The Mustang II's Worst Nightmare - The Chevy Monza Spyder

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 583

  • @rarecars3336
    @rarecars3336  3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Use code RARECARS to get 55% off your first month at Drift.co drft.info/3zf1aCh

  • @babalui66
    @babalui66 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +18

    In my early teens my neighbor's son got a brand new Spyder. Since I washed cars out of my parents driveway I would occasionally wash this car. I will say that it was fun to drive and I always thought it was a good looking car. They are hard to find today.

  • @tomcat630
    @tomcat630 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    2 things incorrect. The Spyder trim was not released until 1976, to compete with Mustang II Cobra II. Ther was no "1975 Monza Spyder". Also, the Iron Duke motor was brought out in 1978, to replace the aluminum "Vega engine". And the F body Camaro was selling hot and overshadowed the H body. For 1982, Cavalier replaced Monza and was more mainstream model with 4 doors offered

  • @jeffsmith9305
    @jeffsmith9305 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    i had a 77 stick spyder, originally with the 262, and my sister had a 78 mustang II GT (the super pinto), also a stick - for the moment, the monza was generally more comfortable to drive, performance was roughly the same.

    • @dand3975
      @dand3975 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I had a 1978 King Cobra Mustang 302 4 speed, complete POS. Next car was 79 Camaro Z28 , 10 times a better car than A Manza or a Mustang II.

    • @carlshowalter9629
      @carlshowalter9629 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@dand3975 I still drive a gen 2 Camaro and the only Mustang II I see are in the junkyard. Seen a lot of old Ford Hot Rods with Mustang II front ends under them though.

  • @IowaBudgetRCBashers
    @IowaBudgetRCBashers 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The amc pacer was supposed to have the same gm rotary motor that was supposed to be in the monza

    • @johneckert1365
      @johneckert1365 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      AMC had to scramble to change the Pacer's firewall and dash to make room for thier inline 6.
      The money AMC stuck into that new Pacer platform helped bankrupt them.

  • @pancudowny
    @pancudowny 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The Chevette also had a torque arm rear suspension, and was already being raced in Group-4 rally in Europe by the time it started selling in the U.S.... and winning! A LOT!! Especially once Vauxhall put a 200-hp Lotus 2.3L DOHC I-4 under the hood. (150-hp in the homologated production version) They almost made one for the U.S. market, with a in-house version of that engine developed with Lotus' assistance. (The Quad-4) But, like with the Monza, GM couldn't risk tarnishing the image of their "sexy" models... and the American Chevette HS(E) 2300 never got past initial development.😕

    • @carlshowalter9629
      @carlshowalter9629 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Chevy should have built a version of the Monza with the Cosworth engine instead of putting it in that Black Cosworth Vega edition. I saw a Cosworth Vega 4 cylinder on the dyno the day I dropped off my DZ302. It had been modified and put out 311 hp before they started tuning it! Never did find out what the final figure was but it was a bad ass 4 banger!

  • @pappytinkers
    @pappytinkers 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I had the Starfire version that no one wanted. I paid I whooping $35 for it! Used and abused it for 5 years then sold it for $500 😂

  • @johneckert1365
    @johneckert1365 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I thought these all came with Saginaw 4 speeds, why are there so many people talking about a 5 speed trans?

  • @annoyed-b3y
    @annoyed-b3y 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I had the monza spider with a spider on the hood

  • @allenkranawetter9482
    @allenkranawetter9482 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I had to get rid of it because the spot welds were popping out

  • @lonnyself3920
    @lonnyself3920 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    yep they where hard to come by even when they where pressing them out and many of them became race car so fast .

  • @onekoneb
    @onekoneb 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +58

    Always loved the look of that car. Wouldn't mine resto-modding one today.

    • @sailordave1000
      @sailordave1000 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Hmm, 4 wheel disc brakes, replace front and rear suspension for a more independent sport suspension, keep 5 speed manual, adjust rear differential, and either modify existing engine or replace with engine between 200 to 275 hp. Existing engine could be modified with electronic fuel injection and changes to cam and lifters.

    • @drobson8004
      @drobson8004 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      A 2nd gen LT1, or a LS1, with c4 brakes, suspension, etc. Now that would be a relatively, economic blast.

    • @seed_drill7135
      @seed_drill7135 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      The 5 speeds in those cars were complete crap. I burned through clutches faster than tires. And the pedal was so stiff the cable eventually burst through the firewall.

    • @chadhaire1711
      @chadhaire1711 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      hahahhahahahahaha...sure kid.....they all died quicker than the Vega they were based on.....all disappeared within 5 years from rust or just falling apart.

    • @seed_drill7135
      @seed_drill7135 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@chadhaire1711 Cars don't rust in all parts of the country and the V6 was the same engine that powered Jeeps in the 1960's and eventually became the 3800. But, yeah, they were CHEAP. The plastic seatbelt guide snapped off mine, so if I'd ever been in a major accident my windpipe would have been crushed. All the seats cracked, the handles pulled off the doors, the dash split wide open and the welds that held the inside and outside of the doors together split. And there is zero aftermarket support.

  • @valengreymoon5623
    @valengreymoon5623 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +76

    I had its brother, a 1975 Buick Skyhawk, in silver with a red interior, and the 3.8l Buick V6 with auto transmission.

    • @jackbilger6858
      @jackbilger6858 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      I had a '79 with the same drivetrain as yours. I think mine was originally bright red, but a previous owner had changed it to a two-tone maroon and black.

    • @KanyeKetchup
      @KanyeKetchup 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      That 3.8L V6 from Buick made it's way into Holden car models in the 1990's in Australia .
      Being under the GM family

    • @MegaBlazed
      @MegaBlazed 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I had a blue one.that little thing would get it

    • @MegaBlazed
      @MegaBlazed 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      4 speed standard

    • @keithmiller6521
      @keithmiller6521 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I had the same but red exterior and manual transmission.

  • @caskillet
    @caskillet 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +20

    One of my best friends had a Spyder with a 305 and a 5 speed when we were in high school (class of 93). We built a budget 350 around 275-300hp and put it in. That car was FUN to drive, but not fun to work on. Those v8s took up all the room in that little engine bay. Plus, we had a really hard time keeping it cool on hot days. Really poor airflow over a very small radiator at low speeds.
    Very good times, though.

