Madrid when I had mine so the lack of bump protection was also scary and many of these cars have a broken escudo grille. As well as the 105 running gear, the Montreal has a 105 fuel tank, which emptied faster than my bladder would fill which rather takes the idea of GT out the window. I couldn´t get 20mpg on 70 mph runs between Madrid and Alicante, so a guzzler as well. Spares are easier to find now than 10 years ago, but it is expensive if anything goes wrong with the engine. The water pump bearings fail which is an expensive fix. If you have problems with the Spica FI very few people will be willing to fix it ( a guy in US, a guy in Switzerland and a guy in the UK who just wouldn´t pick up the phone). The engine really has nothing to do with the T33 racing unit, apart from architecture. It does sound wonderful and the Montreal was nicely built at the Bertone factory, so tend to rust less than a Milan Alfa of the time. Is it good value? It´s relatively cheap if you want to show off and cruise around. I´d be interested to see you compare a Fiat Dino Coupé. The Oil Crisis didn´t help the car but it didn´t kill it either, Montreal was just too expensive and not good enough. Again, I´d have a well-sorted GTV6 for a fraction of the price over a Montreal. I like driving....
When I had my 1971 Alfa Romeo 1750A Berlina (yes, the 1750 with rare automatic gearbox) serviced, the garage owner gave me a ride in his client's Montréal. The car was sort of a let down for me in the same way you described. The only thing I liked the most was the engine sound.
Oi jack are you bloody reading these comments mate or what? Anyway great job mate you smashed it out of the park with something different and non main stream keep it up 👍 this is what makes you better than the rest
That front with those lights... WOW! What a beautiful car, I love the Italians automotive style from the late 60s and 70s, especially those from Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini.
I think i own this car when i was in England had trouble with the brake master cylinder I will check photos as the lic looks very familiar .I drove it home after a tune up and one the spark plugs blew out but got home I got stopped all the time as folks loved its looks But your right the engine seemed very sluggish and wallow around on the curves and bends .
Owned one for a few years. I would agree with most of your comments, definitely more of a GT, much happier on A roads than B roads. You didn’t mention the main “ownership downside” which is its staggering complexity. V8, mechanical fuel injection, twin pumps, twin coils, dry sump etc etc. There are still days I wish I hadn’t sold mine
I remember seeing one of these pulling in a local garage in Wyke, Bradford, in the late 90s. Looked great but sounded rough... think that was tge dual distributors acting up....!
"only the Italians" such a perfect way to say what explains this car and dozens and dozens more. Do you like to DRIVE?? Yeah? well get in and take control of this totally immersive, responsive, tactile, one of a kind, quirky but incredible driving experiences. Beautiful car quirks and all. Forza Italia!!
Jack another review of an ltalian sort of super car but the design is really good typical Alfa a very good looking car seems to go good and l have known about tgese for years never seen one reviewed until now never knew what engine it has and a bonus what it looks like from underneath and l know all l can say thank you and keep these cars coming
Its an interesting video and a good review. A few points- You say its a flop and they only sold 3900. Also mentioned, it cost as much as a Ferrari Dino. Ferrari only sold 3500 Dinos. Sure the Montreal didn't fly out the dealer doors but really, they sold 3900. How many more would they have to sell to not be a flop? As for the weak suspension etc, the same can be said for a lot of 60s-70s cars, especially today. As with a lot of opinions about cars its all perspective. I always loved the Montreal, they're finally getting the recognition they deserve. As always love your Videos, keep them coming No 27
Ferrari was a tiny fish with about 5 distributors in UK at the time so selling 3500 Dinos was 350% more units than any previous Ferrari. Alfa was on an industrial scale, selling 250,000 Bertone coupés in 10 years for example. Not to mention the sedan and spider versions! Perhaps if Montreal had been homologated for USA market it would have sold more but the car was not a critical or sales success. In relative terms, it still isn´t if you consider that similar money invested in buying a Dino or Porsche 911 RS in 1973 would currently be 6-10 times the value of a Montreal, like for like.
@@martinrichardhorrocks9869 All very valid and true points. I still can't agree that 4000 is a flop, 400 maybe. As for current values, who knows which car people will overpay for next, maybe the Fiat Dino. I agree the car wasn't a run away success, but many of our favourite cars started out on the unpopular side. The Fiat X1/9 ?
