The Chevy Monza
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- The 1975 Monza 2+2 featured newly approved rectangular headlights and a slot-style grille in a slanted nose made of resilient urethane. The side window louvers are functional, part of the flow-through ventilation system. The Monza 2+2's two-door hatchback body style was shared with the Oldsmobile Starfire and Buick Skyhawk. The standard Monza engine was the Vega aluminum-block 140 CID (2.3 liter) inline-4 engine with a single barrel carburetor generating 78 hp at 4200 rpm. (Monza S). The optional 2-barrel carburetor version generates 87 hp at 4400 rpm..Chevrolet's new 4.3 liter (262 cid) V-8 engine was optional.
In April 1975, the Monza Towne Coupe was introduced - a notchback body-style with a conventional trunk featuring different sheetmetal than the 2+2 hatchback, although sharing its windshield, front fenders, and doors. It features single round headlamps, instead of the dual rectangular headlamps on the 2+2. The Towne Coupe was offered in response to the sales success of the Ford Mustang II notchback coupe and its luxury version, the Mustang II Ghia. The Towne Coupe is 1.5 inches shorter and 135 pounds lighter than the 2+2 and has slightly more rear head room. A lower priced "S" version of the 2+2 Hatchback was introduced mid-year. It featured as standard the Vega 1-barrel engine with a 3-speed manual transmission. The sport suspension, full console, sport steering wheel, day/night and wheel opening moldings were deleted on the "S".
In November 1970, GM paid $50 million for initial licenses to produce the Wankel rotary engine, and GM President Ed Cole projected its release in three years, initially targeted for an October 1973 introduction as a 1974 Chevrolet Vega option. The General Motors Rotary Combustion Engine (GMRCE) had two rotors displacing 206 cubic inches, twin distributors and coils, and an aluminum housing. RC2-206 Wankels were installed in 1973 Vegas for cold weather testing in Canada.
Motor Trend, in a 1973 article "The '75 Vega Rotary" said: "GM saw the rotary engine's future as probably much greater than they do today...mileage will be in the 16-18 mpg range. Compared to the normal piston (engine) Vega's 20 to 26 mpg, the whole rotary deal begins to look just a little less attractive, with what the price of gasoline skyrocketing, but that's another matter."
Unwilling to face fuel efficiency criticism that Mazda withstood, GM felt it could meet 1975 emissions standards with the engine tuned to provide better mileage. Other refinements improved mileage to 20 mpg, but with the fuel breakthrough came related side-effect problems -apex seal failures, as well as a rotor tip-seal problem.
By December 1973, it was clear the Wankel, now planned for the Monza 2+2, would not be ready for either production or emissions certification in time for the start of the 1975 model year, and after paying another $10 million against its rotary licence fees, the company announced the first postponement. Motor Trend in April 1974 predicted the final outcome - on September 24, 1974, Ed Cole postponed the Wankel engine ostensibly due to emissions difficulties. He retired the same month. GM admitted fuel economy for the rotary was sub-standard and postponed production in favor of further development. Pete Estes succeeded Ed Cole as GM President and never showed any special interest in the Wankel or in the perpetuation of Cole's ideas. Estes had previously decided to let the Corvair, another Cole project, expire well before the celebrated attacks of Ralph Nader.
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Had one for my first car. Had the 305. The more it rusted, the faster it went.
lmao
I so agree. Built 2 for autocross racing in the late 1980s, so I worked on every inch of them. Watched them rust before my eyes as I worked on them. Looked really cool, copied from a Ferrari design, but management was cynical and manufacturing was dismal.
Hey rust holes equals weight reduction😄👍
That was my first car as well!!!👍🏾💯
Took my driving test in my 1st of 15 V8 monza's
I bought a new black 1979 Monza 2+2 V-6 (wanted a Camaro but couldn't afford it). Loved it.
3.2 or 3.8?
@VladimirPutin-cz5zy 3.2 Liter. Traded it in for a new 82 Trans Am.
I found one for sale around 5 years ago. I new what a Monza was but I did not know that I purchased a very rare 1 of 1200 made. 1975 2+2 5.7 liter. I was told that is a California only with factory a/c. It's all original except for a repaint and 4 barrel upgrade. I get a lot of thumbs up and what is that. Sure is fun to drive around.
One of my main memories was that one of the spark plugs on the driver’s side was nearly impossible to remove. The official way was to loosen the left engine mount and raise the engine to gain access. This is more amazing given the fact that the tune up interval was around 25-30k miles
on the V8. Yes, I remember.
