Alfa Romeo Montreal 105 Reviewed

The Montreal was created as a showpiece for the 1967 Montreal World Exposition, and the car that went into production three years later was visually very close to the dreamy Gandini showcar, but no cigar. There were two built for the Exposition, and these photos indicate that the originals were softer, smoother and shapelier than the final production model.

Not only that, the two cars built for the Expo in 1967 were powered by the standard four cylinder Alfa engine, with a single downdraft carb. A rare shot of the showcar’s engine. One of the reasons for the delay in production was that it was decided to power the Montreal with a new V8, which took time to be designed and developed.

A look at the show car as it is being ready to board the KLM jet for Montreal. Again, from this angle, the ’67 showcar appears much more curvaceous and attractive than the production car.

Dasse’s book includes many images of the V8. Here the V8 block is photographed in detail. It shared nothing with the racing T33 V8.

By the spring of 1969, Alfa was testing a prototype on the road with the new V8. While there are some similarities to the production model, it was very well camouflaged. But note the shape of the rear wheel openings and the different wheels.

March, 1970, Geneva. The new Montreal was introduced with great fanfare, including a specially built stand. A second, orange Montreal was made available for journalists to drive. As with the 105 Spiders as displayed at shows, we note that the Montreal seems to have larger tires, wider wheels and lower than the actual production cars.

Pure Gandini. The Geneva prototypes had this unusual (and very un-Alfa-like) instrument pod arrangement. Speaking of Gandini, if you compare the Miura with the Montreal, clearly both cars were designed by the same genius.

Forget the air vent. What it unusual here is that the rear window hinges are covered with imitation leather. Gandini again no doubt.

A nice shot of a production V8 engine. Note the fuel injection; the V8 never had Webers. And though it looked like just a couple of Alfa fours bolted together, nothing was interchangeable

May, 1971. Production finally begins and the first models are made available for the public. Alfa linked the intro of the Montreal with the race winning T33 V8, even though the only similarity was that they were both V8s. No idea of who is standing here; readers?

The Montreal race car at the Eifelrennen at the Nurburgring, April, 1975 driven by Dieter Meyer. It was the last race for this special Alfa, s/n AR*1425230* which was originally prepared by Autodelta, then sold to the first of two German teams who raced it without luck. Another Montreal was prepared by Bobcor for IMSA events, but they too encountered reliability problems.