@@daveg2113 I wouldn´t say "Flop" either, maybe "disappointing"! But that wouldn´t be enough of an internet hook for #27. I also like FIATs, both Dino and X/19. I have never paid a lot of money for cars but have sometimes got lucky on timing. The FIAT Dino Coupé is a very elegant car but the boat has sailed on that one for me and it´s not a very strong "want". The Dino engine is even more expensive to repair than a Montreal unit.....makes you think!
Love your Italian pronunciation of the foregin names❤ Saw an immaculate Montreal at the 2022 Oslo Motorshow yesterday. Wow wo wow! Also a 512BB, a 365 and a beautiful light green metallic BMW 2800 GTS very alike the Montreal. You should review one of those❤
I really wish I could have one of these....in the same color. But, I don't have any money....no matter how hard I try to work for it. This is an absolutely beautiful looking and sounding car!
I would not care if it drove like a Lada. Opening my garage and seeing such a beautiful car would be enough. Thank you for an excellent review. At one time you could buy them for nothing.
I wouldn't have known about this car if it wasn't on every car play card in the 70's and 80's.
I knew back then as a littlie boy that this was my type of car. And I liked the Maserati Khamsin just as much.
sadly soon all gas cars will be forbidden in EU and USA!!!
@@Schlipperschlopperno lol. They won't be
Epic styling and epic V8 sound that spoke to the soul. Others may be faster, but art doesn't need to be fast.
Cheesy cliches. It looked like a Cheverolet and it was badly engineered.
@@asensibleyoungman2978 nothing cheesy about it. It's a great looking/sounding car. Like many other Alfas it may not be engineered as something German or Japanese, but it has soul.
@@autoavids 'Soul' is just a cliche people use to cover up poorly designed and built cars.
Not a cliche, a connection, either you feel it or you don't.
@@autoavids Some people obviously misinterpret bad handling, poor performance and inadequate development as 'soul.' It's probably the engine sound. They can't separate a good sound from a poor car. To them (i.e you) if it sounds good, it must be good, so it has 'soul.'
Having owned a bunch of ALFAs (currently 5) I can tell you that, notwithstanding the noted (for the most part accurate) negatives, the Montreal is a great car. Out of all my cars it brings the biggest smile to my face while driving and draws the most attention. Driving it is really a special experience. I think it is the fact it is so rare and unusual looking. When i'm driving it is common for people to take pics and video me. At car show people walk right by mclarens/ferraris/gt40's/etc. to gawk. Every time I get gas (it uses a lot...) people come up to ask about it. When I'm in my ferrari or porsche people ask "how's that mid-life crisis going??" In the montreal it's always "awesome car". With the Alfaholics suspension, as mine has, they handle well and are comfortable to drive for long distances. It's plenty fast, a great GT, if not sports car.
A car that I would buy on looks alone, it is a piece of art even if is slightly disappointing to drive! Great review Jack!
My brother purchased one back in May , 1979 in Italy. Unfortunately it was totalled in an accident in August of the same year. It was a red 1971 model , the video is correct to point out some of the car's defects. The live axle at the back is just one of them , the Montreal was built on the old Giulia platform , totally inadequate for this vehicle. The engine is a true racing component , the displacement was increased from 2000cc. to 2600cc for driveability reasons and the horsepower was dropped from 240 to 200 hp. Whoever gets their hands on one of these cars should keep it because it's value will go up greatly.
I was 17 and went to the world's fair in Montreal from Toronto and I saw that car and fell in love with all Italian vehicles on the spot. I now live in UK and have a home in Italy near Bologna and I am STILL a fan of Italian motorcycles and cars...including the Lancia Fulvia which I first saw in England at about 20 years of age.Another love at first sight moment. Thanks for your excited love of cool cars. I do enjoy your infectious passion for cars!
One of the most beautiful cars ever made. We had a customer in our petrol station who had one in orange and because of that I did see my first one in 1977. From that moment I always liked the Montreal.
I had the pleasure of getting to sit in one of these recently at a car show, and to be honest, compared to other Italian sports cars of the era that I've sat in, the Lamborghini Silhouette, Miura, and the De Tomaso Pantera, this was surprisingly spacious and comfortable. I found it was even more enjoyable to sit in when compared to a Jaguar XJ-S, which felt like I was lying in a bed with the steering wheel cutting my knees off!
The Montreal, for all its faults and underperformance commercially, is truly a unique thing of beauty, and I think its appeal for me is only added to by its rarity and lack of mainstream acknowledgement. To my mind the very definition of an underdog. 🙂
Also, that engine sound, woof! 😍
Great video. I confirm as a citizen of Montreal, the International and Universal Exposition of Montreal was held in 1967. I saw the Alfa Romeo Montreal at the Italian Exposition in 1967 I was 6 years old. The styling was amazing.