Most newer front wheel drive cars require the engine be at least moved, if not completely removed, to do anything. I had to remove the right front tire and cut a large hole in the inner fender to replace the water pump on a mid '90s Honda Civic. I cut and riveted a patch panel over the hole. In the manual, under 'replace water pump" step one was "remove engine"
@@geraldscott4302 Wow. I didn’t know that about the Civic. But NONE of the accords requires engine removal. I’m a mechanic at a Ford dealership. Some of the water pumps are a monster to replace. But none require engine removal. Having said that, replacing a water pump isn’t a routine maintenance. And today most spark plugs require replacement at 100,000 miles. In the 1970s and early 1980s, it was 30,000 OR LESS. Yes, servicing today’s cars is very difficult. Thankfully, they’re much more reliable than the cars of the 1970s and 1980s. Many don’t need major repairs until 100,000 or more. Back then there were carburetor problems, valve cover leaks, and other components often failing at or before 50,000 miles. And the entire engine usually needed a rebuild around 100,000.
We got them out without loosening any motor mounts but they were a bear for sure. That was too much motor to shove in between those fenders
My 1974 Pontiac Ventura with the 350 V-8 had the same problem.
In 1979, bought an early production, Monza 2 + 2 hatchback. Was never disappointed. Yeah, a few problems. The driver’s side rear spark plug. And with the factory Saginaw 4-speed, required changing out the 9 1/8 clutch disc almost every 3-4 months like clockwork. BUT where I took an edge, guy that worked at a salvage yard told me when a built Nova with a 350 came in. OH YEAH! He’d had $2800 worth of “tricks” done to the engine. These were 1980 dollars so you can imagine. Loved hitting the highway and blowing many “muscle cars” doors in. Drove it to CT were I was living and it met “black ice” for the first & last time. RIP “Beast”.....😢
I considered it for my first car in 1977. But I bought a Jeep CJ7 instead. Ten years later I bought a Buick Skyhawk. The same as that Monza! And I loved it. it lasted ten years. Then I sold it to someone who had it for ten years!
CJ7's sure appreciate in value nicely. Salute
Good choice with the Jeep..
I had a CJ7. 3 speed gas guzzler! But loved it 😄
My family had a 1980 Chevy Monza, that had a trunk. It was 4 cylinder and was so much fun to drive.
Owned a 77 and 78 the 77 was the 2+2 78 was the spyder they both had v8's . Great cars for the time. The rear hatch was really heavy. Wife owned the 77 and had the 78 owned them both at the same time. Kind of like a short camaro.
great cars? LOL......go sober up Goober
@@chadhaire1711 he said "for the time..."
@@audieconrad8995 I was there "for the time"---were you? I worked at a Chevy dealer at the "time" and even the salesmen knew these cars were a piece of crap-----the ones with the 262 V-8's were so nose heavy, the front shocks could get destroyed hitting deep potholes--and that crap bodywork....LOl...even the Vega or Pinto was a better choice....or anything from Japan was better than any small car from USA makers. The only advantage of these rolling turds is you could buy a used V-8 model cheap, then do a hot rod job on it for a quick street car....well at least that was a good idea at "the time"---problem is all that torque shook the body structure apart and snapped drive line parts. GM, Ford, and Chrysler has NEVER made a small car worth owning------never. It is not--and never will be--in their DNA. This Monza will be the poster boy for that.
@@chadhaire1711 well ok then. Ya I was around but uda man...whatever...
@@audieconrad8995 well,"for the time" in 78 , a neighbor bought 2 lil Red Express trucks.
One for him,one for the wife.
I'd have to say he won.
I had a V-6 in my 80 Chevy Monza. I really liked the looks of it and how it handled.
Very comprehensive report, as you included information - and even a Monza brochure pic, of the the very rare Monza "S" (at 7:10), of which little more than 2k were built and for one year only. Some these Monza S models came with an optional Buick V6 231 c.i. engine, which makes them, essentially, the only factory V6 "Vega" ever produced. Good job!
You're absolutely correct; there really _was_ a second Monza hatchback coupe in '78! Only 2,326 were made.
As we can see, it used the Vega hatchback body from the windshield back, but the Monza front clip was used. Its body code was M77 (the Vega hatchback was V77; the 2+2 hatchback had an R07 designation.) I saw one of those ex-Vega hatchbacks in my neighborhood way back in '78; it was purchased by someone from a nearby Chevy dealer that closed only a few months later. So, yes, there really were two Monza hatchback models in '78. _(3/4/2023)_
Had a 1977 Monza Mirage in 1987. I pulled the 305, and installed a 350 4 bolt main with 10-1 pistons. That car moved !!
Yes that mod seemed to wake the car up considerably didn't it lmao did the same to one had a blast
1977 2+2 w/305 V8. Silver exterior, black interior. I got mine 2nd hand and added black racing stripes down the sides and on the hood. I wish to goodness I had even one photo of it. It was the perfect first car.
