Hey everyone, thank you for watching our channel! Hey don't forget that I sell posters of all your favorite cars. You can find them in my eBay store. www.ebay.com/str/paylessposters
When I was a kid, my uncle bought a brand new baby blue 1976 Monte Carlo with a white interior and when he pulled up to my house, I thought that was a really good looking car. Almost 50 years later, that flowing design still looks great. Looking at the Monte Carlo brings back so many great road trip memories
I've still got my 73 Monte Carlo. All stock and original. Around 80 thousand miles on it. It's been parked mostly, but once in a while I will take it out in the summer for a drive. Waiting for that one grandkid to come along then I'll hand it off to him. My dad bought it new and I bought it from him. It's still gorgeous and people will walk out into the street just to tell me they had one or knew someone who did.
I remember as a kid in the backseat in my father’s 1977 Monte Carlo he bought new so nostalgic just spending time with my dad miss him those Chevys reminds me my pop great video
That's what this channel is all about. The trips we'd take in my dad's 1968 Bel Air wagon and later 1978 Impala Wagon. Gosh I miss my dad and those good old days.
When I was in high school, my best friend and I went in halfsies on a 1974 Monte Carlo. I did all the repair & maintenance work on it since my buddy wasn't a mechanical geek. After graduation, I moved far away then bought a 1974 Monte Carlo Landau in 1984 and it's still my daily driver to this day. I've got north of 500k miles on it and intend on driving it forever. It's fully loaded with almost every option and an absolute delight to drive. I've personally witnessed how people's reactions to the car have changed over the decades. When I first got it, my peers thought I was wasting time and money building a performance engine for it - by the way, a powerful engine negates the "malaise" label and validates the "muscle car wrapped in a velvet glove" description. The next decade, people would say I should trade in "that big ol' land yacht" for something more fuel efficient; I know what I drive and don't complain about gas prices. The next decade, was quiet for the most part although there were maybe a handful of self-appointed environmentalists who berated me for killing the planet with my car - I replied "with the car being (then) 40-years old, the average person would be on their sixth car by now. I'm still on my first. All I've used is some petroleum. If I were on my 6th car, I would have had to engage is mining for various metals, refining, etc., then used all the chemicals to make plastics, etc., so, when you look at the big picture, I'm actually more environmentally conscious than the average person." Part way into the next decade, I started getting people commenting how they remember seeing these cars back in the day and their uncle or neighbor had one… In other words, nostalgia. In recent years, there's hardly a week that goes by where someone doesn't ask if I want to sell it. So, in summary, it's interesting how my car went from discarded ugly duckling to desirable classic.
My dad had a brown 77 monte with swivel seats. He LOVED that car. I was too small to see over the dashboard so he used to let me stand on the shotgun seat and hold me with his arm for safety while we drove lol.
Had a 1970, first car I bought in 1980 when I was 19, black over red, that 454 went like stink! Great interior with the full length center console and woven nylon seat fabric. It wasn’t much of a handler and the brakes were horrible but I loved racing other muscle cars during that era and just cruising the boulevards of SoCal in that bitching ride!
@@tpolerex7282 Last of the true Muscle Car era where Cubic Inches was the reign. I know Superchargers and Turbochargers are here today but I prefer good ole Cubic Inches. 😎
@@ThisOldCarChannel I'm a first generation Monte collector. 1970 with 454 original, 1971 custom Monte with 350 4 bolt main and a 1972 Monte 350. Still have all of them. The 1971 is a race / track car with hood pins and extremely fast. The 70 and 71 have bucket seats with floor shifter and 72 with bench seat. I've owned 12 of the 1971 and 1972 Monte Carlos. The 1970 is very rare. Some call it the SS Monte carlo. Great channel 👏.
I still have my 1977 Monte Carlo rust and all had it since 1986❤😅 swivel seats ,auto on the floor,moon roof ,350 four barrel engine.no power windows or power trunk AC.
I have owned my '76 for 43 years, being the second owner. I have put several hundred thousand miles on it with continuous improvements. Of all my vehicles, the Monte is still my favorite. I also owned a 77 for several years and put 100,000 miles on it. 2nd gens are great!
Greetings from Glenn in Cleveland! My first car was supposed to be a 1972 Bucket, console, a/c white on white w/ black int. Monte Carlo with fender skirts. When it came time to buy it, my cousin backed out of the deal. I instead got the 72 Skylark GS. I have always wanted a 1st gen Monte and never got one! I love the 2nd gen Monte in particular the 1975 or the 1977. Besides the awe-inspiring body lines, there is something about getting behind the wheel and staring down the long hood!
YES! That's what I remember when my dad brought a 1977 home back in 1980. He said he was thinking of buying it but did not. He let me take it to the store to buy a coke. I was 16 and remember the smoothness and long hood while driving it. Wow! You brought back that memory. Thanks for watching.
My mother purchased a 1977 silver with red bench seat interior Monte Carlo. On the day she picked it out brand new from the dealer it was the center piece of the dealership since it was slowly going around in a circle on a round platform on the showroom floor of Z Frank Motors which was Located on Western Ave. in Chicago. Around 1985 my family drove it from Chicago to Miami Florida roundtrip with no problems. Such a great car! Looking to eventually buy one and also would like to find a late 70's FJ 40 Toyota Landcruiser. The more expensive and modern new cars get with all the extra tech stuff and ridiculous repair bills, the more I am inclined to save my heard earned money and restore and cherish reliable and affordable automotive classics such as the Monte Carlo.
Looking for a '77 also! That's not easy. In 1980, my dad (RIP) brought home a a silver 1977 Monte. He told us he was thinking of buying it. I asked him if I could drive it to the store to buy a Coke. I remember how smooth it drove and how the hood looked as I was driving it. At 16, I was like WOW! Good luck. Let me know if you find one.
My grandpa owned a 74 (or 75) Monte Carlo in candy apple red with American racing wheels & a loud stereo. It was dope!! If I have a chance in the futuro I will try to get one!! I loved that car!!
The second gen from 73-75 were my favorite years. I had a friend who had a first gen and it was nice but the early second gens just seemed so much more classy of a car. The quad headlights I didn't care too much for but those early ones and the Chrysler Cordoba and Dodge Charger SE were some great designed cars from the 70s.
Back in the’70’s, there was a second gen Monte Carlo in every other driveway in my neighbourhood. I remember seeing more ‘76’s and ‘77’s than any other model year. It peaked when GM stacked the front headlamps with the mini rectangle lights.
My mom had a 75 MC. White w a black landau top. Turbine wheels. Great car! It had the swivel "Capt chair" seats as well as the wood grain dash and console shifter. Such a great car!
1973 will always be my favorite of the second generation. My mom had a 1975 when I was a kid. They lost me at the quad headlights though- it just never looked right to me.
I always thought the 2nd gens had a really sexy shape to them---and when equipped with Corvette Rally wheels accentuated it with style and a touch of class
@@marcusallen2951 Yeah, I didn't like those at all. It made no sense to me for them to make the Monte Carlo smaller than the Nova. They shrunk the Mailbu, the Monte and the Impala, but kept the Nova the same size until the very end
I was 16 in 1987. I was making $3.35 an hour and neighbors has a 1974 Monte they were selling for $150. I had either $75 or $100 saved up and they allowed me to pay off the remainder. It did not have a reverse gear but I didn't care. That car meant freedom.