I simply love watching your videos, they way you talk about cars is as eloquent and flowery as if a chef was talking about delicious food... 🙏🏻
A remarkable looking car - like a mini Miura. A pity it didn’t live up to the exotic looks! Great headlamp covers though, and what an amazing dash design. Thanks again Jack!
It's a shame Alfa hasn't tried to mimic this car in the later years. The Giulia is somewhat pretty. But if you took away the grill it could be any car. I think they played it too safe.
Was about to say the same in my words , it does look a lot like a L Miura
A Miura with a front engined 200hp instead of mid mounted 375hp. Maybe it was a lot cheaper, otherwise why would anyone buy it over the Lambo?
@@PrivateEyeYiYi The guy said was a failure very few were sold . Now bet was a Pininfarina design and they look much alike , Miura is one if not the best car ever designed , had one big I mean huge problem . They would and fid went up in smoke very easy .
@@PrivateEyeYiYi you can fit a couple of kids in the Montreal
6:00 you are absolutely right. At least the rear axle was completely taken over from the Tipo 105, and it was its weak spot. 200 hp (in Italian spec) was too much for it, contemporary car magzine reviewers wrote.
I remember seeing one in a dealer showroom in '72/73, impressive looking car, still is. Your comment about driving it today concurs with my general feeling for any old vehicle. All the fast cars of 50 year ago, are by today's standards not any longer cutting 'la moutarde'. Appreciate them for what they are now, survivors, and drive accordingly. This will get more appreciative comments and looks from people than a new Ferrari will.
If I saw it coming, I'd jump out in front of it and insist the owner give me a tour!
100% correct. I know what I’d rather own. Actually if I picked a year to select a garage full of cars from it would be 1967.
When I visited Modena several years ago I saw one being driven in the streets. It was metallic green and sounded awesome. I took a pretty bad picture of it as I just spotted it a few blocks away. But the sound and opportunity to see it running was the best thing ever. And seeing it there at home was fantastic
I just bought an orange '72 Montreal last week. Thank you for the lovely video...and the extra knowledge.
Great video Jack. Been looking forward to this one. The Montreal has been a dream car of mine since I was about 10 years old when I owned a book of dream cars and an orange Montreal just like this one was the car on the cover. Although I’ve never driven one, there are a number of them in my local Alfa Club so I get to see them quite regularly, including a beautiful orange one. They’re a special car for sure.
A car I've always loved since I was a little girl. When I saw it in a book called supercars of the 70s.
I had the same book.
The sound is very throaty if feel far more exotic that other Alfas , in 84 I test drove a Muira but it was $29,000 my budget was $7-8k , next a Montreal it was $11k with the owner refusing any negotiations, a glanced at a mint 911 E that was $13k
But bought the Alfetta GTV for $7k , kinda wish I’d sold a Kidney & bought the Montreal. 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful skill .
I love that your show is about real cars for the average joe.
There's just a chap working on this car in his garage 200m from my house, same colour. Next time I see it, I will definitely take some time to walk around, cause it's just such a rare beast. So cool, it somehow sits price and character wise next to the first gen Mazda Cosmo in my book. Not massively overpowered, but pretty and from a brand you just wouldn't expect it. Good choice for the channel!
Jack I love your videos: the Montreal was 100% based on the Giulia chassis and, at the time of presentation at the World Fair, it was equipped with the standard 1.6 liter twin cam engine. The Canadian and North American dealers loved the look but asked for a larger engine and Alfa managed (we should say "forced the engineers") to fit the V8 (the only big engine they had) under the bonnet which, by the way, needed to be modified to accommodate the much larger engine. All in all the transplant was not successful because the weight distribution changed significantly, as you have noticed in your test drive. The Spica fuel injection system was also always problematic. Cheers from Italy
Thank you for another excellent video, this seems a particularly fine and healthy Montreal. I worked with an Alfa Romeo dealership in Edinburgh for fifteen years at the time of the Montreal and got to know them quite well. I loved the looks with a Miura DNA in the styling. The car had its handling characteristics due to the suspension design shared with the 105 series; Alfa did not really have the funds or resources to do anything else at the time, a lot of the money went into the engine which was an absolute gem both to work on and use. I remember spraying WD40 on the cam covers and engine sump to protect them as they were made of magnesium. The Montreal is one of these cars which is about how the car makes you feel rather than how fast it is. I have a preference for front engined grand touring motor cars which endeared me to the Montreal and I developed a soft spot for them. I also had experience with the Porsche 928 and Ferrari’s 365GTB/4 Daytona which rubs me up the same way; there is also a certain Aston Martin V8 Vantage (7-litre by Richard Williams). Fond memories! Amanda has excellent taste.
