Case histories
Year of manufacture 1975 Recorded mileage 64,585 Asking price £74,995 Vendor The Ferrari Centre, Maidstone, Kent; tel: 01622 759599; www.theferraricentre.com
WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £6999 (1976) Max power 197bhp Max torque 173lb ft 0-60mph 7.1 secs Top speed 137mph Mpg 17
We think this might be the first time in 45 years that a Montreal has appeared as a Case history, though sadly The Oracle (see Obituaries) is no longer available for enquiries. Anyway, it’s been through all the right names and presents very well. DTR rebuilt the engine in 2015 with new pistons and hard valve seats, plus a new clutch, and earlier did some remedial work to wings, wheelarches and crossmember; it had its front brake calipers rebuilt in 2016.
There appears to be no plop in the body sides and the paint is even, with just a hint of orangepeel in places and a minutely ripply left door, with just one small crack in the paint on the nose. All the brightwork is decent, including the stainless-steel bumpers and the irreplaceable nose trim that tends to get broken; it’s slightly pitted but has been rechromed. The wheels are refinished and shod with 2010-dated Pirelli P6 Cinturatos.
Inside, the seats have been retrimmed in leather, the driver’s side already going a little baggy. The carpets are new, dash plastics and headlining are good and original, and the concertina rear shelf is still present and working, though there are the inevitable cracks in the plastic boot trims. The original gearknob has been replaced by an aluminium ball and there’s a modern Clarion stereo.
The motor is tidy and standard, and still running its Spica injection, though unusually the injection pipes have been painted black. The fluids are clean but it will be serviced before sale, and it’s just had a new MOT.
The V8 starts easily and is mechanically quiet. All the synchros in the dogleg ZF ’box work well, the unassisted steering is slop-free and the brakes are firm and smooth. It goes well and revs freely. When warm (140ºf), oil pressure is 65-70psi at 3000rpm. The electric windows work (slowly, with a bit of help), as does the clock, and the vacuum-retracting eyelids close with a healthy thunk.
After years of being too cheap, these junior supercars are finally catching up with their real value. There are cheaper examples out there, but few this nice. It comes complete with spare keys and restoration pictures.