It's funny you should say that, because that 1970 Alfa GT Veloce you'd rather have back on page one has a 1.8L, 120 hp four-banger. 
The 1970 Volvo 1800 has a 2.0L, 130 hp four-banger with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection. Sure, it may look like a tractor engine to us looking back at it from 45 years in the future, but it was a damn good engine back then. It produces more power than the 3.3L inline six that you'd find in a low-end 1970 Ford Mustang. You would need one of the exotic Italian clockwork V12's to beat it in power per liter back then. Back then even the 1970 Porsche 911's 2.2L flat six only developed 123 hp without forced induction.
You guys keep showing me heavily modded cars to compare to a stock Alfa. Those Alfa's dominated their classes in racing for years. Where were the Volvos? When I was club racing, a few self-flagellating Volvo devotees built Volvos to race in the B-Sedan class. They were badly outclassed by the Alfas and Datsuns.
The Alfa engine was a twin cam, and it WAS fuel injected in 1970 for the U.S. market. Frankly, I prefer the Webers. Far more tuning options. That Volvo engine looks like a tractor engine because it was derived from one. The P 1800 was several hundred pounds heavier than the GTV, and nowhere in the Alfa's class for handling and balance, not to mention looks. One is a gem, the other costume jewelry. Volvos were rugged and remarkably durable. Alfas needed a bit more attention, but were far more rewarding to drive.
My 1958 Giulietta was a tour de force in style and performance for its day. My friend Kurt's 1974 GTV has a 2 liter that made 130 hp stock, but his now makes more than that at the rear wheels. Very minor tuning was required to bump up the power. Being a twin-cam with great breathing head design, the Alfa can generate substantially more power on a set of 45 DCOE Webers and headers after tossing the SPICA injection.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9mFFGGywVUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI09Tzqwb8o