Nice to hear from someone who has worked on these cars back in the day not just tinkered with them.👍
Totally agree this is a car that’s about how it makes you feel rather than how fast it goes!!
What dealership?
@@hughoxford8735 Fishers Garage in Canning Street, long since closed.
@@Number27 I think you’ve just summed up why so many of us love Alfas. It’s how they make you feel.
I owned 3 in the 80s and drove many more of all sorts for a hire company at the time, loved them all, flaws and all - that’s part of the ‘character’ that Alfas have, mostly the engine at the heart of it. Never got to drive a Montreal though!😢
That’s a special car.
Great to see so many Italian classics in your honest reviews.
Awesome car. That colour is absolutely beautiful. Thank you to Amanda for letting this car be documented on video. Looking forward to the next video. Keep up the good work.
a lot of italian cars of that era had crap brakes, well, all the ones i drove certainly did, but they were about 7/8 years old by then. we are definitely spoiled these days, never drove a car with poor brakes for about 15yrs, but still drive plenty of poor cars. keep up the good work young man
I remember these cars from Top Trumps, and from seeing them in Switzerland.Always interested me and a rare sight today. , probably a more interesting ownership proposition than a Interceptor.
.You manage to describe the driving experience and feeling /character of a car where many youtubers fail , Another great video jack.
I saw one of these at The Classic Hub about 3 or 4 years ago and fell in love with it. Really is a very cool car.
My girlfriend at the time , her father had one , never got to go out in it , but well remember my first look when he opened the garage door to show me , fabulous looking car.
I disagree on the heading about the Montreal being a "flop". With 3900 units built of what was an extremely complex (for its time) race-derived V8 GT, built by a brand that was already a generalist and didn't have the aura of Maserati or Ferrari, this was a damn good result. In the same period, 1100 Maserati Indys and 2800 Ferrari 308 GT4 were built, and perhaps 10,000 Porsche 911 S Coupes. So 3900 was not so bad considering the 1973 fuel crisis killed its market!
13:11 not only the Italians - Aston lagondas has two horns, one for town and a louder horn for the country
Great video, Jack! 😀
The switchable horn is something my Fiat Dino Coupé has also and the manual for the car states that the louder one is for country driving, where speeds are higher and therefore road and wind noise is more present. The quieter horn is meant for city traffic.
Anyways, it is a funny little quirk that only the Italians would come up with and it is endearingly charming to me. 😀
By the way, something else my Dino has two of is ignition systems. In the early 70s, Magneti Marelli built their first ever fully electronic ignition system. They must not have been entirely confident in their own product, because the Dino Coupé with the 2.4L V6 also comes with a conventional distributor ignition system , as sort of a backup in case the electronic one should ever fail. You can even switch between the two systems on the fly with the engine running, using a flip-switch on the ignition box. 😉
I love these little details! 😀
Pretty sure the 1960s Peugeot 203 also had a 'town / country' horn option, so possibly it was a Latin car thing?
At the center of my Leno level fantasy car collection is a whole section devoted to my favorite designer, Marcello Gandini. Absolutely includes a Montreal.
OK, Jack... Well, here is one car you've reviewed that I never owned. I lived in the states when these were current, and the Montreal was never certified for US sale. I did look at one that had by some Italian magic been documented as a 1967 model, so it could be imported and sold in the USA. As an Alfisti of some standing, I was delighted...until I drove it. Great engine, great gearbox, barely adequate brakes but the chassis just wasn't up to the other parts. And the interior wasn't up to the asking price (OK, it was cheap). Plus, I had my eye on a 4-headlight Ferrari 330 2+2 that was about the same money. Bought the 330 and kept it for 20+ years.
It was supposed to be a central position engine and Bertone was livid when Alfa decided against it at the end of the design phase. Most of my friends who have one have figured out the flaws and are more than very happy with it. Excellent video, as always!