About a month after Iot married, I bought a brand new black two plus two Monza. I had the dealership put in a sun ruff which would leak on my wifes head when it rained. LOL It was a four speed, and I drove it everyday for many years. I took really good care of the car. Payments were one hundred dollars a month and had it payed off in two years. My wife never drove stick and she said she would learn, never did. Loved that car. Not one of my favorites but got me through times when we were starting out.
I had a 75 skyhawk with a 3,8 v6 . it had fat sway bars front and rear, perelli tires, it was 7 yrs old and had a 100,000 miles on it but would do 115 mph all day and got decent mpg but man that car sure handled great, I was happy with it but a turbo 3.8 sure would have been cool
I had an 81 Monza Spyder with the Buick 231 (3.8L) and a 4-speed much like your Skyhawk. A friend had an Olds Omega version Monza with an automatic trans 305 v8. His was a little faster off the line in a drag race, but from a roll and on the highway they were tit for tat except that mine handled a lot better in the turns because it was better balanced and not as nose heavy and I got better gas mileage. I think the Buick V6 was the best engine choice for all around balance of performance, handling, and gas mileage. And I too wondered "what if" they had given the Monza the Buick V6 with a turbo? Imagine 1980's Buick Grand National performance in a factory Monza back then? That would have been legendary!
I had a 77 Skyhawk v6. I upgraded the carb and the coil pack. and that's all it needed. made more than enough power to have fun.
@@Yaboidavey I probably would have gotten killed if it had more power but I wish I knew that trick back the, I was 17 and nutzs
@@mikenodine6713 Alum. 4bbl. intake move the bat behind pass. seat.
Fiberglas hood. Some Ruggles goodies, solid mount engine. 2x sway bars f+r, lowered 1.5", 14" wheels
whoa what fun!
As a Chevy mechanic in the seventies these were a ton of fun changing the spark plugs . Pull motor mount on one side , Jack up motor , replace plugs drop motor back down . Connect motor mount , repeat on other side .
My sister and I drove a Red 1980 2+2 hatchback all through high school. The things we put that car through, made it a legend on campus. 😅
lol....Thanks for watching and the comments! Please help us out by subscribing to our channel if you're not already one? Michael - Boca Brothers
When I was a kid, I thought the Monza 2+2 coupe was so cool looking. Still looks good now!
Wow ! I graduated High School in '75 but beyond The Tubes "....A new Monza!!! or a moped...", i'd forgotten how cool the 2 plus 2 was. Thanx for the trip back :)
Right on
Loved my white 1977 Monza Spyder 305 V8. Kept it for 13 years and paid $5200 for it brand new. It replaced a 1975 Buick Skyhawk. What I liked about both cars was that the boxy headlights were accentuated as part of the design. The V6 in the Skyhawk vibrated too much at idle and the white vinyl seats were brutal in summer and winter, so bye-bye Skyhawk. Plus the Monza had a T-shift, which I also liked. Its replacement was a 1989 Ford Probe, which was almost identical in style and size. Thanks for giving the Monza Spyder the respect it deserves.
The V6 in the Skyhawk was probably still the odd-fire version, which would explain the vibration issues at idle.
I can remember seeing a fully loaded Monza town coupe at a dealership when I was a kid and I really wanted one then a few years later I wanted a Nova Concourse. Tastes change quickly in fickle teenagers I guess.
Nova is very underrated model. But they are tuff in my opinion. Cheers.
The Monza Town Coupe is a handsome car. Also, very clearly a response to the Mustang II, but I like them both anyway.
I cant be the only person who thinks that the front end/half of the later Monzas heavily inspired the styling of the 3rd Gen Camaros of the 80s
We would say the same Zach! Thanks for watching and the comments! Please help us out by subscribing to our channel if you're not already one? Michael - Boca Brothers
My aunt and uncle had one of these new in the mid 70s, I was 12 and it formed my opinion of American cars for years to come. The hatchback didn't always latch and would pop open when driving over a speed bump, the sunroof leaked and the passenger side dash could be pulled out half an inch with little effort. They used to wedge a couple of matchbooks in-between the windshield and the dash to keep keep it from rattling.
Ha! Thanks for sharing and watching.
My brother got a '80 Olds Starfire in '83. Relentlessly wretched pseudo-car. The interior plastic bleached and crumbled from sunlight. The brake discs were made from pot metal with a plating for hardness, if you wore thru the plating the pads would rip the crap out of the discs and seize the wheel. I have never seen one these Vega variants even in a scrapyard since about 1990.
Ah yes, the old matchbook trick to fix rattles. My dad used that old trick on most of his cars back in the day.
