Celebrating Expo 67 With an Alfa Romeo Montreal

Filed in archive Alfa Romeo on July 21, 2006

Someone mentioned on the radio this morning that Montreal would be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Expo 67, its spectacular world's fair. Being only half awake I didn't catch the entire story but one wonders why the city would get excited over an event that's still costing money for repairs to the absurdly expensive and flawed Olympic Stadium that was built nine years after Expo 67. It might, however, get some pleasure out of remembering the Alfa Romeo Montreal concept car which was, to my knowledge, the only car ever named after a city in Canada. Designed by Bertone, the show car was built on a modified 1750 GTV chassis/platform but when it entered production in 1970, the Montreal had graduated to a 2593 c.c. fuel-injected V8 engine producing around 200 bhp, coupled to a five-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential for a top speed of 140 mph. 4000 examples were made until production stopped in 1977. So here's an idea for the city's celebration committee: A parade of Alfa Romeo Montreal survivors around Circuit Gilles Villeneuve prior to next year's F1 race. They could begin their research with a popular Alfa Romeo Montreal Website.