The Montreal was never planned or designed or tested with the engine behind the driver, as explained in books and articles by Alfa Romeo themselves as well as Gandini. The slats are there for purely aestethic purposes (they contain the cabin vents though) and wouldn't have worked very good as mid engine air intakes anyway. The "mid engine" myth comes from the motoring press during Expo '67 where two Montreals were on static display but couldn't be inspected up close.
The two show cars had a 90hp 1600cc engine from a Giulia Super so they could move under their own power, and this engine was under the bonnet up front.
Bertone was indeed livid when Alfa Romeo took it to production, but that was because they ruined its design to accommodate the relatively large, heavy and powerful V8. The prototype/show car was arguably much sleeker and better looking than the production version, but it was to compete in a market with E-type, 911, Citroën SM and Dinos where a four banger was simply out of the question.
Disclaimer: I have written extensively about the Montreal and also restored one.
There are other video's YT where you get much more of the engine sound, and its one of the best sounding engines I have ever heard.
Hes only gone and done it OMG chap. What a beautiful motor. Very well done jack (Si from bath)
Brother, you must have been a good boy in another life (and this one I suppose), to have had the string of cars to sample lately!! I was born in 1967 so I guess the Montreal and I both being somewhat Canadian (me a bit more if I'm honest) are siblings of a kind, although I must say the Alfa is aging much better than I am. The looks of this fabulous car always get me and being in direct competition sales-wise with the Dino can you imagine going into an Italian car sales shoppe back in like 1972 with the frightening sum of around $10K to buy insure and tax a car and seeing those two cars in the showroom? Now had Ferrari thought "You know what? Instead of our 6cyl that Enzo seems to hate why don't we buy that lovely Alfa V8 and throw a special Ferrari tune on it to maybe eek a few more rampaging Italian horses, and then stuff it into the Dino's absolutely stunning body and chassis?" Now that would have been a car and a half even by today's standards! Cannot wait to see what you'll show up in next, great and educational film!!!
Loving the ribbed headlining you would of thought it would of ribbed right to left to match the ribbing on seats though
most of the best looking cars came out in the late-60s and the 70s. beautiful.
It sounds like an American car because they mostly have 90degree cranks as well. 90deg crank V8 engines have perfect primary and secondary balance so are very smooth. The US sound comes because they fire two cylinders (at 90 deg intervals) on one bank, then two on the other, and so on. Gives that nice burble effect with twin exhausts.
I am not an expert on Alpha's though I like most of them.This car is so well designed in terns of looks. I would go as far as to say that the design has not dated much. Such a shame that it did not do so well at the time though the things you mentioned, oil crisis being a major factor with other cars of the time as well. I love the Alpha quirks in this, so Italian. Thanks jack for yet another great review. 👍👍
Alfa, not Alpha. Not an expert indeed.
Gandini was a bit unhappy with it. He later stated that he's dissapointed that Alfa decided to put the V8 in it, and for that had to raise to bonnet well above the concept car. Still, it looks amazing to me as well.
@@oldanslo absolutely no clue why I typed Alpha? Send me to the back of the class.
Alpha's 😂😂😂😂😂
Gorgeous thing. Always loved these and great to have a real world review, thanks Jack. Partic loved seeing underneath it (do more or those please) as it gave real insight into why the period reviews weren’t great.
Wow… you really are driving some amazing machines these days Jack. Despite the Alfa not being a game changer I would definitely have one in my dream garage/warehouse ❤
Dad had 3 Alfa in the period and remember drooling over one in the workshop in York
Wonderful car, yet very temperamental. A friend owns one and he regular pours thousands into it for repairs
Stunningly beutifull design but seems to have been a kind of "parts bin special" as it looks like Alfa used what was available in the shelfs at the time, no matter if it was up to the task or not.
And way more beutifull in person than on pictures.
Michael Caine ran one in a film in the early 70s,i remember reading a road test of one in 72 motor magazine
A guy in my cars and coffee circle has one. It’s always fascinating to see it. Great video Jack. Your delivery is amazing.
Thanks Dan!
What a wonderful car and thanks a lot for your sympathic presentation .I like the original exhaust pipes which provide an elegant V8-sound as it was common in the cultivated 70ies .
A friend of my dad had one, back in the late70's. We had some ride in it sometimes, I was 16 and I fell in love with that engine sound. But yes, the Montreal didn't have the chassis that deserved its engine.
This has been one of my favorite cars along with the Iso Grifo since I saw them listed in a 1974 German car buyer's guide. I didn't know it was related to Expo '67 and I visited as a child. I've only seen one Montreal on the road, in Pt Loma San Diego, and another at a car show. But I now I wish I didn't know it has a live axle, seems out of place.