So how do you really feel ? Lmao
I had about 10 of these cars in the 80’s and 90’s, several of which I turned into fast race cars. I got my first a 1975 coupe 4cyl 5 speed in 1982 as a high school graduation present.
had a 1979 Monza 2+2 hatch back with a 3.8L buick engine and 5 speed manual. Loved that car. it was my first car and although I got it second hand (with less than 50K on it) but it lasted until it hit 345K. that engine was great, reliable and powerful. it was a light car with posi-track on the rear end so it would launch like a rocket. blow away many V8s with it. great car!
Back in the 70's, I worked for an automotive supplier that made the urethane rear spoilers (3 pieces) for the Monza 2+2. I ran the molding machine that made the raw (unpainted) spoiler center section and the two ends all in one cycle. I remember knocking out about 80 of these per shift. Right out of the mold, they were a funky green color. I have no idea how many we produced over the length of our contract with GM. Thanks for letting me revisit this car!
I ordered my 1980 Monza 2+2 from Poklar Chevrolet in January and took delivery if my memory serves me right, late March or early April. It was black on black. Had the sun roof option, the 305 V-8 with a 4-speed. A week after my purchase, I had some then racey looking Centerline wheels in 14" with a drag racer look and stance. Skinnies up front and as big as the wheel wells would allow in the rear. That car turned a lot of heads. While it wasn't tearing up the roads it did run and handle exceptionally well for a Chevy. I'd love to have that car back today.
My first car was a hand me down RED 79 hatchback with the Iron Duke. First was to swap out the "radio" with an AMFM tape player and retrofit both doors and the rear with 6x9 speakers. Then added fog lights behind the grill in front of the radiator. Bad ass until the phenolic timing gear gave it up on I-89 in Warner NH. But fixed that and drove for another year before trading up for an 85 Chevy truck, That car was a true low rider and wont ever forget it! In High School there was a guy that had a Monza with the V8, I didn't try to mess with him LOL.
Monza was built in the Lordstown assembly plant in Ohio where I worked for 33 1/2 years. We also built the
Pontiac Sunbird, Buick Skyhawk and Olds Starfire; all on the same line at the same time, a first for any automaker. Later we built the Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire, then Cobalt and then Cruze.
And these pieces of junk fell apart in about the time it took you to put them together.
You probably built my parents 74 chevy van beauville ,350/ 400 turbo spanish gold and white 2 tone seemed fast at that time (corvette motor ?,)
Pulled our trailer many vacations out west
Still ran when sold never broke down
Except for natural safety switchv
@@pinballman23 , probably because I worked at the adjacent van plant about that time!
@@chadhaire1711 aw gee, aren’t you nice.
@@davidszakacs6888 nicer than that junk Monza--one of the worst car GM ever made
My parents had a 78 Sunbird hatch when I was a kid. Iron Duke with a slushbox. Looked cool and was so slow.
My girlfriend bought a base model 1980 coupe new. It became my rain car in 1987 when she got a 4 door in preparation for our first born. Sold it in 1994 with about 150,000 miles on it. It was a fine functional automobile.
I had a 79and a 80 spider i Loved those cars
I had a dookie brown 2+2 hatchback with the 231 v6 and a 4 speed when I was in high school in the early 90’s. I loved that car and really wish I still had it. They are hard to find in stock trim nowadays sadly.
Most ones I see have been turned into hot rods
Fall 1975…senior year…became the proud owner of a maroon 1975 monza 2+2 with the 4.3 262 v-8 with the 3speed auto. No air, am/fm. All for $3735. Big money back in the day. I absolutely LOVED that car! Sooo much fun to drive. Sure not a camero or vet…but lotsa fun. Topped out at 105…coulda used on overdrive. But we didn’t have the transmissions of today back then. Drove it until 1990 when I finally had to trade it off for a lower mileage truck. As for comfort; haven’t EVER had a more comfortable bucket seat in ANY other vehicle (wife says the same). Bottom line, I wish I still had it. Unfortunately, I think we all know about the poor quality of body steel/aluminum that came out of Detroit in the 70’s. Rust cancer was the death of my beloved monza…😢
I'm glad to be able to find your channel. The history is much deeper and more intense than I realized.
Th Monza’s styling was underrated.
Back in they days when an AM radio was an option. I have fond memories of the Monza. They were crappy cars but I liked them.
FM Drew...Thanks for watching and the comments! Please help us out by subscribing to our channel if you're not already one? Michael - Boca Brothers
As I recall, I bought mine in July 1976. It was the dark orange, 4 cyl 5 speed manual transmission. I adored that car. They had "ruined" the Mustang for me so the Monza 2+2 was the closest I could come to the fastback orange Mustang I had my heart set on 3 years before but didn't get. I had the Monza for 8 years, sold it and got a Firebird and kept that one for 8 years! After I got my Monza 2+2, my sister wound up getting a bright green Oldsmobile Starfire and the next year, my new husband bought the Buick Skyhawk. I even have a picture of them lined up together.