In 1980 I bought a '76 Monte. My first car, the day I traded it in on a new '86 Cutlass was a terrible day looking back all these years. In 6 years of ownership I may have spent 300 bucks on repairs other than the usual tires and battery, etc.
When I was a kid we had a 1974 and a 1977. They were both white with red plush interiors with bucket seats.. my parents loved them! I loved them to so much I nearly bought a brand new 1997 white Monte Carlo. However it would have costed me as a 10 year old in Canada $600 a month to insure it with a clean record.. got a Dodge Ram instead and it lasted me 18 years.
When I was a small kid my daycare lady Miss Debbie had a brand new 1985 Monte Carlo SS, black with orange striping and lettering, and I remember thinking that it was one of the coolest cars I’d ever seen at the young age of three and four. She was a great lady and super sweet, and she had great taste in cars to boot. Sometimes I think that adults forget just how much of an impact they can have on kids, but even nearly forty years later I still remember her and her car. I hope she’s doing well.
I often wonder if my teachers in my past are still around. I remember my 4th grade teacher's husband bought a new Cadillac. Our room windows were always opened back in the 70s. No AC! Her husband would drive up the alley, stop and pass her luch through the window each day. It was a nice Car. I told myself I'd buy a Cadillac one day. I just turned 60 (sucks) and NO Caddy. Sucks that I'm 60, not the Caddy. LOL They just aren't the same as they were back in the day. It meant something to own a Caddilac back in the day. Now everyone can afford a Cadillac lol
My first brand new car was a fully loaded 1973 Monte Carlo my wife had a brand new 1979 Monte Carlo they were both brand new and they were very very excellent cars and for the money we searched around can we checked out everything and if you ever buy one either one the early one or the older one even now if it's in good shape you will not be disappointed for what you get and you can actually make them a lot better than the way they came
My dad had a 77. T tops , white with red pin stripe , and red vynil interior . I'd love. To have one today, if I could ever find 1 that wasn't completely rusted out like what I find here in Houston.
I had a 1975 Grand Prix. Classic styling. I would love to have that car today. 400ci engine, Rochester Quadrajet and a whopping 180hp. The doors were looong on that thing. 4:29
I have a 75 GP with T Tops. Fairly low mileage (under 50,000) survivor can’t drive it anywhere without someone coming up and starting a conversation about it.
The ‘75 is one of my favorite years for the Monte Carlo. I like the tail light design. I’m not a fan of the stacked rectangular headlights that followed in ‘76. Great video! Thanks for posting! ✌🏻✌🏻
Was all you saw driving around when I was a kid . My stepmother had an Olds and the neighbors had a Chevy , both boats and WONDERFUL to ride around in ! That’s those late 70s cars for ya . . LAND YACHTS 😂
My dad had a '73 that I learned to drive in. Years earlier we went on vacation from OC to Monterey CA and I5 goes 6 miles up hill through the Tejon Pass over the mountains from LA to the central valley. I remember vividly my dad flooring it and the Monte was dieseling and could not go over 50 mph up the pass. Those early emission controlled cars were gutless. Many years later I drove up the pass in a Civic with a little 4 cylinder engine and 4 people inside and had no problem maintaining 80-85 mph.
I owned a black '88 Monte Carlo SS with the 5.0 and rear spoiler that was nice looking, the first- and second-generation Monte's were my favorites though.
My dad had a 1975 Monte all black with Landau and rallye wheels and those famous swivel buckets so neet! It had a 350engine and then he bought a 1977 Monte gold with those wonderful buckets. I owned a 1976 in a cranberry or thornberry I think they called it. My favorite was my dads 1975 all black beauty! Just loved that long hood!
One of the best cars I've ever owned was a brand new 1974 Monte Carlo, blue with full white vinyl roof. Loved the power and handling. Whipped that car around the winding mountain roads of New Hampshire. you couldn't have knocked it off the road with a bazooka. Loved that vehicle. Biggest problem was keeping that vinyl roof cleaned. When the 1974 started to rust out, i eventually bought a brand new 1980 Monte Carlo. Piece of garbage. No power, no room, unlike the 1974 it was clearly just a fancied up Malibu. V6 engine was weaker than a new born kitten. At only 122,000, the 1980 died. Mercifully. Now on my 2nd Equinox, good car, but looks like every other SUV on the road. Sure miss that '74. And my local Chevy dealer has a first generation 1970 mint condition in his showroom, along with a 11963 Impala convertible and a 1976 (might be off on the year) Corvette Indy pace car edition. He won't let me have the Monte or the Impala. Don't have any interest in the 'Vette. None of them are for sale.
Can't beat the 2nd Gen. Aunt had a '72 Monte. It was an ugly green but boy it was fast! Love me my Corvette. I have a 2013 Grand Sport. Thanks for watching!
Don't laugh but I used the old product Westleys Bleche White on my white vinyl roof which is what I also used for the white wall tires. I just added a sealant to keep it from cracking and it shined beautiful. Everyone asked why it looked so super white. :) I agree the the 3rd Gen Monte Carlo looked like a plain old Malibu and the only thing uglier was the 5th Generation which looked like a plain Lumina.
I have had a few Monte Carlos, but my 75 was damn awesome, white strato swivels with blue carpet and accents, console shift, 350 with dual exhaust and a Landau top ... sweet and a buddy had a 1978 Parisienne and the Monte was longer!
My aunts Chevelle was totaled while she was sitting on the side of the road. She purchased the 73 MONTY Black with swinging out bucket seats. It was totaled in a flash flood (HOUSTON). She went with the new Chrysler Cordova with Corinthian leather. Beautiful car,,, total piece of shit!!! She went back to GM and purchased the very similar Buick Regal with gorgeous waterfall Grill. That 77 Impala that you showed,, my mother bought in that exact same green color. I took that car to prom, my little brother took that car to University of Texas… This video was old home week for me. Thanks!!!!!!
Cordoba....Beautiful car but piece of shit. I agree! haha! Double whammy for your Aunt. Sucks. That's what this channel is about! At times, we get those who will critique the photos, the video or the presentation. They fail to realize that all we're doing is tying to take our viewers back to the good old days, whatever those days may be. Thanks for sharing.
My first car I bought was a powder blue metallic ‘77 Monte Carlo with a blue landau top, white vinyl seats( easy to clean with bleach water). I added solid chrome Cragar Super Trick wheels and kept everything shiny. The girls in my high school absolutely loved that car and I would take dates to the drive in movies and lay a big blanket on the massive hood where we could lay out on warm summer nights .Unfortunately it had the 305 motor which was one of the worst Chevy ever made with the soft cams. It sat in my parents driveway for a while when it needed a new camshaft and instead of repairing it I bought a Chevette and was excited to have a hatchback🤣. I eventually sold it for cheap to someone and years later regretted it. Still have dreams of it once in a while.