    • @PassivePortfolios
      @PassivePortfolios 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      The car was designed for a 4 cyl. or a V-6. The V-6 could be improved and still had room to work in the engine bay, unlike the V-8. The rear axle needed a limited slip differential. The 4 speed transmission was more durable than the 5 speed. With the V-6 the engine would not overheat in traffic, while the V-8 tended to overheat. The V-6 version also handled better than the V-8.

  • @Nick-nm8om
    @Nick-nm8om 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +44

    At age 17, in 1990 I got my first car a maroon 77 Buick Skyhawk v6 4 speed stick, the body was in good condition but the engine was shot. My brother in-law was a mad genius mechanic & had a shop . So we stuffed a 305 in it. I loved that car and I wish I still had it .

    • @intermissionbuffalo
      @intermissionbuffalo 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      You have to watch the full Roadkill Chevy Monza episode!

    • @marksmith4346
      @marksmith4346 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      The 305 was a horrible motor but mostly because of how they were configured during that mid 70s through 80s timeframe. Everyone says long stroke and small bore is a bad combination and it is, but you can tweak a lot out of those engines with some free flowing intake and exhaust and a better compression scheme.

    • @TheLionAndTheLamb777
      @TheLionAndTheLamb777 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@marksmith4346 IMO it's not worth building a 305 up, but if you wanted or had to you can get 400 HP from one with modified vortech heads,cam, carb, intake, and exhaust headers.

    • @marksmith4346
      @marksmith4346 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@TheLionAndTheLamb777 Oh, I agree, I wouldn't build a 305 but you can do it. Engine Power guys just did one and got great numbers out of it but they dumped some $$$$ into it as well. Would be like building a 265 or 221 or 262...just easier to start with a better platform.

    • @KennyNash-sb9sh
      @KennyNash-sb9sh หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      That 305 was a sweet motor!!!❤❤

  • @user-clayrush
    @user-clayrush 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +18

    My 2nd car was a '76 2+2 hatchback. 400 SB tunnel ram 2 650s M22 Muncie 4:56 with a mini spool in the factory 10 bolt & the factory traction bar that ran from the transmission to the rear end. The real problem with these cars was the lack of options when it came to headers. If I remember correctly they were Headman 4 piece each side & you had to piece them together while dropping the engine & transmission together. No way possible to do it any other way. Don't get me started about changing plugs or if the starter went out. You had to pull the engine & transmission. The plus side is when it was all clicking right it was a beast. I was 17 yrs old in highschool when I had that car, I'm 53 now & I sure do wish I could drive that car one more time. Today when I tell people about it most don't have a clue what I'm talking about. Those were truly great days back then

    • @geraldross967
      @geraldross967 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      The factory traction bar was genius.

  • @nsidor1234
    @nsidor1234 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    I've always been a Ford man but I must admit, Chevy did a much better job of restyling the Vega into a sports coupe than what Ford did when they transformed the Pinto into the Mustang ll...👍🏁

    • @d.e.b.b5788
      @d.e.b.b5788 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Actually, the Mustang II (especially the fastback) was a very nice looking car, and sold more than most of the recent past mustangs (total over 1 million from 74 to 78). Had it a more powerful engine, it would have lasted even longer. The Monza looked really great, as good as a Ferrari. I always wondered, how it would have done in a later era, with better engines and chassis.

    • @nsidor1234
      @nsidor1234 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@d.e.b.b5788
      Oh don't get me wrong, I would love to have a T-top/302 4 speed or auto.
      This Mustang as well as the Pinto literally saved Ford's bacon during the oil embargo days...👍🏁

  • @deanrivera8016
    @deanrivera8016 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    I had 3 Monza’s in my lifetime and all three body styles 78 wagon w/factory 3.8 V6 , a 77 fast back w/ 305 V8
    and the last one I had which I considered the rarest of the 3 was a 75 notch back w/262 V8
    I pulled out the stock drivetrain and rear end out of every one of them and put in 350 c.i. engines with various high performance components, narrowed Gen 3 camero rear rear axle assy
    They were a lot of fun, and fffffffffnnnn fast

  • @ryandubyah2345
    @ryandubyah2345 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    As a huge Mustang fan (although not a die hard Ford-only guy) I’ve gotta say the true worst nightmare for any Mustang II was being created and falsely labeled as a Mustang 😂

  • @Hobotraveler82
    @Hobotraveler82 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +23

    I bought a 77 Buick Skyhawk off of a neighbor who was upgrading. I was the third owner. Great car. It was my daily driver for a good few years. 😊

    • @christopherweise438
      @christopherweise438 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      My dad had a 1976 Oldsmobile Starfire. I was too young to know anything about it, but i remember we had it......but not for long.

    • @Hobotraveler82
      @Hobotraveler82 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@christopherweise438
      Another rare yet great car.

    • @stoveboltlvr3798
      @stoveboltlvr3798 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      My Mom bought a 77 Skyhawk with the Buick V6, it would move out.

  • @emo65170.
    @emo65170. 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +25

    My first car in high school was a 78 Starfire GT with the venerable 3.8 v6. It only made 100 hp but you could still do donuts in the parking lot due to it's light weight. Loved that car!

    • @carlsandrews266
      @carlsandrews266 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      i had a black and gold one it was a burnout machine lol

    • @e28forever30
      @e28forever30 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      venerable

    • @sufferedenuf
      @sufferedenuf 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      My mom had a Starfire that my dad bought her. I totalled it within a year. Loved that car!

    • @ag4allgood
      @ag4allgood 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I had a 1977 Starfire GT in a Copper reddish brown with the white stripes & did like the front grille with the vertical bars in front. A V6 231 engine with automatic. White vinyl interior but the dash was reddish brown. It looked nice but really wanted the manual 5 speed. My 1st new car & missing the front engine mounts so on my 1st wide open throttle the fan ate the plastic fan shroud & luckily didn't go thru damaging the hood. GM quality was lacking. Also had about a quarter sized rust spot that formed on the hatch by one corner of the rear window after the 1st year. This would be the last US built car by a US manufacturer I would buy. The Japanese quality control won me over. While none were what anyone would call muscle cars with a manual 5 speed transmission they were fun to drive & handled well.

    • @VAspeed3
      @VAspeed3 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Mine was a 76 maroon and white GT. Ripped the panhard rod out of the rear suspension twice doing handbrake turns. Still sold it with 142,000 miles on the odo.