I owned a 1976 Old's Starfire in 1982-83! We Put a Chevy 307 in it from a Friends wrecked Chevelle! Terrorized the Newer cars at that time. Oh the Fun Memories! Wouldn't Mind having one again!
Bought a jeep project from the early 80's that never got finished.
75 cj5 and with it came a motor purportedly that came out of a 75monza bicentennial thing that the dealership had going.
It supposedly was wrecked at 500 miles and I took the bent fan blade off myself.
Took it too a buddy at jfc racing for first start up in? 38 year's .
Pulled the valve covers off and it was a painted spring original grease still on the rockers motor. He said if he didn't see it wouldn't have believed it. Polished aluminum covers blue oil pan with stars... it's a trip!
Previously it had been lightly oiled and turned over on the stand every 6 months ish.
Started right up and after a bellow of machine oil purred like a kitten. With it came the t350, 1974 chev/Olds bolt pattern and now are securely positioned in the 1975 cj5
I remember one of these sitting on a used car lot when I was a teenager in the '90's. It had a 400 small block....still wish I would've bought it.
My family had a Monza as a second. My mom's car, except it was a Buick Skyhawk. 76 with Astroroof. 3.8l V6 auto. Gutless. Didn't handle. Better than walking, as long as no one saw you.
That good, huh?
What a nice shiny car . Nothing new shines like this
A the Chevy Monza 1979 TwoPlusTwo hatchback red-colored model myself use to own in Sioux falls South Dakota in the year 1991 it was a sporty car that broke the monotony as a gifted Beauty 🎉🎉⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nice. Thanks for watching Tony!
I had a 1975 monza town coupe, white with a red vinyl roof, 262v8 , 4 speed,fun car, got hit twice and ended up with a 71 camaro! Then a 86 vette, and now going to pick up a 2008 Pontiac solstice!❤❤❤
My parents bought me a 1975 Monza Town Coupe when I was 17 with a 262 V8 in it. It was hell getting to a couple of the spark plugs in it. The car I had was exactly like the one you are showing at 2:22. It was Firethorn Red with a white top. I even had Craiger SS wheels on it. Don't put a heater core in one of those. Mine was leaking and the dealer had to disassemble half the car to get to it and they broke the AC Evaporator case taking it apart. We went round and round with that dealer before my brother wrote letters to the BBB and half a dozen others before the dealer decided to do the job over again and fix the darn thing
Wow! Sounds like it came with quite a few headaches. Was it at least a fun car to drive? Do you miss it?
Now that 262 was of course a small block Chevy all the same on the outside so a 350 or even a 400 could be dropped right in it's place no problem and we did one w a good running 350 w a decent cam and the car was never the same again LMAO poor car when we were done w it the only place it could possibly go was the junkyard the motor came back out tho for recycling into something else for more fun and excitement lol
Had a 80 spyder with the 231. Bought it in 87. Older retired fellow owned it and took very good care of it. Oil changes were done every 1500 miles. It was garage kept. So except for the faded decals iy was in excellent shape. Only had like 68k on it when I bought it. I really miss that car. Unfortunately I totaled it in the rain on a curve. Was actually going slower then other traffic but it still slid sideways and hit a concrete drainage ditch. The Monza lost and I tore all the muscles and ligaments in my lower back because impact was about 40mph and stopped instantly when it hit the concrete. But I still wish I had it. Was alot of fun to drive otherwise and I also did alot of highway miles so my average was about 35 MPG. Pretty darn good for the Day in age.
Just when they thought they couldn't do any worse than the Vega, the wonderful engineers at GM came up with this. 👍
HAHA! Thanks for watching and the comments! Please help us out by subscribing to our channel if you're not already one? Michael - Boca Brothers
The Monza was a better car than the Vega. Chevy had more options than just the horrible aluminum block engine. They had started improving the corrosion resistance. I enjoyed my '75 Monza. It had the 262 CI V-8
I had a 79 Monza with the V6 and 4 on the floor. That was a fun car I wish I still had it.
My cousin had a 77 hatch back with a 262 ci v8 we pulled at and out in a corvette 327 that thing was a rocket with around 400 hp blew the doors off everything that challenged us
Had a 75 with an LT1 out of a Vette 🤪 👍 Love to hear about fellow Monza's with added beef 😄
my buddy in HS had a 77. we pulled the 262 with a rod knock out an dumped in a good wrench 290hp 350 with a mild cam comp magnum 260 something and a set of headers, a performer intake and a Holley carb. that thing was fast as all hell and would smoke 1 tire as long as you kept you foot on the gas. was not as fast as my 76 Camaro with an LT1 corvette engine but was pretty damn close.