Monte to a Chevette....Hmmm. Sounds like me. In 1984, I had moved to San Antonio, Texas to work as a part time radio DJ. Gas was crazy and I could not afford it so I traded in my 1978 Trans Am with T-tops for a 1978 Honda Accord. Hell, I even had to pay them extra for it. I kick myself for that, but the Accord was a great car and really helped me financially.
@@ThisOldCarChannel yeah that Accord would have been a much better car for me. The Chevette was a stick and went through more clutches than I can count🥴
My best friend in high school had a ‘74 that we terrorized our town in! It was black on black with swivel bucket seats and floor shift, 350 with headers and a 4 brl carb and he would race anyone that pulled up next to us.
My first car was a '75 Monte Carlo. White with a black interior, bucket seats and power windows & locks. I wish I still had that baby. I had two more MCs: 1987 and 1995, but the '75 is my favorite.
Michael, Where in South Texas? I lived in the RGV for 5 years before moving to San Antonio. An employee of my family's C store bought a new Monte in 1973. I remember how quiet it was and comfortable!
I learned to drive in a 73 Monte Carlo with a built 396, M22 Muncie rockcrusher, and 4.11:1 posi. Then I took my test in a 74 VW Rabbit. It was like driving a gocart.
Fantastic stunning Monte Carlo, what a beautiful car indeed, my favorite might still be the 1st Gen lol, a most entertaining & truly informative video review of a most Iconic American Classic car, I love it. Thanks for posting & for an incredible channel.
Thank you another excellent video. This is nice to see you take on a different car and go into detail. I know a lot of people who had this generation. I recall a teacher that a 1976-1977 green one with a white interior and it was loaded. I recall someone who had a 1976-1977 black one with a red interior. The magic came back in 1981-1987 model years. That one was nice. I know someone who had a black loaded 1978-1980 model with a turbo 3.8 liter V6( later became the 3800 V6). Someone who had a tan 1980 model, and someone in high school who had a 1987-1988 Monte Carlo SS. The car as we know went on to live to see several more generations. People do not fondly remember the 1995 version and call it a Lumina coupe. The 2000 was nice as well. I rode in one of those. It recapture the styling magic of the 1973-1977 generation.
Olds98! Good to hear from ya. So true man. Later gen in my view was just a Lumina. After 1977, they weren't the same although I do like the 4th gen also.
@@ThisOldCarChannel Good to hear from you as well. I know you are ware of this, but this generation Monte Carlo and Malibu/Chevelle share instrumentation panels but somehow managed to be different cars to different buyers and have a distinct personality. A lot of people like the 1978-1987( more so 1981-1987). I still say 2000 recaptured some of that flavor again inside and out.
I loved this vlog as I loved the 2nd generation Monte Carlos' as well. My parents purchased a "loaded" one when I was a sophomore in H.S. A 1974. Hated the downsizing .
in 1978, my grandfather went to buy a new Monte Carlo. He liked the second gen body style and wanted to buy a new one before the body style changed, but he didn't know that '78 was the body change year. He went to the dealership, didn't like the '78, but there was a '76 Landau on the lot and he bought it. In February 2000, he bought a brand new 2000 Monte Carlo LS from the same dealership and gave me his '76 Landau that June for my high school graduation present. She was my first car and I still have her. Sadly, grandpa passed away in 2022. Before he did, he sold me his 2000 LS.
Thanks for doing this video!! My aunt bought a ‘76 in light metallic green with white vinyl interior for $600 at a garage sale that she drove forever it seems like! Lots of memories riding in the back seat with my little brother and my cousins. Road trips with no AC would kill these soft kids today, 😂!!! ❤❤❤
No one beats father time. If we could only go back in time for a moment to relive those days. We didn't no any better not having AC. We were kids. I must admit that I live in South Texas. As I got older, I learned to like AC. HAHA! Glad you enjoyed the vid!
Always preferred the olds and the Pontiac on these cars… but the Monte was ok too… that white interior looked beautiful, and the swivel buckets were awesome
These were everywhere! The later generations were necessary due to regulatory constraints and market changes (as you note), but the second generation may have been the peak. The colonnade coupes were far more attractive than the colonnade sedans were, and they never seemed to fit together as coupe-sedan siblings usually do.
My really good friend at the time had a 76, swivel buckets and electric sunroof, the two tone blue paint style with blue vinyl top and blue interior. I always wanted that car, still look for a good one
I wish you could get the interior of the first gen in the body of the second gen. That horseshoe shifter, and the map lights in the mirror and the fiber optic lamp monitors were just some really nice touches that did not make their way into the 2nd generation. By the mid ‘70’s the bean counters were starting to cut costs on the interiors.
I was 16 in 1975, so I grew up with these cars. I'm a sucker for any 2 door personal luxury car with opera windows. I'd have to say my favorite was the 1973-1975 Pontiac Grand Prix. GM really messed up the front end of both the Grand Prix and Monte Carlo in 1976, with square headlights. But the second generation of these cars is by far my favorite.
I bought a full loaded 1976 Monte Carlo Landau with 14,500 original miles about three Years ago. I was not looking for it I just happened to see it in a driveway with a For Sale sign on it. I bought it off of a 74 Year old lady that was selling her deceased 96 Year old Mother's car. I couldn't pass it up.
My first car was a 73 Buick Regal (same colonnade style). I am very familiar with the "drinks of choice" and allot of headaches later!! When the government got into all the safety standards, the automobile designers were challenged, and it shows in the design! I also bought a 78 Buick Regal; it was a great car also!! Gotta love the "G" bodies!!!!!
My favorite gen is the 1st one, unfortunately I haven't had the pleasure of owning one. I have owned a 73, a 74, 2 75's and 3 77's along with several of the 3 gens. The 3rd gens made great fox body slayer's, especially when you hung clutch pedals and ran a 4 or 5 speed with a set of 3.73 rear gears. My favorite feature on the 2nd generation was the swivel buckets. Thanks for the great episode on an iconic generation of the Monte Carlo 🍻
@@ThisOldCarChannel After being jacked up, you'd paint the rear showing underside, including traction bars, and put a small red light on the inside of the traction bar. Heck no, it was Blatz beer!
I remember those cars and those days Mad Dog tasted terrible but indulged anyway smh.. Similar body styles on that GM platform and replacement parts too. The Monte Carlo, the Olds Cutlass, and the car my uncle had and that I fell in love with, the 1973 Pontiac Gran Prix SJ with a 455 engine. I also remember in 1975 cars required that big heavy catalytic converter and the exhaust pipes from the manifolds to the middle of the car were stainless and didn't rust out for years and because of that the muffler shops I worked at lost some business as cars only needed from the "Cat back" exhaust replacements. Thanks for sharing this.
That big restrictive catalytic converter GM used prevented true dual exhaust from 75-77. It was a main factor why power plummeted at the time. Hot Rod or Car Craft years ago did an article and proved you could pick up about 30-35 HP by simply removing it and running dual exhaust. But to do it correctly you have to get a double hump transmission crossmember from a 73-74 or else the exhaust would scrape on the ground on the driver’s side over large potholes or speed bumps. Duals and cheap parts store headers would gain about 50 HP.