Amazing looking car Jack! The colour suite's it really well I think.... The door look very Miura inspired.... what a cool car 👍
Put me down as a lover of all things Alpha. I've always had a soft spot in my heart (and head?) for the marque. With this model we can certainly invoke the word 'unique' without abusing the adjective. This is not the only video review of the Montreal but it is the best. Thanks for another brilliant episode!
ALFA!!!!! Not alpha, he said to the “alpha lover”.
Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili
I only just found your channel but I already love it!! I love all these classic European cars! They're really a thing of charm and beauty unlike anything today in my opinion.
I always loved the look of these. I wouldn't care how it drives, I would be happy just having it to look at. It's a masterpiece in my eyes ........ the color is spot on as well
I had my 73 for 9 awesome yrs. Want to know how it REALLY drove? See my comments above 😊
HOWDY JACK, LOVE THE VID ON THE MONTREAL .. WISH YOU DO ONE ON THE 33 ALFA ( I HAVE ONE. GOT IT TWENTY YEARS ) 🇦🇺
And also, all the Italian cars from the late 70s to 80s have a particular smell when you sit in them, that screams Italian ❤
Heartstoppingly beautiful, a real work of art second only to the Miura.
Was never horrible to drive. Absolute standard for that time
Unfortanly I sold mine, still regret
I really regret selling mine as well 😢. I had # 10564 2001062, a 73 in AR 347 Blu Medio , 1983 - 91. I was totally familiar w the Spica injection and took MANY trouble free cross - USA trips. I only sold it so I could buy my 1st house, stupid move
Great video of a wonderful car. I’ve admired these for years (looked at one for £12,995 in 2003) but had no idea they were the same price as a Dino new. Shows what value they are now!
A pizza manufacturer I dealt with had one of these. Used to pick me up from the station when I visited the factory. Great fun!
In the late 80's / early 90's this was a $15k car. Was impressive to see in the metal with the SPICA fuel injectors. Mechanical injection pump was huge. The rear differential sump was necessary for cooling from the higher power level, Think you can still get it from a German website. Also sat in a mid to late 60''s Cooper-Alfa Romeo F1 car that was crazy. Had fuel running through the roll bar..
Hi Jack ... Nice one once again. Did meet a chap with one of these cars one time , he said the carbs were always going out of tune as the set up was never perfected. Cheers Andrew
Fancy that, especially as the Montreal has no carbs, it‘s fuel injected! 😂
I Stand corrected .... the fuel injection system was the problem then ! Thanks ..@@berolina7521
Hey Andrew, nice to hear from you! I think the fuel injection on these can be troublesome… so that’s probably what the chap was referring to!
@@Number27 Because of which quite a few were converted to carbs (can´t remember which or how). But now they get converted back and are reliable when sorted. In fact Spica is not that scary and was fitted to most US Alfas post emmissions, just unknown in Europe. It´s a mechanical system and an old school diesel tractor mechanic might not be too phased......
Jack, I’d love to see you review an LMX Sirex, an underrated Italian Pony Car.
One of my bucket-list cars.
Intriguingly the p/w matches the last V6 156 (which I have now) which is also 1300kg wet with the 2.5l 24V Busso putting out 200bhp and 200nm torque - which is amazing to think about.
I have been looking forward to this. For me, this cars claim to fame is that it did the first boy/girl fun car race scene with Michael Caine against a Porsche 911 that was later replicated in Mission Impossible 2 and Goldeneye!
Will always remember the day 30 Montreal's passed by me heading other direction a couple of years back - was accompanied by an SZ & a few 70s/80s GTVs
What a great vintage car. Never sold in the USA. Did not realize it was a flat plane crankshaft. Now drive a 33 Stradale in a drive on the right country.
The two best smoothest and exciting cars I've ever own and driven were the Alfa Montreal and the Alfa GTV 2000 in the 1970s.
Such a beautiful car. I saw one at a classic car show this summer. I couldn’t take my eyes off it!
Here in Australia there is a youtube channel called The Skid Factory,they build the most amazing cars ,if you have a long last younger brother then ive found him and hes name is Woody from The Skid Factory,love this channel glad to be a subscriber
One thing that someone may be able to answer??. If you watch the jay Leno review if this car, he states his will rev to 9k with the sweet spot around 7k.. His is a Italian one from 1971?. From other reviews and what I have read, this car revs to 6.4-6.5k and has 194-5 bhp? His revs to 9k and has around 240bhp. Were there different ones out at different times or slightly different outputs over the years? Either way a beautiful car which is reasonably priced (£60-100k) for such a beautiful classic Italian car..