This Monza 2+2 Spyder hatchback is my favorite 70s Chevy!
A 1977 Monza 2+2, was actually my very first car🤗. Waaaaayyy back in 1993. I got t-boned during the 94' Thanksgiving holiday break, and they totalled it😔. Really loved that car, got me started as an enthusiast, & as a auto technician. I still have a few pics of it.
Oh wow!
first car was a 1979 pontiac sunbird coupe. no option on it at all. 5 speed manual brakes and steering, brand new for $3900. Loved that car and thrashed the crap out of it
Plain Jane! Thanks for watching and the comments! Please help us out by subscribing to our channel if you're not already one? Michael - Boca Brothers
Had a 1980 monza hand-me-down when I was 16. Loved that car. Lot's of great memories.
My first car was a 1975 Nova with the same 262-cu in V8. It took 17 seconds to go from 0-60 mph. I'm not kidding. It was a small-block Chevy, but with tiny cylinders and a badly leaned-out 2bbl carb it didn't have a chance. I replaced the carb and intake with a 390CFM Holley and Edelbrock Performer, and that brought it down to 12 seconds 0-60.
My Grampa who was the slowest driver had a Monza Spyder. He called it “Schneider” for reasons I don’t know. He used to talk about how fast it would go even though we all new he never broke the speed limit. Good memories
I remember 20 years ago every stuffed big block chevys nitrous and they were common. Now I they are so rare to see.
yup! Thanks for watching and the comments! Please help us out by subscribing to our channel if you're not already one? Michael - Boca Brothers
I had a 1979 Monza and replaced the engine with a 1968 327ci
and won a lot of races.
After my Aluminum Block engine on my 1972 Vega melted. I got the Pontiac Sunbird. I loved that car.
I had an orange 1975 Monza 2+2 with the 350. A lot of engine for such a small car. I wish I still had it.
I had a 79 Moza wagon with the Buick V6. I loved that car!!! But having had almost 50 Vegas it was just like one. In fact I added alot of Vega parts to it. Thanks for the video
I remember I was a boy at the time and my friends moms boyfriend had a monza spider not sure what year it was but is was silver with all the spider decades on it. It even had a big spider on the hood kinda like the screaming chicken that was on the Trans Am. I thought it was a really cool car. I don't think I ever saw another one like it.
My dad bought a brand new Chevy Monza hatchback in 1977 and I drove it a lot when he was out of town. Loved that car - it was fast and so fun to drive as a young man driving into the city (NYC).
Awesome Denis! Thanks for watching and the comments! Please help us out by subscribing to our channel if you're not already one? Michael - Boca Brothers
I had a Monza spider , black with the red stripes 350 bored 30 over with a turbo tranny , B&M quick shift etc, she was a beauty .
Man this brings such good memories my uncle had one of these vehicles too bad they were not engineered as good and so many of these ended up in the junk yard.
Not really most ended up on a drag strip with a hopped up 350 and got wreaked as drag car I had four a four cylinder two 3.8 liter v6 and a v8 would have like two get one and restore it ,but most you will find are high dollar resto modes or rusted out sells of a drag car.might find one in some farmers field if your lucky,and it will be a 4 cylinder automatic.
Nice . As of this moment I own 5 of them one 78 Spyder one 79 Spyder and 3 80 spyders love this. Car and same with my kids . Each one of my kids want one so I've been slowly finding them and parts for them . Up here in Canada
My first car in 1985 was a 1975 Monza Town Coupe. It had a cracked windshield and was all primered. Bought it for $300 and me and my friends had a blast in it 😂😂😂😂
Had a black 1980 Monza Spyder, great car and really miss it. Bad in the snow, but a fun ride.
This was my first car. In 1992 I got my driver's license and for $500 I purchased a mint condition two-door notchback 1980 Chevy Monza the exact same one that's shown towards the end of the video the red one with the trunk with the red Wheels. Mine was actually in that condition but I had the red interior as well. It was the 3.8 V6 3 speed automatic AC car. It had 101,000 miles on it when I purchased it. The first thing I did was I pulled out the one speaker AM radio and put in rear speakers and installed one of those AM FM cassette deck pull-out stereo system LOL. I customized it with tinted glass Racing Stripes mud flaps ect. I had the vehicle for approximately 3 years and put 138,000 miles on it. I had the vehicle running so tight that even though it was a carburetor you can reach in and start the car without having to massage the gas pedal, and you can barely tell it was running it was so smooth. The car gave me no issues whatsoever. I ended up selling it for $1,000 in 1995. Lot of great memories with that car.