@@mikee2923 - Yep, we had customers that requested true dual exhaust and were willing to pay $$ for that and some shops refused because it is against fed law and was a 50 grand fine if caught doing it, but some after hour side jobs were indeed done for cash, no receipt no warranty. I remember custom bending true duals for many vehicles back in the day. Those cat converters were so heavy you could do arm curls with them too. I miss those days and the camaraderie with the guys at the shops, we had a blast.
@@Alpha-ms9nj I think the fines came much later. My first car was a 75 GP that should’ve had one but it didn’t. It still had a single exhaust but had a test pipe where that useless piece of garbage once was. This was in the mid 80s. When it was removed, I have no idea. That’s the way the car came when I bought it. The funniest thing about it was I ran something over and ripped the entire exhaust off the car. Ended up putting headers and dual exhaust on it. With that and screws plugging up the vacuum lines to all that pollution control garbage that didn’t work, that car would’ve passed emissions for a brand new V8 powered Crown Vic. It’s all a racket.
I think 1975 was the best looking 2nd gen any I had one with a rebuilt 350 out of a 71. 13s in the quarter. Midnight blue with a white quarter vinyl roof. White interior. I like the round headlights, the 75 grill and the body color strips on the taillights. Wish I still had it.
I got my license in a 1975 Monte, great car. This is one of my all time favorite cars. I had one complaint,they never had a leather interior and others like the Tbird, Olds Cutlass,Cordoba,Buick Regal, mercury cougar, Pontiac Grand Prix all had leather and much nicer interiors. At the end of the day….The Monte was the best looking personal luxo car bar none. I also liked the 4th generation especially the 78 monte I especially love the dashboard of the 78 Monte Carlo.
The 1973 Monte Carlo @1:30 is my all time favorite one . I liked it exactly as shown. Never bought one. I was 16 when this car was new. I did however buy a 1974 Pontiac Luxury LeMans in 1975. Same color and interior as the Monte Carlo I liked at 1:30.
What I recall most about the 2nd gen MC's were 2 things. #1, Most stolen car in the Chicagoland area. #2. Most sought after car for demolition derbies. That being said, I like this generation, and finding an unmolested example is pretty rare now days.
We all have cars we wish we still had. In 1984, I gave up a 1978 Trans am with tops for a 1978 Honda Accord! And I had to give the used car lot $1000 on top of the trade! Kick myself in the ass for it but I couldn't afford the gas. The Accord really helped get me by during my tough financial times though.
🛑🛑 Can you do a history of the Mercury Marauders? My dad had a 1970 X100 Marauder in white, with a red interior, console shift, fender skirts, with the 429. It was Stupid Fast!!💨 😂👍
Hey everyone, thank you for watching our channel! Hey don't forget that I sell posters of all your favorite cars. You can find them in my eBay store. www.ebay.com/str/paylessposters
When I was a kid, my uncle bought a brand new baby blue 1976 Monte Carlo with a white interior and when he pulled up to my house, I thought that was a really good looking car. Almost 50 years later, that flowing design still looks great. Looking at the Monte Carlo brings back so many great road trip memories
I'm glad this video took you back for just a bit.
I had that exact same car, it was beautiful, rode like a cloud, was class all the way around
I remember the "77" it was short n.ugly
As poop.
They don't hold a candle to the 1st Generation.
You got that one right 👍 I have the 70, 71, and 72. @@r90fan1
I've still got my 73 Monte Carlo. All stock and original. Around 80 thousand miles on it. It's been parked mostly, but once in a while I will take it out in the summer for a drive. Waiting for that one grandkid to come along then I'll hand it off to him. My dad bought it new and I bought it from him. It's still gorgeous and people will walk out into the street just to tell me they had one or knew someone who did.
That's great 👍 monte carlo beautiful cars 🚗 👌. Always liked them.what color is it just wondering 😊
@michaelrenner3214 Brown with the beige interior and landau. Swivel buckets too.
WOW! That is always a good thing. I enjoy reading comments like that. I'm sure your grand kid will enjoy it as much as you and your dad have.
My mother at one point had a 1974 Monte Carlo. My grandmother was given a 1976 Monte Carlo in her last long years. I loved both of them.
Both great cars!!!
My first car 1977 Monte Carlo!!! Loved it!!!!!!
Yahoo! My favorite year! Thanks
I remember as a kid in the backseat in my father’s 1977 Monte Carlo he bought new so nostalgic just spending time with my dad miss him those Chevys reminds me my pop great video
And of course you could fit other kids in the backseat as well !! 😂
That's what this channel is all about. The trips we'd take in my dad's 1968 Bel Air wagon and later 1978 Impala Wagon. Gosh I miss my dad and those good old days.
The 2nd Gen Monte is my favorite as a teenager my best friend also had a '77
White 305 bought used in the late 80s
Them were the days! If we could only go back to those days Dan!
@@ThisOldCarChannel 💯 Agreed
Had new in 1977. Red on white.
It was and still is " the heartbeat of America"
Heartbeat of America for sure. I am biased. I'm a Chevy guy! lol
My favorite was the 77 Monte Carlo just beautiful lots of styling back in those days
Really? You like(d) the Chevelle stacked headlights?
When I was in high school, my best friend and I went in halfsies on a 1974 Monte Carlo. I did all the repair & maintenance work on it since my buddy wasn't a mechanical geek. After graduation, I moved far away then bought a 1974 Monte Carlo Landau in 1984 and it's still my daily driver to this day. I've got north of 500k miles on it and intend on driving it forever. It's fully loaded with almost every option and an absolute delight to drive.
I've personally witnessed how people's reactions to the car have changed over the decades. When I first got it, my peers thought I was wasting time and money building a performance engine for it - by the way, a powerful engine negates the "malaise" label and validates the "muscle car wrapped in a velvet glove" description.
The next decade, people would say I should trade in "that big ol' land yacht" for something more fuel efficient; I know what I drive and don't complain about gas prices.
The next decade, was quiet for the most part although there were maybe a handful of self-appointed environmentalists who berated me for killing the planet with my car - I replied "with the car being (then) 40-years old, the average person would be on their sixth car by now. I'm still on my first. All I've used is some petroleum. If I were on my 6th car, I would have had to engage is mining for various metals, refining, etc., then used all the chemicals to make plastics, etc., so, when you look at the big picture, I'm actually more environmentally conscious than the average person."
Part way into the next decade, I started getting people commenting how they remember seeing these cars back in the day and their uncle or neighbor had one… In other words, nostalgia.
In recent years, there's hardly a week that goes by where someone doesn't ask if I want to sell it.
So, in summary, it's interesting how my car went from discarded ugly duckling to desirable classic.
@@drivingmyoldcar1974
Tell people all the new isn’t always better.
It runs its paid for and l like it.
My dad had a brown 77 monte with swivel seats. He LOVED that car. I was too small to see over the dashboard so he used to let me stand on the shotgun seat and hold me with his arm for safety while we drove lol.
The good old days!
The 73 Monte Carlo is my favorite yr.
Nice!