  • @perrybakr4252
    @perrybakr4252 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +20

    I had the pleasure of own a Ford Pinto, Ford Mustang II, Chevy Vega, and Chevy Monza spider. The Mustang II (302) was the fastest for highway driving and in my opinion, handled the best. The Monza (305) was the fastest 1/4 mile but a total bitch to work on. The Vega 4 banger was the most reliable, cheapest to operate, went forever. The Pinto was just a good car despite all the flack everyone gives it.

    • @Tramp-dm5xr
      @Tramp-dm5xr 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      my buddys would be sure to point out every dead vega on the roadside. Way more than there should've been.
      My 77 hatch never gave one single problem. AC. Slow. Buick V6/5 speed swapped a wagon = a whole new world

    • @86twin
      @86twin 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It’s like I say, sometimes you get a good copy of a bad model.

    • @cindysue5474
      @cindysue5474 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      All those cars made for good super and pro stock cars.

    • @Thumper68
      @Thumper68 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      There’s absolutely no way Vega 4 banger was ever more reliable then a 305 sbc..

    • @PassivePortfolios
      @PassivePortfolios 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@Thumper68 he was referring to the Iron Duke engine, not the original Vega engine.

  • @kirstenspencer3630
    @kirstenspencer3630 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Had the Oldsmobile varient. Silver w red interior. 5.0 with big car turbohydromatic. It had the big boy power steering box and pump. With all that weight up front the handling was less than ideal ( RPO 44 ) suspension. I never saw one spark plug and took every adapter I had to change that one plug. I really miss that car and if not overdriven was most pleasant to drive. Also very smooth and quiet as compaired to the buzzy little econoboxes.

  • @mcgreen6882
    @mcgreen6882 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    As a kid, I loved to see Chevy Monza Pro race cars. The NHRA 70's Pro drag racing had some awesome looking "Pro Street" Monza's. The legend Don "Snake" Prudhomme racing his ARMY Monza '75 Funny Car was mostly unbeatable, mean, bad ass and pretty. Street car Monza Spyder's were sporty looking.

    • @carlshowalter9629
      @carlshowalter9629 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Bill Grumpy Jenkins kicked ass in Pro Stock with Vegas and Monzas!

  • @rockdog2584
    @rockdog2584 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    I always figured that a nicely built 283 or 327 would have made this a really spectacular car to drive.

  • @michaelmartin2276
    @michaelmartin2276 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Back in the 1970's I owned a Pinto wagon,a Vega GT and a Mustang II. My girlfriend has a Monza . The Monza and the Vega were just plain rust bucket junk ! The Pinto I drove through college and it had just passed 200k miles when it was totaled by a tornado in 84. The Pinto and the Mustang II were just better cars. Also how many Monza Spyders were sold ? Not many. The V8 made it too heavy on the front end and did not handle well .

  • @nathanwalsh3028
    @nathanwalsh3028 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    This brings back great memories. My uncle is the ultimate car dude. He loves making sleepers. He had a stock monza then put the motor & transmission out of a wrecked 1970 Montecarlo. I helped with the transplant and yes there was some cutting and some welding. Different motor mounts obviously had to put a different rear end in it. But at the end of the day it looked stock except for the nasty wide tires. Let me tell you it was a blast. It was the ultimate light to light blaster!!

  • @the_langss
    @the_langss 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

    Had a 77 Spyder...Worst mistake in car buying I ever made... Total pile of 💩💩💩💩First the Cooling Fan failed. Then the Firestone 500 Tires Started Coming Apart. Then the Windshield Washer Pump Came On...on its own, overheated and melted the reservoir. Then the Upper Radiator Hose split and dumped coolant all over the engine compartment. Then the Driver Side Exhaust Manifold Bolts broke...Massive Exhaust Leak...Did I mention the Battery Sulfated and nearly caught the car on fire. Nothing Electrical worked right after that. Practically had to pay the dealer to take it in trade. Absolutely the biggest disappointment in a Chevrolet I have ever experienced. All of this and more happened in less than a year of ownership. Literally Gave It Away to get a 78 Trans Am.

    • @garycamara9955
      @garycamara9955 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Sounds like a problem of maintenance.

    • @the_langss
      @the_langss 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@garycamara9955 Problem Of Maintenance...ON A BRAND NEW CAR...NOT EVEN OUT OF WARRANTY...YA A PROBLEM OF MAINTENANCE ALRIGHT...You Funny Guy...lol...

    • @GrampsD63
      @GrampsD63 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@the_langss Other than all that how was the car to drive 🤣🤣

    • @the_langss
      @the_langss 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@GrampsD63 I think if the car was a little better put together, it would have lasted in normal use a reasonable amount of time. Right after I bought it I started a new job and was commuting about 60 miles a day. It didn't take very long for that to shake, rattle, and roll. By the time I traded it in, it was like riding in a Tin Can Full Of BB's. Believe me, I could not have been more disappointed in the car. Hell even the rear hatch was starting to squeak and and if you can't turn the radio up high enough to drown it all out your screwed. Did I forget to mention that they shipped these POS in Rail Cars...ON THEIR SIDE. The day I took delivery I had to leave and come back hours later while they removed the shipping fixtures and serviced all the fluids...So if there were no fluids...How did they get it from the "Shipping Fixture" it was shipped in to the truck that delivered it. Humm...As a side note the 78 Trans Am I bought to replace it Came Radio Delete... Quietest 3 months I had in a long time.

    • @GrampsD63
      @GrampsD63 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@the_langss Well my first 3 cars during High School were GTOs. '68, '67 & '70. Gotta say they were all solid cars. I switched over to bikes and rode every day for a few years until I got my first of 4 240Zs. Again solid cars. so besides that I never owned any 70's vehicles but growing up in that era I knew they definately had some challenges. Guess I dodged the bullet

  • @JD9mm
    @JD9mm 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    The 77' Mirage, with the IMSA stage 1 body kit and F41 suspension, was the Canyon Carver. Not the Spyder.

    • @warpigolet
      @warpigolet 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yeah, with the engine set back about two feet!
      My 75 GMC Sierra four-wheel drive. Sporting a big block, winch bumper and winch would out corner of the my V8 spider on a clover leaf.

    • @carlshowalter9629
      @carlshowalter9629 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I remember seeing a white Mirage on the showroom floor the day my granny bought a used Spyder from the dealer.

  • @bmac1205
    @bmac1205 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Non-Spyder Monza's also came with a 305. You even have them in your video. My fiance had one in 1980.
    Millennials and their incorrect content. Arrgh!

