Vehicle Description
Chassis No. AR 1426328
Engine No. AR00564 S0007
Penned by Marcello Gandini for Bertone, who famously created the
iconic Miura just one year before, Alfa Romeo launched its
"Montreal" concept car to the world at the Expo 67 World's Fair in
Montreal. Three years later, Alfa Romeo debuted the Montreal as a
production model at the 1970 Geneva Auto Salon. While strikingly
similar stylistically to the Expo 67 concept, the production model
abandoned the Giulia's four-cylinder for a high-revving quad-cam,
dry-sump V8 based on the 2.0-liter Tipo 33 Stradale engine. With a
sticker price higher than a Jaguar E-Type or Porsche 911, the
striking design and exhilarating performance was not enough to
tempt many buyers, with just 3,925 examples produced by 1977.
Regardless, the Montreal is a beautiful hand-built Italian sports
car certainly worthy of a place in any collection.?
Never imported to U.S. when new, this immaculately presented and
well documented Montreal was delivered new to the home market on 19
September 1973, painted in the classic Italian Rosso Red, while the
interior was trimmed in period-appropriate Black Vinyl with cloth
inserts on the seats; just as it appears today. The Alfa Romeo
Certificato di Orgine and ACI (Automobile Club d'Italia) records on
file attests to the first owner residing in Palermo, Sicily, and
proper old Palermo province license plates remain on the car
today.
The Montreal is believed to have remained in Italy until sold in
December of 2016 by Aquarama Cars & Boats of Perugia, Italy to the
late, renowned Florida-based collector of exceptional European
sports cars, Leo Schigiel. Ever the perfectionist, Schigiel
requested mechanical and cosmetic restoration work be performed by
the capable craftsmen at Carrozzeria Rizza of Rome, Italy before
shipping the car Stateside. The Montreal remained in Schigiel's
collection until his passing in 2021, and as was the norm with his
spectacular collection, maintenance and upkeep was continuously
performed. Under current ownership, the Montreal has received
further servicing and maintenance work carried out by the
consignor's capable in-house restoration facility, including a
rebuild of the sophisticated Spica fuel injection system by Alfa
Romeo specialist Wes Ingram of Ingram Enterprises of Burlington,
Washington, totaling $6,390.
Today the sporting and powerful, DOHC dry-sump powered Montreal
presents in a fantastic condition inside and out, a quality of
presentation which can be hard to find on a car at this price
point. Factory air conditioning is fitted, a very rare option on a
Montreal, to keep occupants cool on a high-speed rally such as the
Copperstate 1000. Appropriate Michelin XWX tires are fitted on the
period Alfa Romeo turbine alloy wheels, with a matching spare
situated in the trunk, and original Carello lights and lenses
remain in situ. A very clean undercarriage attests to the
comprehensive restoration work carried out.
Accompanied by its Alfa Romeo-issued Certificato di Orgine,
receipts and AFI paperwork, the Montreal remains in excellent
condition, a testimony to the late Mr. Schigiel's perfection in his
cars.