Always loved the Monte Carlo. Finally bought one in ‘07 with the 5.3 liter V8 and love it. Would love to have a ‘70 with the 454 in it. 😎😎👍👍
What year?
Had a 1970, first car I bought in 1980 when I was 19, black over red, that 454 went like stink! Great interior with the full length center console and woven nylon seat fabric. It wasn’t much of a handler and the brakes were horrible but I loved racing other muscle cars during that era and just cruising the boulevards of SoCal in that bitching ride!
@@ThisOldCarChannel 1970
@@tpolerex7282 Last of the true Muscle Car era where Cubic Inches was the reign. I know Superchargers and Turbochargers are here today but I prefer good ole Cubic Inches. 😎
@@ThisOldCarChannel I'm a first generation Monte collector. 1970 with 454 original, 1971 custom Monte with 350 4 bolt main and a 1972 Monte 350. Still have all of them. The 1971 is a race / track car with hood pins and extremely fast. The 70 and 71 have bucket seats with floor shifter and 72 with bench seat. I've owned 12 of the 1971 and 1972 Monte Carlos. The 1970 is very rare. Some call it the SS Monte carlo. Great channel 👏.
I still have my 1977 Monte Carlo rust and all had it since 1986❤😅 swivel seats ,auto on the floor,moon roof ,350 four barrel engine.no power windows or power trunk AC.
Wow! Good for you! Thanks for sharing.
For me, the 60s and 70s are the golden age of the American car. These were cars that you only saw in the USA.
60's and 70s were awesome!
My first car at age 18 was was a three year old 76, 305, cream gold, swivel buckets, pw. I got it for only $2800 with 40k on the clock.
Keeping my 1970 454, 1971 350 custom, 1972 350 monte Carlos. The best 3 years ever made. 👍👍👍
Yes,this is my fav gen, I loved my 77 white,rally rims,maroon interior what a well styled blessing to drive.
Couldn't agree more!
I have owned my '76 for 43 years, being the second owner. I have put several hundred thousand miles on it with continuous improvements. Of all my vehicles, the Monte is still my favorite. I also owned a 77 for several years and put 100,000 miles on it. 2nd gens are great!
43 years! WOW!!!
Greetings from Glenn in Cleveland! My first car was supposed to be a 1972 Bucket, console, a/c white on white w/ black int. Monte Carlo with fender skirts. When it came time to buy it, my cousin backed out of the deal. I instead got the 72 Skylark GS. I have always wanted a 1st gen Monte and never got one! I love the 2nd gen Monte in particular the 1975 or the 1977. Besides the awe-inspiring body lines, there is something about getting behind the wheel and staring down the long hood!
YES! That's what I remember when my dad brought a 1977 home back in 1980. He said he was thinking of buying it but did not. He let me take it to the store to buy a coke. I was 16 and remember the smoothness and long hood while driving it. Wow! You brought back that memory. Thanks for watching.
I've had four Monte Carlos. , 72,73, 75, 76. I love Monte Carlos
Great cars!
Some great models there, good for you.
I drove a 76 all through college. 350, I loved it. Didn't know how lucky I was
Some of us forget how lucky we were. Gosh, I miss those days.
Had a 86 monte, it was my dream car. Drove it in high school
Awesome! That would be my third choice after the 2 gen and 1 gen!
My mother purchased a 1977 silver with red bench seat interior Monte Carlo. On the day she picked it out brand new from the dealer it was the center piece of the dealership since it was slowly going around in a circle on a round platform on the showroom floor of Z Frank Motors which was Located on Western Ave. in Chicago. Around 1985 my family drove it from Chicago to Miami Florida roundtrip with no problems. Such a great car! Looking to eventually buy one and also would like to find a late 70's FJ 40 Toyota Landcruiser. The more expensive and modern new cars get with all the extra tech stuff and ridiculous repair bills, the more I am inclined to save my heard earned money and restore and cherish reliable and affordable automotive classics such as the Monte Carlo.
Looking for a '77 also! That's not easy. In 1980, my dad (RIP) brought home a a silver 1977 Monte. He told us he was thinking of buying it. I asked him if I could drive it to the store to buy a Coke. I remember how smooth it drove and how the hood looked as I was driving it. At 16, I was like WOW! Good luck. Let me know if you find one.
My grandpa owned a 74 (or 75) Monte Carlo in candy apple red with American racing wheels & a loud stereo. It was dope!! If I have a chance in the futuro I will try to get one!! I loved that car!!
Let me know if you do. You can post it on our Facebook group. Boca Brothers Facebook group!
The second gen from 73-75 were my favorite years. I had a friend who had a first gen and it was nice but the early second gens just seemed so much more classy of a car. The quad headlights I didn't care too much for but those early ones and the Chrysler Cordoba and Dodge Charger SE were some great designed cars from the 70s.
Not like the boring cars we have today. That's for sure. lol
Back in the’70’s, there was a second gen Monte Carlo in every other driveway in my neighbourhood. I remember seeing more ‘76’s and ‘77’s than any other model year. It peaked when GM stacked the front headlamps with the mini rectangle lights.
I knew people who had 2nd generation Monte Carlo but my favorite was 1970-71.
My aunt owned an ugly green 1972 Monte. Fast car!
My mom had a 75 MC. White w a black landau top. Turbine wheels. Great car! It had the swivel "Capt chair" seats as well as the wood grain dash and console shifter. Such a great car!
1973 will always be my favorite of the second generation. My mom had a 1975 when I was a kid. They lost me at the quad headlights though- it just never looked right to me.
I always thought the 2nd gens had a really sexy shape to them---and when equipped with Corvette Rally wheels accentuated it with style and a touch of class
100% agree!
Love the 78-79 because you don’t see them anymore at all. The small G body frame but 2nd Gen styling.
@@marcusallen2951 Yeah, I didn't like those at all. It made no sense to me for them to make the Monte Carlo smaller than the Nova. They shrunk the Mailbu, the Monte and the Impala, but kept the Nova the same size until the very end
Loved my 73 Monte 350 drove it from Port Aransas TX to Clearwater Fl in10 hrs @100mph
Raised in Corpus Christi. W.B Ray grad! Thanks for watching.
I was 16 in 1987. I was making $3.35 an hour and neighbors has a 1974 Monte they were selling for $150. I had either $75 or $100 saved up and they allowed me to pay off the remainder. It did not have a reverse gear but I didn't care. That car meant freedom.
haha! We'd drive anything back in the day as compared to teens these days. I miss those old days.
In 1980 I bought a '76 Monte. My first car, the day I traded it in on a new '86 Cutlass was a terrible day looking back all these years. In 6 years of ownership I may have spent 300 bucks on repairs other than the usual tires and battery, etc.
When I was a kid we had a 1974 and a 1977. They were both white with red plush interiors with bucket seats.. my parents loved them! I loved them to so much I nearly bought a brand new 1997 white Monte Carlo. However it would have costed me as a 10 year old in Canada $600 a month to insure it with a clean record.. got a Dodge Ram instead and it lasted me 18 years.
lol..... Thanks for sharing!