  • @Bargle5
    @Bargle5 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I remember one thing about the first V8 models. GM screwed up the chassis design and you had to cut a hole in the frame to access one of the spark plugs. I think later models had the hole from the factory.

  • @dennisnirmark1353
    @dennisnirmark1353 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    2:12 thats NOT a picture of John Delorean! Thats a picture of Alec Baldwin playing John delorean in a movie!

    • @KhaoticKalm
      @KhaoticKalm หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Ahhh, it’s close enough… old, partied out womanizer always in trouble with the law.

  • @mb-fs1yo
    @mb-fs1yo 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    There is a 1975 Monza coupe with a 350 hidden away in a garage on a farm near me.

  • @rustybearden1800
    @rustybearden1800 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    These (and their Buick/Olds varients) were very nice cars, with either the V6 or the V8 and a 5 speed manual, usually fully optioned. They didn't look like anything else and they drove and handled quite good. The 4 cylinders were crap. I had the Pontiac version, the two door notch back coupe Sunbird with the 305 V8, 2 barrel carb, AC, cruise control, 3 speed auto trans and the baby Trans Am Rally package with the rear spoiler and lower body stripes, rally wheels and genuine black Trans Am steering wheel. It was a fantastic little car and yes, it did look like a baby Trans Am. I LOVED that car. I don't remember it being 12 seconds to 60 slow, more like the mid 8 seconds. But it did handle very well and had a lovely, low key V8 burble at idle. I NEVER, EVER saw another one like it - they were very rare. But these swoopy Monza/Starfire/Skyhawk hatchbacks were everywhere and again, the fully optioned V6 and V8 models were very nice. Great post!

    • @thomashodges-qu9mw
      @thomashodges-qu9mw 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I had a 76 Olds Starfire, well, my wife drove it. 3.8 V6 auto, with the Firestone 500's. Of all the cars I've owned and drove I've always considered this the worst car I've ever owned ( and I've owned a Yugo) The tires may have some of the fault, but the roads in my area then were fairly rough, and the car bottomed out so much I never got the chance to see how it handled. We started a family and was glad to get rid of it for a Buick Apollo.

  • @bck2mono
    @bck2mono 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Dad thought he must be the first guy in Detroit with the new 1975 Monza hatchback. People would stop him in parking lots or yell from the sidewalk or get him to roll down his window “WHAT IS THAT?!” It was pumpkin orange too! I loved it. Dad parted ways with the monza in 82. It got a lot of attention but he thought it was one of the junkiest put together cars he’d ever had.. lol

  • @sixoaksfarm1556
    @sixoaksfarm1556 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    I had a 75 2+2 with the 4.3L V8.. Miss that car. handled like it was on rails and the V8 took all the smae upgrades as any other SBC V8.. Good times.

    • @georgetubbs8211
      @georgetubbs8211 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I HAD THE SAME,CAME WITH THE 262. IT GOT PULLED IMMEDIATELY FOR A BUILT 350. IT WAS A BLAST TO DRIVE AND RACE.

  • @roraev9296
    @roraev9296 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I was there. These cars were toads, performancewise. The handling you're speaking of had an excessive body roll issue which, coupled with the design understeer problem and driving them down the road they simply sounded and felt cheap. They were somewhat popular in the secondary market because many of them were already set up for a small block Chevy. The rear axles were weak, and to be able to flog them much at all required a cut down rear axle along the lines of a 9 inch Ford, or a GM 12 bolt. Their factory brakes were abysmal, they were simply too small for anything but a girls school car. I drove the V8 Starfire Firenza with a V8 & 5 speed and if was totally lacking. You see how few of these cars are left now, they were simply a successor to the Vega and it showed. You also simply couldn't get enough rear tire under the car without severe modifications, including a custom rear end, and a lot of bodywork.

  • @joestephan1111
    @joestephan1111 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    The term "Spyder" is reserved for open top cars that have no roof or cloth top.

  • @Bullwinkle056
    @Bullwinkle056 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    I had a 1975 Spyder with the 4.3 l V-8. It was a sharp looking car but the front suspension could not handle the engine weight. It used some unique cam adjustment design (special tool required) instead of shims to adjust the camber. Front tires would wear out in about 10K miles if I didn't keep the front end aligned.

  • @TheRealMattFromWiiSports
    @TheRealMattFromWiiSports 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I love how after he mentions the 305 making 140 hp, there's an irrelevant clip of a Monza doing a wheelie as if that has anything to do with the 305 making 140 hp

    • @tommissouri4871
      @tommissouri4871 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      He lays it on so thick, I need hip waders.

  • @chuckwhitson654
    @chuckwhitson654 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I've got a friend who pulled his number matching motor, and built a 350 for his 4sp monza spyder. I have been a lifelong v8 vega enthusiast and the monza is just as awesome to me. Thanks for the video

  • @braddietzmusic2429
    @braddietzmusic2429 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    I’d say Mustang II was its own runaway sales success that was greater than the Monza. Also THE VEGA was the Monza’s worst nightmare- the hangover from the Vega disaster and the rightful burning of GM and Chevy’s reputation and consumer trust to be able to build a good small car.
    I don’t think the Mustang II had nightmares about anything related to a Monza or the Vega.
    I actually like the Monza. By the time it came out, most of the Vega’s failures were sorted out.
    Good hyperbole, though.

    • @sixoaksfarm1556
      @sixoaksfarm1556 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Performance-wise, the Monza was a nightmare for the paltry Mustang II which neither handled well nor was fast in any way.

    • @CarsandCats
      @CarsandCats 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@sixoaksfarm1556 Yeah, if you want to call two snails racing a "nightmare".

    • @sixoaksfarm1556
      @sixoaksfarm1556 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@CarsandCats maybe, til they hits some curves.

    • @buzzwaldron6195
      @buzzwaldron6195 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I think Mustang II had 140 HP...
      Couple hundred $$$$ in parts would wake the Monza 350" up to around 350 HP...
      GM was selling Vegas, Astres, Monzas, Starfires, Skylarks, Sunbirds, vs Ford's Mustang II/Capri...

    • @johnpronchik3730
      @johnpronchik3730 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Ya Mustang II'S couldn't touch a Vega or monza
      I used to smoke Mustangs in my Chevy pickup on a daily basis back in the day

  • @calvincrews3885
    @calvincrews3885 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    The Oldsmobile star fire and Buick sky hawk are my favorites too even though they’re not mentioned

    • @cuzz63
      @cuzz63 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I had a 78 Starfire with a 305 auto. The car was red and I had gold pinstripes put on it and replaced the rims with aftermarket rims that were chrome with gold centers . I added an aluminum intake and 4 barrel holley, it was a blast to drive.

