Icons of the ‘70s
The ’70s produced some of the most iconic cars ever made, including the Lamborghini Countach – the poster car that hung on countless bedroom walls – and the Ferrari Dino 246. The decade also gave rise to infamous machines like the Porsche 930 Turbo, nicknamed the “Widowmaker” because some drivers struggled with its turbo lag and unforgiving handling characteristics.
With so many legendary nameplates emerging from that decade and so much time having passed, it is easy to see why some great cars have been overlooked. Arguably, the Alfa Romeo Montreal belongs on that list. It was priced in the same premium territory as the Ferrari Dino 246 when new, but depreciated far more – partly because it did not wear a Prancing Horse badge. Now, one example is up for grabs on Piston Heads.
Before the Giulia, There Was This
The Alfa Romeo Montreal debuted at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show and was designed by Marcello Gandini, the same designer behind the Lamborghini Countach. This particular MY1975 example is finished in Arancio Miura, a color believed to be a nod to the Lamborghini Miura.
But perhaps its most interesting feature is the cross-plane V8 with a dry-sump setup, related to the original Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale – not the recent revival model. Paired with SPICA fuel injection, the engine produces 200 horsepower, which may not sound like much by today’s standards, but in the 1970s, that put it in the same ballpark as the Ferrari Dino 246 and, considering emissions-era detuning, some versions of the Chevrolet Corvette C3.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 5-speed ZF manual gearbox with a limited-slip differential.
Ferrari Money Then, Not Now
This Montreal is listed at £84,995, or approximately $115,000 at current exchange rates. The car reportedly had only one registered owner, an academic from Austria, and shows 54,300 miles. It also comes with a collection of invoices documenting maintenance and has recently undergone “thorough recommissioning work.”
The only downside for interested U.S. buyers is that the vehicle is currently located in the U.K.
For newer Alfa Romeos, there are the Giulia, Stelvio, and Tonale. However, the performance-oriented Quadrifoglio variants – seen as alternatives to BMW M models – are no longer available stateside as the Giulia and Stelvio prepare for major overhauls expected sometime around 2028.