I bought a 1980 Chevy Monza sport coupe right out of HS in June of 1983! I don’t know why so many people complained about them because mine was absolutely one of the best most dependable cars I’ve ever owned! It was a 4 speed manual with the iron duke under the hood! Not fast, but with a manual transmission you could get more out of it! It was a beautiful white with black interior and I loved that thing! I eventually got Craigers for it and a set of Firestone raised white letter performance tires and it looked hot. It got great gas mileage too! I kept it looking fresh off the showroom floor too for 10 years when I sold it to my buddy from HS. He wrecked it within 6 months and traded it in for a new car. It was the perfect car for a young male trying to get insurance too! It was very reasonable considering! I still miss that car today! They were really nice looking cars for a low end Chevy!
I Bought a Red 1975 Monza 2+2 with a Black Interior. It came with the a Turbo-350 automatic transmission and the 125hp V8-350 (lowest output of any V8 350 chevy)
Pulled them both out, put a B&M shift kit in the transmission and changed the heads to early Z28 2.02/1.60 heads and put the stock 300 Horespower GM Camshaft from the earlier 70's Camaro SS-350. With the 2-barrel carb, it had about 275 HP. It would 'Bark' 2nd and 3rd gear. I Smoked EVERY Corvette and Porsche on the streets. For back then, it was FAST. This was in California. It easily passed SMOG. Under the hood, it looked BONE STOCK. Air Conditoning, SMOG pump, air cleaner. Talk about a fun car....
Had a 1979 root-beer brown 2+2 hatchback with the round headlights and Iron Duke w/4Spd as my first car in 1989. Was actually in great shape with only 79k miles. Paid a whopping $750 for it. I thought it looked cool, like a smaller version of the Camaro. Build quality was abysmal, with a door handle breaking off in my hand, and the sunroof leaked every time it rained, leaving puddles of water on the seats. Quality issues aside, it was a lot of fun for a 16 yr old. While the Iron Duke made more noise than power, it could actually do a decent one wheel burnout with a clutch drop. It cornered pretty well for the time too, aside from the overboosted steering. As an added bonus, the rear seats folded flat with enough room to sleep in the back on road trips. Ah the memories.....
Had a 1977 Chevy Monza 2+2 305 automatic, no AC. It was from Canada, no smog equipment, so it made 165hp with a 4bbl carb (5 more than the CA Corvette). 13 inch wheels didn't help traction, it would spin tires even from a casual stop. Same as below, to change the driver's side plugs, you needed to lift the engine up out of the way of the steering gear. Fun car, till my sister got in a wreck and totaled it. Bright red, with red vinyl interior. Kinda wish I still had it.
Your videos keep blowing my mind… Have some of these designs were imprinted all those many years ago. And now they’re being revived by seeing these images again.
Glad you like them!
I am 61 years old Call of 1978, I dated same girl all 4 years, I had a 77 Camaro RS 5.0. She had the Monza 2+2 Spider 5.0, Her car could bet my Camaro 0-60, It was a great car.
I had a 77 Buick Skyhawk with the V6 and four speed I loved that car.
My first car (in 1986) was a 75 Olds Starfire Rally. 231v6 auto and it was a dog, but at 16 I didn’t care, I loved the look of it, still do.
Years later I had a chance to buy another one but with a 5speed, the lady was asking way more then it was worth.
Had the 1978 Oldsmobile version of this called the Firenza GT. Had a 5 speed and the small V8. The transmission was way to small for even the puny output of the V8 so it ate clutches on a regular basis. Having said that, it was a fun car to drive when it was working right. It’s funny because the Olds dealer was right down the block and apparently the mechanics didn’t know that and we’d see them trashing the car on test drives. No idea whatever happened to the thing - it just disappeared one day.
Even though they were low in horsepower, the V8s were still very torquey, so eating clutches isn't surprising. I remember having a 4.3l V8 in a Catalina - poor thing was hopelessly choked at the high end, only making 120hp and that (IIRC) at fairly low RPM, but it still made 210 lb-ft of torque. Took forever to get up to highway speeds, but it got me to college and back for several years. Once I graduated and got a real job, I bought a new '91 Saturn SC with a five-speed manual - that little four-banger actually made more horsepower than the V8 in the Cat.
Would love to get a Monza and stuff a LS3 into it, but it seems that nearly all of them have returned to being iron ore...
Yes, I went though four clutches (110,000 miles) with the '77 Monza Spyder 305 V8.
In 81 I had a 77 Spyder with the 305 that got totaled by a "friend" when he borrowed it. Picked up a 79 Town Coupe also with a 305 after that, popped a 327 in it and put a quad headlight front end on it. A rear axle from a Vega changed the axle ratio from 2.41 to 4.10, that made a HUGE difference. That car surprised many muscle cars until I totaled it racing a 340 Duster, I was winning until I lost it..