  • @limulus61
    @limulus61 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    In high school, I had a 1975 Monza 2+2 hatchback with the 262 v8 and a 4 spd manual. It was not a Spyder but a few aftermarket spoilers from JC Whitney made it look the part. It had a pretty bad cable clutch that was very heavy and would bind up. I did get pretty good at replacing that clutch cable. It was also not fast and 75 MPH took an eternity. That was in 1978 and 75 MPH would have landed me in big trouble. It did look cool for the era and I really liked it. I had it until my freshman year of college. I hit some standing water on a rainy night and it went straight off the road into a ditch and the roof actually buckled just a little. The frame was also damaged and that was the end. The last I heard was someone bought it and turned it into a racecar.

    • @rpkietur
      @rpkietur 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      i had the same car 1980 starfire. i really liked it except for clutch problems. the design was really screwed up. i would see them in junk yards with the firewall crinkled . some folks put a metal plate there. i owned it 10yrs and we got real good at replacing the clutch. G.M. would not acknowledge the problem.

    • @tommissouri4871
      @tommissouri4871 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      The clutch issue was a problem across the board on the Vega platform (Vega, Astra, Monza, Starfire, etc.). The firewall had a flex to it and the cable sheathing would not align with the inner cable. The say to extent its life was to smear some grease on the cable where it entered the sheathing under the dash occasionally. Otherwise, it would start to cut a groove in the attachment fitting and it would be like a valley, narrower at the bottom, and bind the cable. I believe I finally rigged up a bracket that held the sheathing up at an angle on the firewall so the cable never slid on the bottom of the fitting.

  • @hilleryclifford1350
    @hilleryclifford1350 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    We hunted for the small block Chevy equipped monza for the motor mounts oil pan exhaust manifolds and the short water pump and took a 79 sunbird sedan and put a 400 sbc in there, lots of fun, direct bolt in💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

  • @GenX80sKid
    @GenX80sKid 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I think John DeLorean was using too much Columbian Bam Bam to think that car looked even remotely similar to ANY Ferrari.

  • @CarsandCats
    @CarsandCats 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    They should have used a Daddy Longlegs decal on the hood because this Spyder has no bite.

    • @jamesgeorge4874
      @jamesgeorge4874 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      '73 to '88 was the dark ages...
      For OEMS...

    • @donabercrombie8534
      @donabercrombie8534 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@jamesgeorge4874...'75-'82 range LoPerf era...imo

  • @MrTBoneMalone
    @MrTBoneMalone 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I had a 75 Monza with the 262 in it. Nice handling car for the most part, but the engine itself was rather weak. The performance of the engine was less then impressive.

  • @juliamiller2299
    @juliamiller2299 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    My sister had a 77 V8 Monza Spyder, though she got it with the automatic. It handled well in spite of the heavy front end. She didn't buy it new but got it as a used car. I drove it a few times and for the period, it was pretty fast. I think it would have been more fun if it had a manual.

    • @tommyblackwell3760
      @tommyblackwell3760 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      My sister's first car was a used 78 avocado green Skyhawk v6 auto, it was a quick little car but I agree, a manual (like Dad's 74 Vega GT) would've completely transformed the character of the car....in a VERY good way!

  • @shadymaint1
    @shadymaint1 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I know a guy with a Monza Spyder. Has a built 406 in it. It's green with a huge spider on the hood.

  • @donabercrombie8534
    @donabercrombie8534 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    H Body Monza Skyhawk Starfire Sunbirds were better looking than the Mustang II tbh

  • @nucleargrizzly1776
    @nucleargrizzly1776 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    When I was a kid the hot car for broke high schoolers was a Monza with a hot SBC.

    • @CarsandCats
      @CarsandCats 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Or a Gremlin!

    • @nucleargrizzly1776
      @nucleargrizzly1776 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@CarsandCats Gremlins were pretty rare in my parts. It was mostly Monza's and Vega's.

  • @jeffmullinix7916
    @jeffmullinix7916 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    The Ford 302 was still a better engine than the GM 305 in the Monza .

    • @sabrehawk-427
      @sabrehawk-427 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      In every shape and form

  • @travisabrahamson5092
    @travisabrahamson5092 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I had the Pontiac Sunbird with a 350 and a 4speed. It was a ton of fun .

  • @BenCarling-z9l
    @BenCarling-z9l 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I had a 79 Monza w a 305 automatic - wish i kept it and dropped in a 350 - now they are very hard to find and most are eaten by rust - mine was red w almost no rust -

  • @morgananderson9647
    @morgananderson9647 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I dig your videos!
    However you did not cover the rare Monza Mirage. A very cool and low volume version of this vehicle.

  • @HeinousinAppearance
    @HeinousinAppearance 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Would be kinda fun to find a clapped out old Monza and swap in a Mazda Rotary - just to get a taste of what they originally wanted.

  • @skipast75
    @skipast75 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The Corvair Monza Spyder, Corvair Corsa, Vega Cosworth and Monza Spyder are the only desirable RWD compact cars Chevrolet has ever made. Corvairs last forever, which is why there are still so many of them on the road and in fields waiting to be put back on the road… but the Vega and Monza had major rust issues. Even so… I wonder what Chevrolet’s lineup would have looked like if DeLorean had stayed at Chevrolet.

    • @tommissouri4871
      @tommissouri4871 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      DeLorean screwed it up. He took over Chevy in '68 and made Corvette part of the normal line of management and engineering with Chevrolet which didn't allow for its unique issues. As such, Quality went WAY down. They got him out of that, and he got into the styling side which popped up the Monza. Part of that was to visually replace the black sheep Vega upper management screwed up but that ended up with a new set of clothes that weighed 200 pounds more, raised the price $700, and never matched the production figures of the Vega they wanted to replace. His success at Pontiac with GTO made him the golden haired child at GM, but he managed to mess up everywhere after. Look what he did with the DeLorean car.

  • @Billyjack-Two-Crows
    @Billyjack-Two-Crows 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I had the coupe in black primer with i4, it was a manual which is cool when your 15 years old.

  • @ETHRON1
    @ETHRON1 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My wife had one when she was younger, she loved that car, she even dubbed it the "Monza-rotti"...

