1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal

The sole UK keeper since he bought it in 2014 in Italy from a friend, the seller is only putting this one up for sale because his right-hand drive Montreal’s restoration is about to be completed in its country of birth.

Part of a large Alfa Romeo collection when he bought it, he treated this LHD example to extensive work before he eventually brought it over the UK three years later.

Said to be “a completely original unmolested car that starts on the button” it’s only for sale because his other one is scheduled to join the rest of his classic Alfa Romeos any day.

As close to a piece of art as anything we’ve seen this year, the Montreal presents very well. Good panel alignment married to equally impressive paint allows Gandini’s lines to shine.

The numberplates are especially lovely, and the glazing, badges, and lamp lenses all look good and reek of careful curation.

Jewels abound, like the Alfa Romeo crest on the arms of the door mirrors, the Bertone badges on the front wings, the half-dozen rear air vents on each B pillar, and a gorgeous bonnet scoop in addition to the trademark ‘eyelids’. The eyelids do work by the way.. the car was photographed without the engine running, hence them being in their resting position.

The Campagnolo alloy wheels are just as charming. One of the most evocative names of them all, the 6.5J14 rims are fitted with a matching set of good Hankook Optimo K406 tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

There isn’t much chrome on it but what there is is good with only light patination.

Faults? Well aside from the usual age-related marks, a friend of the seller, who has “a ridiculous amount of classic Alfas” told him that he thinks the offside door has been resprayed; according to him there is a remote difference in color. Neither we nor the seller can see this but he mentions it in the spirit of being completely open and honest about his car’s condition.

More obvious is the damage to the lower nearside edge of the front spoiler (#16) and the fact that the ‘eyelids’ are a bit slow. However, the latter is a quirk of the Montreal and could be seen as an endearing trait rather than a fault…

The dark interior is wonderfully idiosyncratic. There are, of course, the usual deeply dished instruments in front of the driver, with auxiliary gauges arranged around them.

An original Hellebore steering wheel and a squat, dog-leg gearchange provide a tactile interface with the Alfa’s mechanical components while the black velour seats give comfort and support in equal measure.

All are in a good condition that’s commensurate with the car’s age and mileage.

Like the exterior, there are Easter eggs galore including wooden headrest supports, wonderfully labelled horn and rear demister buttons, a fluted headlining, and perforated panels on the rear of the front seats.

The tailgate opens and closes easily, and is held firmly in place by the hydraulic struts. The luggage cover is still there and folding it forward reveals a matching spare alloy wheel.

Work to do seems to be minimal. Apart from some minor scuffs, there is a small crack on dashboard and the electric windows could be improved because they are a bit slow.

The rear seats aren’t to the same standard as the rest of the interior and would benefit from some attention (#207 and #266). That’s most definitely a job for the future though.

Prior to coming here, the Montreal had some engine work done in Perugia by an Alfa Romeo garage where various internal engine parts were replaced at a cost of 4,800EUR. It has since run only 600km since being taken from the garage to Milan before being shipped here, so it is still being run in and will need the cylinder head retorquing at 1,000kms.

The Spica fuel injection system was also refurbished in Italy by an 82-year-old mechanic who understood the system perfectly.

Other recent work includes two new fuel pumps fitted to the tune of £800 and rebuilt brake calipers.

And, if you were admiring the stance – and why wouldn’t you? – you’ve probably spotted that it sits on lowered suspension springs. Sourced from Classic Alfa, the owner tells us that while the lowered suspension does wonders for the car’s handling and looks, the exhaust does ground a little if there’s a lot of weight in the car, so the new owner might want to refit standard specification springs if they plan to drive it four-up.

The engine bay is purposeful and workmanlike rather than prim and over-detailed. That’s fine though because this is a driver’s car and who’s got time for polishing rocker covers when you’ve got an Alfa V8 at your disposal?

The exhaust is a game of two halves, with some new bits and some bits with holes (#304).

The Alfa comes with its Italian ASI certificate. The A.S.I. is a government recognized federation of Italian car clubs that certifies whether a classic car meets the stringent requirements needed to qualify for reduced car tax and a less intrusive annual testing policy and the Montreal has been recognized as meeting its exacting standards, which you should find as reassuring as we do.

The Montreal doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only

provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The recent Vehicle History Check shows nothing of note.

So good we’re taking it to this year’s Goodwood Revival with us (where it will share space on our stand with the equally gorgeous Porsche 356's we have listed) this is one of the best examples we’ve seen.

Always in demand and coming from an impeccable source, we think the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £55,000 and £65,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.