When I was a small kid my daycare lady Miss Debbie had a brand new 1985 Monte Carlo SS, black with orange striping and lettering, and I remember thinking that it was one of the coolest cars I’d ever seen at the young age of three and four. She was a great lady and super sweet, and she had great taste in cars to boot. Sometimes I think that adults forget just how much of an impact they can have on kids, but even nearly forty years later I still remember her and her car. I hope she’s doing well.
I often wonder if my teachers in my past are still around. I remember my 4th grade teacher's husband bought a new Cadillac. Our room windows were always opened back in the 70s. No AC! Her husband would drive up the alley, stop and pass her luch through the window each day. It was a nice Car. I told myself I'd buy a Cadillac one day. I just turned 60 (sucks) and NO Caddy. Sucks that I'm 60, not the Caddy. LOL They just aren't the same as they were back in the day. It meant something to own a Caddilac back in the day. Now everyone can afford a Cadillac lol
My first brand new car was a fully loaded 1973 Monte Carlo my wife had a brand new 1979 Monte Carlo they were both brand new and they were very very excellent cars and for the money we searched around can we checked out everything and if you ever buy one either one the early one or the older one even now if it's in good shape you will not be disappointed for what you get and you can actually make them a lot better than the way they came
Thanks for sharing. Trying to find a 77. The interior in those things are trashed.
My dad had a 77. T tops , white with red pin stripe , and red vynil interior . I'd love.
To have one today, if I could ever find 1 that wasn't completely rusted out like what I find here in Houston.
T-Tops! Now your riding in sytle.
I had a 1975 Grand Prix. Classic styling. I would love to have that car today. 400ci engine, Rochester Quadrajet and a whopping 180hp. The doors were looong on that thing. 4:29
Awesome cars
I have a 75 GP with T Tops. Fairly low mileage (under 50,000) survivor can’t drive it anywhere without someone coming up and starting a conversation about it.
The ‘75 is one of my favorite years for the Monte Carlo. I like the tail light design. I’m not a fan of the stacked rectangular headlights that followed in ‘76. Great video! Thanks for posting!
✌🏻✌🏻
Thanks for watching !!
I remember these! They were nice big cars
That they were!
Was all you saw driving around when I was a kid . My stepmother had an Olds and the neighbors had a Chevy , both boats and WONDERFUL to ride around in ! That’s those late 70s cars for ya . . LAND YACHTS 😂
Not like the boring cars of today.
@@ThisOldCarChannel , sometimes REALLY GLAD I don’t drive anymore 😂
My first car, 77 maroon/white vinyl top, swivel bucket seats, great car
Great colors. My older cousin had same colors on his 1977 Grand Prix
My dad had a '73 that I learned to drive in. Years earlier we went on vacation from OC to Monterey CA and I5 goes 6 miles up hill through the Tejon Pass over the mountains from LA to the central valley. I remember vividly my dad flooring it and the Monte was dieseling and could not go over 50 mph up the pass. Those early emission controlled cars were gutless. Many years later I drove up the pass in a Civic with a little 4 cylinder engine and 4 people inside and had no problem maintaining 80-85 mph.
Yeah, as compared to the 1st gen, the 2nd gens were dog sleds. lol
I owned a black '88 Monte Carlo SS with the 5.0 and rear spoiler that was nice looking, the first- and second-generation Monte's were my favorites though.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
My dad had a 1975 Monte all black with Landau and rallye wheels and those famous swivel buckets so neet! It had a 350engine and then he bought a 1977 Monte gold with those wonderful buckets. I owned a 1976 in a cranberry or thornberry I think they called it. My favorite was my dads 1975 all black beauty! Just loved that long hood!
Mad Dog!!!!! Haven't thought of that for decades.
Same here! lol
One of the best cars I've ever owned was a brand new 1974 Monte Carlo, blue with full white vinyl roof. Loved the power and handling. Whipped that car around the winding mountain roads of New Hampshire. you couldn't have knocked it off the road with a bazooka. Loved that vehicle. Biggest problem was keeping that vinyl roof cleaned. When the 1974 started to rust out, i eventually bought a brand new 1980 Monte Carlo. Piece of garbage. No power, no room, unlike the 1974 it was clearly just a fancied up Malibu. V6 engine was weaker than a new born kitten. At only 122,000, the 1980 died. Mercifully. Now on my 2nd Equinox, good car, but looks like every other SUV on the road. Sure miss that '74. And my local Chevy dealer has a first generation 1970 mint condition in his showroom, along with a 11963 Impala convertible and a 1976 (might be off on the year) Corvette Indy pace car edition. He won't let me have the Monte or the Impala. Don't have any interest in the 'Vette. None of them are for sale.
Can't beat the 2nd Gen. Aunt had a '72 Monte. It was an ugly green but boy it was fast! Love me my Corvette. I have a 2013 Grand Sport. Thanks for watching!
Don't laugh but I used the old product Westleys Bleche White on my white vinyl roof which is what I also used for the white wall tires. I just added a sealant to keep it from cracking and it shined beautiful. Everyone asked why it looked so super white. :) I agree the the 3rd Gen Monte Carlo looked like a plain old Malibu and the only thing uglier was the 5th Generation which looked like a plain Lumina.
I have had a few Monte Carlos, but my 75 was damn awesome, white strato swivels with blue carpet and accents, console shift, 350 with dual exhaust and a Landau top ... sweet and a buddy had a 1978 Parisienne and the Monte was longer!
I had a '77, with the 350 and 4bbl. I loved every bit of driving it. A/C, sunroof, velour upholstery. I put 60k on it, before giving it to my brother
We own a 2004 Intimidator that we bought new, still looking for a first gen Monte Carlo to park next to it. Love the first gen.
Ahh...The intimidator! Yahoo!!!
My aunts Chevelle was totaled while she was sitting on the side of the road. She purchased the 73 MONTY Black with swinging out bucket seats. It was totaled in a flash flood (HOUSTON). She went with the new Chrysler Cordova with Corinthian leather. Beautiful car,,, total piece of shit!!! She went back to GM and purchased the very similar Buick Regal with gorgeous waterfall Grill. That 77 Impala that you showed,, my mother bought in that exact same green color. I took that car to prom, my little brother took that car to University of Texas… This video was old home week for me. Thanks!!!!!!
Cordoba....Beautiful car but piece of shit. I agree! haha! Double whammy for your Aunt. Sucks. That's what this channel is about! At times, we get those who will critique the photos, the video or the presentation. They fail to realize that all we're doing is tying to take our viewers back to the good old days, whatever those days may be. Thanks for sharing.
My first car I bought was a powder blue metallic ‘77 Monte Carlo with a blue landau top, white vinyl seats( easy to clean with bleach water). I added solid chrome Cragar Super Trick wheels and kept everything shiny. The girls in my high school absolutely loved that car and I would take dates to the drive in movies and lay a big blanket on the massive hood where we could lay out on warm summer nights .Unfortunately it had the 305 motor which was one of the worst Chevy ever made with the soft cams. It sat in my parents driveway for a while when it needed a new camshaft and instead of repairing it I bought a Chevette and was excited to have a hatchback🤣. I eventually sold it for cheap to someone and years later regretted it. Still have dreams of it once in a while.