Road cars revved to 6500.. the race engine to 8800. Maybe Leno’s is tuned…
He doesn't say it's turned.. If fact he says apart from the tyres it's standard?? But all I have read would suggest it revs only to 6.5k.. Thank you for your reply..
Great video. I never realized that the Montreal suspension was basically stock 105. Having owned and driven a couple of 105s I can attest to the joy of steering with the throttle, but those weren't $100K+ cars. Still, with the right tweaking the 105 suspension can be made enjoyable.
When I first read about this car in the 1970s, I remember the testers saying something like, ‘It might not go very hard but brother does it stop’. This was accompanied by a head on picture of the car practically standing on its nose. These were Australian delivered Alfas but I can’t imagine there’s that much difference. I think it’s significant that these were the only reports I have read that say anything positive about the brakes. All the others are along the same lines as what you said.
Thank you for that Jack, I have seen a few recently and love the look of them and always have, but have never driven one. The thought of finding engine parts always put me off a bit. I agree with you that they are undervalued. Pretty car.
You are in a spate of covering cars from my past and I agree with most things you say about the Montreal. It is a looker, but attracted too much of the wrong attention for me (my car was a stunning metallic green!). But the Montreal is a boat, handles terribly and the front end lifts when you accelerate. The brakes are awful. Both these things can and must be corrected by Alfaholics upgrades, which will transform the car (maybe save an expensive accident) for about 2000GBP.
You are right about the blindspots, terrifying in city traffic, not one of those nice cars which shrink around you. I lived in central Madrid when I had mine so the lack of bump protection was also scary and many of these cars have a broken escudo grille. As well as the 105 running gear, the Montreal has a 105 fuel tank, which emptied faster than my bladder would fill which rather takes the idea of GT out the window. I couldn´t get 20mpg on 70 mph runs between Madrid and Alicante, so a guzzler as well.
Spares are easier to find now than 10 years ago, but it is expensive if anything goes wrong with the engine. The water pump bearings fail which is an expensive fix. If you have problems with the Spica FI very few people will be willing to fix it ( a guy in US, a guy in Switzerland and a guy in the UK who just wouldn´t pick up the phone). The engine really has nothing to do with the T33 racing unit, apart from architecture. It does sound wonderful and the Montreal was nicely built at the Bertone factory, so tend to rust less than a Milan Alfa of the time.
Is it good value? It´s relatively cheap if you want to show off and cruise around. I´d be interested to see you compare a Fiat Dino Coupé. The Oil Crisis didn´t help the car but it didn´t kill it either, Montreal was just too expensive and not good enough.
Again, I´d have a well-sorted GTV6 for a fraction of the price over a Montreal. I like driving....
When I had my 1971 Alfa Romeo 1750A Berlina (yes, the 1750 with rare automatic gearbox) serviced, the garage owner gave me a ride in his client's Montréal. The car was sort of a let down for me in the same way you described. The only thing I liked the most was the engine sound.
Oi jack are you bloody reading these comments mate or what? Anyway great job mate you smashed it out of the park with something different and non main stream keep it up 👍 this is what makes you better than the rest
Hey dude.. I do read them but can’t read them all!! Thanks for watching as always!
@@Number27 all good nicely done
That front with those lights... WOW! What a beautiful car, I love the Italians automotive style from the late 60s and 70s, especially those from Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini.
Great car, for those that don't know a Montreal you should have shown the way the headlight covers work! Now that is quirky! 😀
This car reminds reminds me of an old colleague, he been rebuilding one for like 25years. He had 1 to rebuild and 2 donors
I think i own this car when i was in England had trouble with the brake master cylinder I will check photos as the lic looks very familiar .I drove it home after a tune up and one the spark plugs blew out but got home I got stopped all the time as folks loved its looks But your right the engine seemed very sluggish and wallow around on the curves and bends .
Owned one for a few years. I would agree with most of your comments, definitely more of a GT, much happier on A roads than B roads. You didn’t mention the main “ownership downside” which is its staggering complexity. V8, mechanical fuel injection, twin pumps, twin coils, dry sump etc etc. There are still days I wish I hadn’t sold mine
Interesting review, Jack. I enjoyed that. Regarding the dual tone horn, French cars also used to have a "ville" and "route" setting for the horn.