  • @nolarobert
    @nolarobert 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    I remember seeing plenty of Mustang IIs on the road in the late 70s into the early 80s. I only saw a few Monzas and never the Spyder version. I still see a Mustang II every now and then at car shows. While the cars from the Malaise Era were low on power, they made up for it by looking good.

    • @churchking2527
      @churchking2527 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I look at them, they seem like cool projects, but Malaise cars really have a ton of issues and parts are getting harder and harder to find. There's a lot of odd-balls and rebadging from Japanese cars. The original muscle cars and the 90/00 cars have a huge after market parts list available.

    • @mattskustomkreations
      @mattskustomkreations 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      My college buddy had one up until 1990. It was a heap. I borrowed it for a weekend - I had to “spiral in” to gas stations and park way out in the parking lot because it had no Reverse! 😅

  • @NeoGraena
    @NeoGraena 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    This car feels like a fusion between the Opel Manta & Opel Monza
    Manta for the front, Monza for the body

  • @cld2930
    @cld2930 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    My first car in 1992 was a 1980 Chevy Monza Coupe.
    3.8 V6 3 speed automatic.
    It was red with a red interior and had the red wheel covers to match the car had 118,000 miles on it. It had optional air conditioning and tilt wheel. That car was fantastic took it everywhere and it was in phenomenal shape I added an amfm stereo cassette which was one of those radios you pulled out carried with you LOL
    I threw a set of four mud flaps on it and on that hood cowl I put two black stripes that went into a Chevy emblem down the middle and with black pinstriping I circled the hood scoop with black pinstripe.
    I tinted the windows the car gave me no issues I sold it for a grand with 138,000 Miles.
    The performance models were the spider, The Mirage, and not sure but there was a scorpion model as well but I don't know much about that one. Very rare.

  • @SSO1025RET
    @SSO1025RET 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    My second car was a gold 1980 Spider with the 3.8 and 3 speed automatic. It was so slow, but it was so beautiful at the same time. It kind of reminded me of the front end on the classic Batman series. I would give anything to find one with a 305 and a four-speed. After watching this pretty positive I had the Z29 package.

  • @Brenelael
    @Brenelael 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This was my second car back in the 1980's. Mine was a 1977 model that had a 305 in it. It didn't really need a lot of horsepower due to it's small size. It was the same size as a Ford Pinto with a 305 in it... I eventually sold it and don't know what happened to it. I've missed that car ever since. One of the best cars I owned early on. I bought it off someone's lawn for $500 in 1985.

  • @dennisthomas4766
    @dennisthomas4766 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    I had a 77 Cobra II that had a 302 and my friend had a Chevy Monza Spyder with a 305 engine and both were automatic transmissions and I raced that Monza up the Summit Mountain in Fayette County, Pa and outran that Chevy up the 3 mile hill and we stopped at a gas station and he asked what was in the Cobra II and I took the air cleaner off to show him a stock 302 with a 2 bbl carb and he said I can't believe you outran me up the Mountain and I told him Chevy's 305 never had any power no matter what car they put it in!!!!

    • @frankhassle9366
      @frankhassle9366 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I'll take "Bald Faced Lies" for $100, Alex..

    • @dennisthomas4766
      @dennisthomas4766 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@frankhassle9366 Not my problem that Chevy couldn't keep up

    • @sabrehawk-427
      @sabrehawk-427 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​I will take a dumbass that does not know shit​ about cars for 200. A POS underpowered Chevy 305 will not touch a Ford 302 whether in car truck the ford 302 bore n stroke of 4" x 3" overbore stroke is what you want for a engine to breathe @@frankhassle9366

    • @frankhassle9366
      @frankhassle9366 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@dennisthomas4766 IN YOUR DREAMS, BUCKO!! QUIT TRYING TO TURN TH-cam INTO A HOUSE OF LIES!!!

    • @carlshowalter9629
      @carlshowalter9629 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      IROC Camaro came with 305 if you wanted a stick but if you ordered the 350 you were stuck with automatic only. Tuned port 305 wasn't a Corvette but it ran pretty damn well.

  • @M10000
    @M10000 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My 1975 Skyhawk had weak front axles which often bent. The front wheel bearing failed and the front wheel fell off. It had the front suspension of a Vega with an extra 1,000 pounds to hold up. The clutch cable sawed its way down the firewall. It was, by far, the worst car I ever owned!

  • @adamh2203
    @adamh2203 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    I had 3 small block Monza's, all 305's. My 77' was a low 16 second car with 229 gears and that TH-350 metric trans. I was able to do the plugs in 55 minutes with no broken knuckles.

    • @ebenezerwheezer2957
      @ebenezerwheezer2957 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Did you have to raise the engine??

    • @Thumper68
      @Thumper68 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Jesus 2.29 gears.. you could of put 3.11 or anything in the 3.00 and picked up couple seconds probably 😂

    • @carlshowalter9629
      @carlshowalter9629 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@ebenezerwheezer2957 That's how the factory book said to do it. When I was putting in a 283 I cut a small hole in the fender well to get to it easy.

  • @ericelander9936
    @ericelander9936 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Had a 1980 white one just like the thumbnail except the graphics and interior were blue. 3.8 Buick v6 and four speed. Friend of mine jad a 69 Roadrunner. On twisty toads i could run off and leave him when we roadraced.
    Bought it new in 1980. Two years later a certain blonde noticed me because of the car and two years after that we married. Last Friday would have veen pur fortieth anniversary but she passed in January.
    Did I mention that at the time we started seeing each other and dating she was my boss?🤫😆

    • @johneckert1365
      @johneckert1365 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Awesome story! Sorry to hear she passed 😔

  • @bln3576
    @bln3576 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My 84 5.0 loaded Thunderbird weighs 2900 pounds and 142 hp. It still lights em up and still brand new. 17,000 miles. I worked with a guy with one of these Monza's. Fun car.

    • @chadhaire1711
      @chadhaire1711 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Garbage car...worse than Vega....fell apart even quicker.

  • @marcosj7134
    @marcosj7134 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    In the midwest the Monza and Vega were completely rusted out in 5-8 years, it simply wasn't available as a first car when we became able to drive in 1988.

    • @ssnerd583
      @ssnerd583 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      ....yeah....they didnt last long in rust belt the winters

    • @carlshowalter9629
      @carlshowalter9629 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      The second version of Vega with the big ass aluminum bumpers didn't rust nearly as fast as the early ones.