Owned a 78 wagon. Loved it!
Boca Brothers Classic Cars
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I went to high school with a guy who had a Monza with a V6 and a 4 speed it was one cool car I wish I could find one like that
I have 9 Chevy citations and I have. Good luck with mine and I loved to have a monza
I paid $400 for my 1980 Monza, fist car, had the V6. Floor boards were Fred Flinstone style haha.
Loved that car. Caught on fire and hit the junk heap.
My wife-to-be bought her first new car in 1976. I tried to get her into a Toyota Corolla but she narrowed it down to the Mustang II, the Monza and the eventual winner (ready?), a blue '76 AMC Pacer! I disavow any blame but we got married and drove it from our ancestral home in NJ to graduate school at the University of Oregon. Our lives have been in the PNW ever since but the Pacer was gone within a year after arriving (replaced by a Mazda GLC)........
In early 1975 (when I was fourteen going on twenty), my Dad saw that body style in a Popular Mechanics magazine article and could NOT stop talking about it. The sleek body style and those square headlights made him INTENT on having one. So he scoured the dealerships and left his phone number with each (Chevrolet, Oldsmobile & Buick) for when one was available.
BUICK called him first. SO, Dad ended up being the first in town to have one. A Buick Skyhawk.
He was proud as a PEACOCK! I was TOO - for getting rides to junior high school in the mornings while all the other kids were watching me being dropped off out of it!
One unique *_FEATURE_* not mentioned about the car (which ended up being short-lived in the automotive market) was that the car could _NOT_ be _STARTED_ - unless _you had your seat belt fastened_ . 😑
ANYWAY. Thanks for your video and for eliciting my memories of that car from my younger years.
I own an '80 hatchback. Need to build an engine for it. Nice to see the Monza getting some love.
Oh wow....80! Thanks for watching and the comments! Please help us out by subscribing to our channel if you're not already one? Michael - Boca Brothers
I had a 77 Monza Mirage in 1980 as my second car to the Olds 442 and wish I could get them both back again.
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My first car was an orange 1975 2+2 262 Monza. It had an oversized quadrojunk carburetor on it that would smoke the tires at a third of the pedal but would flood if you put it to the floor. 30 mph punch it would scream. I could beat anyone in an 1/8 mile but not the 1/4. Automatic would get a second gear scratch at 3300 if you shifted manually. Took the spare out and the compartment would hold 22 beers and a bag of ice. That was 40 years ago. I was wild and crazy back then. I somehow made it through with no DUI or jail but a lot of people I knew are dead now. That Monza was definitely life in the fast lane.
I have a 75 Monza 2+2 2300, and a 79 Monza 2+2 305 with some of the spyder trim package. I must admit they did a good job on this video. I fell in love when I first saw the 75 Monza, and 2 years later I purchased my 75, in 77. I always wanted a V8 Monza, and I purchased my 79 in 2006, it was slightly rusted from sitting on grass, but I drove it during repairs, and had a ball with it. I am trying to get both back on the road, and hope to make more progress in late 22 and more in 23. If you know anyone who loves the H-BODY, you also know we are all crazy as F.
My first new car was the 1976 Monza 2+2. I believe I paid $4395 total with extras. Had a manual transmission, white interior (what was I thinking!) and blue exterior. I loved that car.
Awesome video (as usual). I animated a Monza in one of my videos (many moons ago).
HAHA! Love the channel! Thanks for watching!!!
My mom had a yellow one with curb feelers and chrome side pipes, fun car. Someone ran a red light and t boned it. Totalled it. I was so sad, it was gonna be my first car.
I have owned several Vegas but never a Monza. They had great styling. I always enjoyed how they looked like futuristic Vegas.
I had a 1977 buick Skyhawk, with the 3.8v6 and I miss it so much. people used to laugh because I didn't have the v8. but it still burned rubber! upgraded carb and coil pack was all it needed 👍
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I owned a 1980 monza coup. White speed, 262 by 2 barrel carp. Blue veluar interior. It would get rubber in all four gears. Bury the speedometer in all four gears. Extremely fun car to drive I'd like to make one perform to it's TRUE potential. A true road racing car capable of taking on corvettes and blowing thier doors off.
A “Forgotten “ car. I remember the Vega but never remembered the “Monza”.
I owned a 76 Olds Starfire. I really liked that car.
Bought my 1967 R/T Coronet from a guy in 1979 so he could buy a new Monza for his wife…….I still have the R/T. Thanks again for high fuel prices in the late 70’s😎
I still have an '80 hatchback with the 231 and Saginaw. It has been sitting on a trailer for years. Later this year I am going do complete rebuild for my granddaughter. I will be replacing the engine and trans though. She can drive a stick but doesn't want to.
I got one now. lol Love these little things.