My Aston V8 from 1976 has "town" and 'country" horns. The real mystery is why they thought an Italian would EVER use the quiet setting!🙂
I remember seeing one of these pulling in a local garage in Wyke, Bradford, in the late 90s. Looked great but sounded rough... think that was tge dual distributors acting up....!
Dammit, all I needed was to hear that glorious engine start up and No Nut November challenge failed. Oh well.🎉
"only the Italians" such a perfect way to say what explains this car and dozens and dozens more. Do you like to DRIVE?? Yeah? well get in and take control of this totally immersive, responsive, tactile, one of a kind, quirky but incredible driving experiences. Beautiful car quirks and all. Forza Italia!!
Jack another review of an ltalian sort of super car but the design is really good typical Alfa a very good looking car seems to go good and l have known about tgese for years never seen one reviewed until now never knew what engine it has and a bonus what it looks like from underneath and l know all l can say thank you and keep these cars coming
Brilliant video, love all your enthusiasm and love for the car :-)
It’s a thing of beauty. I was at the Alfa Museum and it sat proudly with all those other beautiful cars.
8:28 you were a few meters away from a hefty insurance claim... beautiful car, drive safe!
I'm pretty sure you could order the loud horns as an option in a Rolls-Royce and Cadillac too ;)
and the bentley he did the other week...
Its an interesting video and a good review. A few points- You say its a flop and they only sold 3900. Also mentioned, it cost as much as a Ferrari Dino. Ferrari only sold 3500 Dinos. Sure the Montreal didn't fly out the dealer doors but really, they sold 3900. How many more would they have to sell to not be a flop? As for the weak suspension etc, the same can be said for a lot of 60s-70s cars, especially today. As with a lot of opinions about cars its all perspective. I always loved the Montreal, they're finally getting the recognition they deserve. As always love your Videos, keep them coming No 27
Ferrari was a tiny fish with about 5 distributors in UK at the time so selling 3500 Dinos was 350% more units than any previous Ferrari. Alfa was on an industrial scale, selling 250,000 Bertone coupés in 10 years for example. Not to mention the sedan and spider versions!
Perhaps if Montreal had been homologated for USA market it would have sold more but the car was not a critical or sales success. In relative terms, it still isn´t if you consider that similar money invested in buying a Dino or Porsche 911 RS in 1973 would currently be 6-10 times the value of a Montreal, like for like.
@@martinrichardhorrocks9869 All very valid and true points. I still can't agree that 4000 is a flop, 400 maybe. As for current values, who knows which car people will overpay for next, maybe the Fiat Dino. I agree the car wasn't a run away success, but many of our favourite cars started out on the unpopular side. The Fiat X1/9 ?
@@daveg2113 I wouldn´t say "Flop" either, maybe "disappointing"! But that wouldn´t be enough of an internet hook for #27.
I also like FIATs, both Dino and X/19. I have never paid a lot of money for cars but have sometimes got lucky on timing. The FIAT Dino Coupé is a very elegant car but the boat has sailed on that one for me and it´s not a very strong "want". The Dino engine is even more expensive to repair than a Montreal unit.....makes you think!
@@martinrichardhorrocks9869 Yeah I agree, thats a couple of my favourites there ,the Fiat Dino coupe and the Montreal. Maybe I can afford an X1/9!
Absolutely brilliant video 👍Absolutely beautiful amazing car I love everything about it its stunning brilliant
Love your Italian pronunciation of the foregin names❤ Saw an immaculate Montreal at the 2022 Oslo Motorshow yesterday. Wow wo wow! Also a 512BB, a 365 and a beautiful light green metallic BMW 2800 GTS very alike the Montreal. You should review one of those❤
I think that Bertone BMW is a unique motor show special. But it would be a nice idea to compare a CSi BMW with the Montreal.
As great as the Montreal looks, I would still have had a Dino at the time. The DIno is just sooo pretty.
Loved these since I was a kid, A very special car indeed regardless of how it drives.
I really like your descriptions of how different cars feel to drive! - steering, gearbox, brakes etc 👍🏼
Thank you Frederik, glad you enjoy the videos!
I really wish I could have one of these....in the same color. But, I don't have any money....no matter how hard I try to work for it. This is an absolutely beautiful looking and sounding car!
Nice review Jack - the Monty is in my all-time top 3 favourite Alfas. :0)
Car spotters going to start camping on this road. What with Jack and Harry both making that corner iconic.