Monte to a Chevette....Hmmm. Sounds like me. In 1984, I had moved to San Antonio, Texas to work as a part time radio DJ. Gas was crazy and I could not afford it so I traded in my 1978 Trans Am with T-tops for a 1978 Honda Accord. Hell, I even had to pay them extra for it. I kick myself for that, but the Accord was a great car and really helped me financially.
@@ThisOldCarChannel yeah that Accord would have been a much better car for me. The Chevette was a stick and went through more clutches than I can count🥴
Saw a 1976 in person...in a lime green with white trim. It was still the model that everybody wanted even when things got weird!
Awesome!!
My best friend in high school had a ‘74 that we terrorized our town in! It was black on black with swivel bucket seats and floor shift, 350 with headers and a 4 brl carb and he would race anyone that pulled up next to us.
haha! The good old days!!
My first car was a '75 Monte Carlo. White with a black interior, bucket seats and power windows & locks. I wish I still had that baby. I had two more MCs: 1987 and 1995, but the '75 is my favorite.
I've had two or three that I regret selling! Thanks
Bought a 76 Monte brand new 350 4 barrel for $6700 out the door. Loved that Chevy
Awesome. I'm sure you got every bit of the $6700 out of it?
Michael, Where in South Texas? I lived in the RGV for 5 years before moving to San Antonio. An employee of my family's C store bought a new Monte in 1973. I remember how quiet it was and comfortable!
Corpus Christ. We had a store in Valle Vista mall in Harlingen. Now work for the city of San Antonio.
Cool! I lived in Weslaco and we shopped at that mall. Thanks for responding!
I bought a nice 1976 used one in 1984. It was in great shape. Only had 54K miles. It was white with burgundy velour interior. I Loved it.
Looking for one now but the cars I've seen are rust buckets and the inteior is crap. Too scary.
My friend's parents had one and that thing was a beast that rode like a Cadillac? Sideways and burning rubber
like all the cars we drove in the 70's!
You forgot to mention the fantastic swivel seats on the 1976 Monte Carlo. I had a two tone blue with dark blue. I miss it.
I learned to drive in a 73 Monte Carlo with a built 396, M22 Muncie rockcrusher, and 4.11:1 posi. Then I took my test in a 74 VW Rabbit. It was like driving a gocart.
Fantastic stunning Monte Carlo, what a beautiful car indeed, my favorite might still be the 1st Gen lol, a most entertaining & truly informative video review of a most Iconic American Classic car, I love it. Thanks for posting & for an incredible channel.
Thanks for watching. Aunt had a 1972. It was fast. I still like the second gen better. lol
Thank you another excellent video. This is nice to see you take on a different car and go into detail. I know a lot of people who had this generation. I recall a teacher that a 1976-1977 green one with a white interior and it was loaded. I recall someone who had a 1976-1977 black one with a red interior. The magic came back in 1981-1987 model years. That one was nice. I know someone who had a black loaded 1978-1980 model with a turbo 3.8 liter V6( later became the 3800 V6). Someone who had a tan 1980 model, and someone in high school who had a 1987-1988 Monte Carlo SS. The car as we know went on to live to see several more generations. People do not fondly remember the 1995 version and call it a Lumina coupe. The 2000 was nice as well. I rode in one of those. It recapture the styling magic of the 1973-1977 generation.
Olds98! Good to hear from ya. So true man. Later gen in my view was just a Lumina. After 1977, they weren't the same although I do like the 4th gen also.
@@ThisOldCarChannel Good to hear from you as well. I know you are ware of this, but this generation Monte Carlo and Malibu/Chevelle share instrumentation panels but somehow managed to be different cars to different buyers and have a distinct personality. A lot of people like the 1978-1987( more so 1981-1987). I still say 2000 recaptured some of that flavor again inside and out.
My grandparents had a 78 Monte Carlo.
It was Silver with Red Cloth interior.
My aunt had 1975 Ford Maverick for a 1978 baby blue Monte. Nice car.
I loved this vlog as I loved the 2nd generation Monte Carlos'
as well. My parents purchased a "loaded" one when I was a sophomore in H.S. A 1974. Hated the downsizing .
2nd gen is where it's at!
in 1978, my grandfather went to buy a new Monte Carlo. He liked the second gen body style and wanted to buy a new one before the body style changed, but he didn't know that '78 was the body change year. He went to the dealership, didn't like the '78, but there was a '76 Landau on the lot and he bought it. In February 2000, he bought a brand new 2000 Monte Carlo LS from the same dealership and gave me his '76 Landau that June for my high school graduation present. She was my first car and I still have her. Sadly, grandpa passed away in 2022. Before he did, he sold me his 2000 LS.
Man that Vinyl interior used to sizzle in the Summer. Lol. 🤣 🥵
Wow....I forgot about that. I remember that. Growing up in Texas, I'd burn my legs when wearing shorts! lol
The Seventies, when automotive progress was a new grille or roofline.
Thanks for doing this video!! My aunt bought a ‘76 in light metallic green with white vinyl interior for $600 at a garage sale that she drove forever it seems like! Lots of memories riding in the back seat with my little brother and my cousins. Road trips with no AC would kill these soft kids today, 😂!!! ❤❤❤
No one beats father time. If we could only go back in time for a moment to relive those days. We didn't no any better not having AC. We were kids. I must admit that I live in South Texas. As I got older, I learned to like AC. HAHA! Glad you enjoyed the vid!
@@ThisOldCarChannel I lived in Three Rivers just south of San Antonio, we grew up in the same BS humidity and heat and played outside all summer, 😂
Always preferred the olds and the Pontiac on these cars… but the Monte was ok too… that white interior looked beautiful, and the swivel buckets were awesome
I wish I owned all three in the '77!!
The second generation was my favorite. The Monte Carlo was still quite big, yet it had that style and elegance that personified the seventies era.
It had STYLE!
These were everywhere! The later generations were necessary due to regulatory constraints and market changes (as you note), but the second generation may have been the peak.
The colonnade coupes were far more attractive than the colonnade sedans were, and they never seemed to fit together as coupe-sedan siblings usually do.
Agree!
Had a 74, I loved it.
Nice. Now most are all ragged out!
My really good friend at the time had a 76, swivel buckets and electric sunroof, the two tone blue paint style with blue vinyl top and blue interior. I always wanted that car, still look for a good one
Hard to come by if they're not all ragged out! Great stylish cars.
I wish you could get the interior of the first gen in the body of the second gen. That horseshoe shifter, and the map lights in the mirror and the fiber optic lamp monitors were just some really nice touches that did not make their way into the 2nd generation. By the mid ‘70’s the bean counters were starting to cut costs on the interiors.
Now that would be nice!
All those GM intermediates were popular. I like the Grand Prix the best because of the way Pontiac did the dash
My cousin has a 1977 Grand Prix. We had great times in that car. RTS! Lol
I was 16 in 1975, so I grew up with these cars. I'm a sucker for any 2 door personal luxury car with opera windows. I'd have to say my favorite was the 1973-1975 Pontiac Grand Prix. GM really messed up the front end of both the Grand Prix and Monte Carlo in 1976, with square headlights. But the second generation of these cars is by far my favorite.
