[alfa] Montreal comparisons

["John Hertzman" <johnhertzman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bruce Sharer, discussing a comparison of a 1976 Ferrari 308 GT 4 against an Alfa Montreal, writes "I'm sure John Hertzman or Peter Krause could expound on the topic at length. Gentlemen???"
 
I probably could, but not sure I should. But then, "shouldn't" has seldom stopped me - - 
 
I can't comment on the Ferrari. Never wanted one, never paid much attention to them, and still don't; they seem too far outside my core interests in what I might define as accessible excellence, which has been the nub of my past affection for Alfas at their best.
 
Bruce is correct that the Montreal "started out as a show car for the 1968 Montreal Exposition." (Actually 1967.) "Somehow, it went into production with the marginal underpinnings." Beyond that, the show car was a 1600 cc Giulia Sprint GT underneath, with the enlarged Giulietta engine in the 105 chassis, endowed with a dream-car body intended to suggest a rear-engined exoticar. As far as I know it was never considered a design prototype intended for production, but after the remarkable and truly exotic Stradale was abandoned Alfa management, operating as always with very limited development funds, took what they had  a very respectable originally 1600 cc chassis, a stylish (for the period) body, a variant on the Stradale engine (with the stroke stretched half an inch) and Bertone's flexible small-scale production facilities, to build a luxurious and prestigious road car. The production period (1971-77) almost exactly matches that (1970-77) of the Junior Zagato, on the same basic platform at less than half the price and less than two-thirds the weight. Another possibly interesting comparison is with the 2600 Zagato, an appreciably larger car which weighed 300# less (despite being steel-bodied like the Junior Z) and gave away just 10 km/h to the Montreal. And then there is the standard Bertone-bodied 2600 (106.02) of 1962, with both the engine and chassis esentially larger versions of the Giulietta, clothed in a very handsome Giugiaro-designed body which was the direct precursor of the 105 coupes. It is a larger car than the Montreal (and 10 kg heavier), a full four-seater, with fairly luxurious specifications for the period- power windows, optional air conditioning, even an optional sun-roof. No question which I would prefer, although I have no dispute with those who prefer Montreals. As designs (ignoring rarity, cost, opulent furnishings and ultimate performance) I would rank the 1750 coupe first, Junior Zagato second, stepnose third, 2600 Sprint fourth, and Montreal a poor fifth.
 
Enjoy yours,
 
John H.
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