Production version
The first production car,[5] designated Tipo 105.64, was shown at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show and featured substantial changes from the concept car, using a 2,593 cc 90° dry-sump lubricated, cross-plane V8 engine with a bore of 80.0 mm and a stroke of only 64.5 mm using SPICA (Società Pompe Iniezione Cassani & Affini) fuel injection that produced around 200 PS, coupled to a five-speed ZF manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential. This engine was inspired by, but not derived from the 2-litre V8 used in the 33 Stradale and in the Tipo 33 sports prototype racer, and shares no parts with those engines. The chassis and running gear of the production car were shared with the Giulia GTV coupé and comprised double wishbone suspension with coil springs and dampers at the front and a live axle with limited slip differential at the rear.[6]
Since the concept car was already unofficially known as The Montreal, Alfa Romeo kept this name for the production car as well.[4] Despite the name, Alfa Romeo chose not to submit the Montreal to emissions testing in the United States or Canada, and ultimately the car was never officially exported to those markets.[7]
Stylistically, the most eye-catching feature is the car's front end with four headlamps partly covered by unusual "grilles", that retract when the lamps are switched on (a compromise Gandini had to make to meet regulations for the height of headlamps in certain markets). Another stylistic element is the NACA duct on the bonnet. The duct is actually blocked off since its purpose is not to draw air into the engine, but to optically hide the power bulge. The slats behind the doors contain the cabin vents, but apart from that only serve cosmetic purposes.
The Montreal was more expensive to buy than the Jaguar E-Type or the Porsche 911.[8] When launched in the UK it was priced at GB£5,077, rising to GB£5,549 in August 1972 and to GB£6,999 by mid-1976.[2] This dampened the interest of the buying public which was already considering fuel efficient options due to the 1973 oil crisis. Production of the Montreal came to an end in 1977 after 3,917 examples had been built.[9]