Beautiful car!
My dad purchased a brand new 77 monte, Red on white, I miss that car
Awesome color scheme!
I bought a full loaded 1976 Monte Carlo Landau with 14,500 original miles about three Years ago. I was not looking for it I just happened to see it in a driveway with a For Sale sign on it. I bought it off of a 74 Year old lady that was selling her deceased 96 Year old Mother's car. I couldn't pass it up.
Lucky dog! I hope it was in decent condition?
My first car was a 77 only had it a month before I wrapped it around a tree. Then I got a 76 blue with swivel seats. My favorite
Oh No!!!! Glad you got another.
My first car was a 73 Buick Regal (same colonnade style). I am very familiar with the "drinks of choice" and allot of headaches later!! When the government got into all the safety standards, the automobile designers were challenged, and it shows in the design! I also bought a 78 Buick Regal; it was a great car also!! Gotta love the "G" bodies!!!!!
1978-79 regal was very popular during high school
My favorite gen is the 1st one, unfortunately I haven't had the pleasure of owning one. I have owned a 73, a 74, 2 75's and 3 77's along with several of the 3 gens. The 3rd gens made great fox body slayer's, especially when you hung clutch pedals and ran a 4 or 5 speed with a set of 3.73 rear gears. My favorite feature on the 2nd generation was the swivel buckets. Thanks for the great episode on an iconic generation of the Monte Carlo 🍻
Thanks for watching! My moms aunt (guess my aunt too) had a 72 monte. That thing was fast. lol
2nd gen was a beautiful body style that at the time was a pretty luxurious car for its price range. Even the base models were a nice car.
That they were!!
2nd gen was solid and gave a real nice ride
Right on! Really smooth.
Cars were jacked up in the rear in Minnesota also during that era
Yeah...Just wasn't sure but I figured. I bet teens there drank MD 20/20 too! lol
@@ThisOldCarChannel After being jacked up, you'd paint the rear showing underside, including traction bars, and put a small red light on the inside of the traction bar. Heck no, it was Blatz beer!
I remember those cars and those days Mad Dog tasted terrible but indulged anyway smh.. Similar body styles on that GM platform and replacement parts too. The Monte Carlo, the Olds Cutlass, and the car my uncle had and that I fell in love with, the 1973 Pontiac Gran Prix SJ with a 455 engine. I also remember in 1975 cars required that big heavy catalytic converter and the exhaust pipes from the manifolds to the middle of the car were stainless and didn't rust out for years and because of that the muffler shops I worked at lost some business as cars only needed from the "Cat back" exhaust replacements. Thanks for sharing this.
Great style back in the day!
That big restrictive catalytic converter GM used prevented true dual exhaust from 75-77. It was a main factor why power plummeted at the time. Hot Rod or Car Craft years ago did an article and proved you could pick up about 30-35 HP by simply removing it and running dual exhaust. But to do it correctly you have to get a double hump transmission crossmember from a 73-74 or else the exhaust would scrape on the ground on the driver’s side over large potholes or speed bumps. Duals and cheap parts store headers would gain about 50 HP.
@@mikee2923 - Yep, we had customers that requested true dual exhaust and were willing to pay $$ for that and some shops refused because it is against fed law and was a 50 grand fine if caught doing it, but some after hour side jobs were indeed done for cash, no receipt no warranty. I remember custom bending true duals for many vehicles back in the day. Those cat converters were so heavy you could do arm curls with them too. I miss those days and the camaraderie with the guys at the shops, we had a blast.
@@Alpha-ms9nj I think the fines came much later. My first car was a 75 GP that should’ve had one but it didn’t. It still had a single exhaust but had a test pipe where that useless piece of garbage once was. This was in the mid 80s. When it was removed, I have no idea. That’s the way the car came when I bought it. The funniest thing about it was I ran something over and ripped the entire exhaust off the car. Ended up putting headers and dual exhaust on it. With that and screws plugging up the vacuum lines to all that pollution control garbage that didn’t work, that car would’ve passed emissions for a brand new V8 powered Crown Vic. It’s all a racket.
I think 1975 was the best looking 2nd gen any I had one with a rebuilt 350 out of a 71. 13s in the quarter. Midnight blue with a white quarter vinyl roof. White interior. I like the round headlights, the 75 grill and the body color strips on the taillights. Wish I still had it.
I didn't particularly like the round lights. Many of my family members did. I liked the rectangular lights. Thanks!
Fourth gen Monte Carlo but I’m a gen Xer and Training Day with Denzel was the best advertisement for that car.
I got my license in a 1975 Monte, great car. This is one of my all time favorite cars. I had one complaint,they never had a leather interior and others like the Tbird, Olds Cutlass,Cordoba,Buick Regal, mercury cougar, Pontiac Grand Prix all had leather and much nicer interiors. At the end of the day….The Monte was the best looking personal luxo car bar none. I also liked the 4th generation especially the 78 monte I especially love the dashboard of the 78 Monte Carlo.
True. No leather. Bummer
The 1974-75 Monte Carlo before they made the headlights square to me, is the best looking.
Square for me! My other family members say round. Guess I'm out numbered. lol
The 1973 Monte Carlo @1:30 is my all time favorite one . I liked it exactly as shown. Never bought one. I was 16 when this car was new. I did however buy a 1974 Pontiac Luxury LeMans in 1975. Same color and interior as the Monte Carlo I liked at 1:30.
In 1979, my dad brought home a silver 1977. I was 15. He let me take it to the store. Quiet and smooth is what I remember.
This generation Monte was the greatest enduro racing car of all time!
I used to have a blue 1975. What an amazing car. I didnt want to drive it from san Francisco to los angeles, so i sold it😢
I have a few cars that I regret selling in my past.
I had a 75 and a 78.
My Dad had a Gen 1 and an 04.
My aunt had a 1978 blue in color.
What I recall most about the 2nd gen MC's were 2 things. #1, Most stolen car in the Chicagoland area. #2. Most sought after car for demolition derbies. That being said, I like this generation, and finding an unmolested example is pretty rare now days.
haha! YES! Finding one not that hasn't been molested is tough.
I had 84 Monte Carlo SS. I wish I still had it.
We all have cars we wish we still had. In 1984, I gave up a 1978 Trans am with tops for a 1978 Honda Accord! And I had to give the used car lot $1000 on top of the trade! Kick myself in the ass for it but I couldn't afford the gas. The Accord really helped get me by during my tough financial times though.
77 Monte best looking car ever
For sure!
i had a 1974 / 350 then a 77with a 305 4bbl - new 2004 ss - the 2004 was a great car i miss it
🛑🛑 Can you do a history of the Mercury Marauders?
My dad had a 1970 X100 Marauder in white, with a red interior, console shift, fender skirts, with the 429.
It was Stupid Fast!!💨 😂👍
Let me do some research! Thanks!
The 2nd gen. Montes sold like hotcakes, along with the Olds Cutlasses. I'm a Ford guy, but tip my hat to Chevy, they dominated this market.
They hit it out of the park !