    • @ssnerd583
      @ssnerd583 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@carlshowalter9629 ....YEAH.....they had to do something to the steel to make it less rust prone as there were BRAND NEW cars that were JUNK after just 3 winters. The Pinto's lasted a bit longer, usually.....but during the 'malaise era' nothing lasted long in the rust belt.....

  • @Oldbmwr100rs
    @Oldbmwr100rs 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I remember those in the early 80's still driving around, but you probably saw 10 pintos or mustang 2's for every one. A friend was fixing one for someone, I remember for such a newish car how the heavy doors sagged on their hinges, the bushings wore pretty quick, GM wasn't interested in making the hinges stronger. Sadly cheap was the theme for GM across the line then, and it showed pretty quickly in a lot of their lower end cars, which is too bad as the Monza was otherwise a good platform and drove nice. I've seen more Gremlins on the road than variants of the Monza, seems they didn't last.

  • @donhendrix7686
    @donhendrix7686 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I had the Olds Starfire with the 3.8 and turbo 350 transmission. Should have never sold it 😢😂

    • @rarecars3336
      @rarecars3336  17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      There is always the one that got away 😩

  • @DAT240Z72
    @DAT240Z72 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The mustang II was its own worst nightmare.
    Quite possibly the worst decision in automobile manufacturing history.

    • @rarecars3336
      @rarecars3336  หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yeah that car was respectfully trash lol

  • @JoeR203
    @JoeR203 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    The coupes looked better.

  • @michaelyounger4497
    @michaelyounger4497 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I had an 80 sunbird coupe with the Iron Duke 151 cu inch 4 cyl and a 5 speed. It was gutless, but I have to admit, reliable economic and indestructible. The sporty handling of the suspension made it a great car on winding roads, mountains and even city driving. Too bad they all got crushed..people didn't appreciate them enough

  • @arevee9429
    @arevee9429 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Comparing the Monza and its siblings from other divisions to a BMW 2002 from the early 70's is a joke. A tractor might be a closer competitor. But the styling was not bad. Having "cheap" as first on the list of goals was appropriate.

    • @carlshowalter9629
      @carlshowalter9629 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      You couldn't touch a new BMW 2002 for the price of a Monza. But you got what you paid for. The 2002 has a cult following now days.

  • @ronniedale6040
    @ronniedale6040 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +19

    As a late GEN X these cars would have been just a few years old when I started noticing cars. Yet to this day I have NEVER seen a monza or derivative actually on a public road.

    • @CarsandCats
      @CarsandCats 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      And I've never seen one at the drag strip. I mean, why would anyone want a heavier Vega?

    • @mattskustomkreations
      @mattskustomkreations 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I used to see them up through the late 80’s but they’ve all disappeared since then.

    • @buzzwaldron6195
      @buzzwaldron6195 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      These were all derivatives of the Vega... still have my '77 Pontiac Astre FORMULA Safari (kammback) Station Wagon... Iron duke, 5 speed, posi...

    • @SurnaturalM
      @SurnaturalM 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

      Because they rusted at a tremendous pace.

    • @oscarwalton1188
      @oscarwalton1188 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      They were popular among hot roders and young people as a result there aren't many of them left and being a 70s gm low budget car they desove in a hard rain same as the Vega and chevete.

  • @majorgeneral5935
    @majorgeneral5935 22 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    Whenever Mustang guys start talking Mustang babble…. Ask them about the 1977 Mustang Cobra 😂😂

  • @brad3042
    @brad3042 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Back in the 90s, I found a good chunk of old car magazines at lawn sales, usually from the early to late 70s. I remember reading about this car for the first time and being fascinated with the design.

  • @liquefactionist
    @liquefactionist 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    As a little kid, this was (and still is) my dream car. Have the Hot Wheels version in green. This to me is the true beauty of design for a car.

  • @slicedbread9003
    @slicedbread9003 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    At the time the Monza and it's GM siblings were good looking cars. They did have some European inspiration. The story with the V8 was that it was shoehorned into the engine bay. Service was difficult and the rear spark plugs were difficult to replace and were often not changed. But a V8 engine was a good move for this car because the other engines offerings weren't too good.

    • @rarecars3336
      @rarecars3336  2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Could you have imagined a rotary monza - talk about a PAIN to service

    • @slicedbread9003
      @slicedbread9003 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@rarecars3336 For routine engine service, oil changes, replacing points, cap and rotor, adjusting the carburetor, it was easy on the Mazda. The engine was small for it's displacement or power output. I think it would have come down to how well GM handled the details.

  • @joeljohnson3676
    @joeljohnson3676 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Owned 2 of them! Want another one!

  • @gouldnj
    @gouldnj 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    This was my first car. Bought it with a blown up 305/5 spd. My dad and I swapped in a 350 with a mild cam, headers, low-rise intake and 650 Holley. It was dark blue with black spider graphics and was RAPID.

  • @PatrickBaptist
    @PatrickBaptist 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    @6:20 WHUT! No one wanted the ol Duke, the iron duke? Everyone wanted the dukie lol. John wayne signed off on it being the iron dukie so it has to be wanted lol.

  • @malcolmirving9485
    @malcolmirving9485 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    The Mustang 11's worst nightmare? Mustang wasn't even mentioned in the video.

    • @sailordave1000
      @sailordave1000 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The Mustang II was of similar size, engine size, and performance but for a slightly higher price. Mustang II had the advantage of the Mustang name but suffered from lower performance and a look that turned off some Mustang fans. They were both available in coupe and hatchback but Monza also had a 2 door wagon for more utility.

    • @failranch9542
      @failranch9542 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Mustang Eleven 😮

  • @Eric--zs6um
    @Eric--zs6um 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I had the 79 Spyder 3.2l 4 spd. Green and the black rims with trim rings. Its my favorite in memory. I got it in 86 when i was 17.
    Also had a 75 MONZA T/C 4.3 V-8 originally. Pd 200.00 with no motor or transmission. Became a 350 w/automatic 2800 stall. Rear gears sucked.
    They were fun and id buy again if had to do all over again.

