1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Description

The early Chevrolet Monte Carlos are already on a lot of collectors' wish lists, and models like this 1977 example aren't far behind. Big coupes were big money in the 1970s, and few could compete with the Monte Carlo's combination of style and luxury. Nicely preserved with a few modest upgrades, this is a high-visibility '70s cruiser with a ton of charisma.

OK, first things first: the giant wheels didn't require any modifications to fit, so if they're not your cup of tea they're easy to replace. But take a few moments to look at this Monte Carlo a little more closely and you'll probably find that they work rather well, adding some flash to an otherwise subtle package. The misty silver-blue paint was sprayed not too long ago and looks appropriate on the car and might be close to the original light blue found on the 1977 Chevrolet color chart. The modern urethane has a great shine and they didn't feel the need to add pinstripes or other add-on décor to make a point, instead letting the sweeping fenders and sleek roofline speak for themselves. And speaking of the roof, the vinyl landau roof is in very good condition and may very well be original to the car. Heavy chrome bumpers are also original and indicative of a car that's lived someplace warm. It's not perfect, but it's pretty darned cool.

Cloth upholstery was an optional upgrade in 1977, and the two wide bench seats make this a legitimate 6-passenger car. It may seem anachronistic to us today, but back in the '70s, this was a personal-sized car. But all that space feels downright luxurious today with plenty of stretch-out room front and rear and combined with the plush ride and significant amounts of sound-deadening materials, it has that incomparable 1970s luxury car feel behind the wheel. The upholstery and door panels are in excellent condition and are almost certainly original, with what appear to be replacement carpets underfoot. The sporty-looking instrument panel has a woodgrained fascia that warms things up a bit and the car is optioned up with factory A/C, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM stereo radio. The trunk needs a new mat to be fully complete, but the spare tire might very well be original and there is a complete jack assembly.

A 305 cubic inch Chevy small block V8 means that this Monte Carlo is an effortless cruiser with loads of potential. It's quite stock under the hood, right down to the factory air cleaner, again indicative of a car that has been well-maintained all its life. It starts easily and settles into an almost imperceptible idle, and with an original-style single exhaust system, it's hushed on the highway. The TH350 3-speed automatic transmission spins a 10-bolt rear with towering gears, which combine with the tall tires to make this a superlative road trip car. Those wheels are 20-inch Pinnacle alloys that fit right and tuck under the fenders without rubbing and carry low-profile 245/40/20 radials all around.

A nice car that's quite well preserved and not nearly as radical as it appears at first glance. If you like the second-generation Monte Carlo, you won't find many this well preserved. Call today!