  • @michaelyoung1901
    @michaelyoung1901 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I used to have a 79 SUNBIRD HATCHBACK, IT came with a 231 (get this Buick engine) a 350TH AND THE PERFORMANCE HANDLING PACKAGE, BUT WAS NOT BADGED LIKE AN HO. NOR DID IT HAVE SPOILERS OR FLARES. JUST PLAIN chocolate brown! Here's the REAL KICKER, THE BUICK V6 WAS THE ORIGINAL ENGINE! I KNEW THE ORIGINAL OWNER. SHE WAS THE MOM OF THE MECHANIC AT THE PONTIAC DEALER. THE CAR ONLY HAD 23K ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT! BEST, MOST FUN CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. I WAS TRYING TO TRANSFORM IT INTO A TA HATCHBACK, AND I HAD IT PAINTED A DARK GREEN. THEN TO MY HORROR, MY WIFE TOTALED IT. AND MAY I SAY, NEVER TO BE FORGIVEN!!! I MISS THIS CAR, WAY MORE THAN my 68 Chevelle. It would DEFINITELY out handle the Chevell making it way more fun to drive.😢

  • @chadhaire1711
    @chadhaire1711 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Monza was the biggest piece of shit ever made, worse than the Vega. Total garbage.

  • @markshinn7837
    @markshinn7837 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I had the privilege of owning a 79 spider for almost 11 years..Mine had been upgraded when I bought it in 1988. I have owned a 67 Vette, a 72 Camaro and a 91 Firebird Formula but the lil ole Spider was better than all 3 in a curve.

  • @blpadge2
    @blpadge2 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

    First car I had at 16 in 1982 was my stepmother's 75 Monza Towne Coupe. 262 cid V8 2 bbl carb that put out 110 bhp. No truck space due to full size spare and 18 gallon gas tank, good for about 300 mile range.

  • @jimmac1953
    @jimmac1953 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Mustang II = Pinto Monza = Vega

  • @Ron1987
    @Ron1987 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The styling was pretty cool.While too young to drive or own (1969) I liked the sypher.Own a 85 cavalier nothing fancy Type 10 2.0 ohv 4 spd.The J body with the Z a major step up and or the Turbo versions.Gm's compacts today just boring mobile generic trash.They may have lacked real power late 70s into the 80s but at least some decent appearance.

  • @stepcorngrumbleteats7683
    @stepcorngrumbleteats7683 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Oh, Yeah, I remember that Chevy Oct of SHIT!! Pull both fucking front wheels to CHANGE THE FUCKING SPARK PLUGS…only That Demented Designer would release that model.

  • @MYDOGBUD
    @MYDOGBUD 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I had a 76 Monza Coupe 2+2 V8 273 CID posi rear , disc, 2 buckets , semi bucket rear , 4 spd manual..it was squirrely with stock tires ..then i found a 79 Monza Spider, black on black full package 305 V8 , installed a truck 4blt 350 , mild cam ,double hump heads and fender well hooker headers..that car would easy walk a 5.0 stang but it ran out of gear at 140mph and the front started to float..miss those days of getting sideways in 3rd gear..

  • @SpyderGarage
    @SpyderGarage หลายเดือนก่อน

    A few mistakes but enjoyed this regardless. I’ve owned 18 Monzas in the last 40 years so you could say I’m a fan. (Plus, I have an entire TH-cam channel dedicated to the Monzas we build) 😅

  • @Tramp-dm5xr
    @Tramp-dm5xr 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Vega had the torque arm rear suspension also. Got a headache just 'looking' underhood a V8 monza. No thanks
    Hotrod magazine said to grab the 'Spyder' sway bars, for a street Vega upgrade. Bigger, a lot of difference
    Spyder donated the T50? 5 speed & pedals, etc for a V6 Vega build. Wierd shift pattern - 1st gear down, not up
    V6 broke oe vega diff with no effort. Back to a V8 Monza rear end to replace
    A 'mild' 4.1 buick v6 5spd vega = a hella fun torquey street car... GM parts bin. Sure checked all the right boxes

  • @v1-vr-rotatev2-vy_vx31
    @v1-vr-rotatev2-vy_vx31 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Did collision repair back in the day between the Fords and the Chevys,, this Chevy 2 was NOT engineered NOT easily repaired in an accident,, Sheet metal had layers upon layers upon layers of steel , not thought out,,with spot welding.. a real nightmare to deal with,,, the Ford's always had a better thought out unibody structure body,,, which lended itself to easy excellent structural replacement sheet metal parts.... And lighter weight...

  • @Dogboy1960
    @Dogboy1960 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    A car too ugly to ever want. Yet, I bought a couple......both for parts. The 10 bolt posi, engine mounts, radiator, front springs and steering box.....all bolted in easy/peasy to a Vega with the same engine compartment and dimensions out back. Small bumper Vegas built before the big bumper 1974 Vega were not just lighter than a Monza but also way better looking cars. For a down on $ 17-20 year old looking to go drag racing the Vega was tough car to pass up. Find a low milage at least 9:1 comp ratio 350 from a early 1970s Chevy of most any description in the 1977-80 time period when I was that age I managed to cobble together 2 Vegas. Both light weight easily capable of 14.0 sec quarter mile time on street tires and nothing more required than a bone stock 350 and it's turbo 350 transmission yanked out from one of the great many available cars in every wrecking yard in the country. Simple bolt ons like more cam, aluminum intake a proper Holley carb easily got you deep into the 13s all on a budget a kid could afford on a after school job. 13's don't sound fast today but in this time period this was fast enough to make a move on just about anything on the street back then. Wiping away new Trans Ams and Corvettes to older Mopar, Ford and Chevy left overs from the Muscle car era was child's play easy at every stop light to stop light race anyone dumb enough to challenge you took on. on the down side? The car was a little bean can and total POS to be sure. They rode like a trucks on a way too stiff spring......but the little cars were a great example of how going faster vs others can be as effectively achieved by losing 900-1,000pds as it is by adding big horse power and torque to a car that starts out so much heavier.

  • @MP2Tablet
    @MP2Tablet 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Here comes Spyder into the night! Don't worry Honey, he ain't gonna bite! It's a Monza!.... I still have an '80 and a '75 V8 cars. Both are kinda sad at the moment. I also have a V6 Starfire. The 80 I have was the only one I had got done. I had it when I was in the Army in the early 90's. I built the 305 with ported heads, port matched iron intake and exhaust manifolds. True dual exhaust. It had a built turbo 350 trans that would bark the tires with the slightest amount of throttle from 1st to 2nd shift. I painted it '76 Corvette yellow and blacked the trim. It had a Dobi front and rear spoiler. Fun car. Brakes sucked over 75 MPH. But it would run about135 MPH on the top end. Nota lot of cars would do that inthe 90's. Good ti es!