The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a two-door coupe that was manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet. It was named after the city of Monte Carlo in Monaco and was marketed as the first personal luxury car of the Chevrolet brand. The Monte Carlo was known for its Cadillac-like styling and powerful engines. It is a popular choice for both enthusiasts and collectors alike.
The Monte Carlo was produced for over 30 years and went through several generations, but the generation that stands out the most is the 1971 Monte Carlo. Why, you ask? We have many reasons for it, here are a few.
Monte Carlo is the better Chevelle
Essentially, Monte Carlo was derived from the Chevelle. The Chevrolet Chevelle was a mid-size car produced by Chevrolet from 1964 to 1977. It was available in a variety of body styles, including two-door coupes, four-door sedans, and station wagons. The Chevelle was powered by a variety of engines throughout its lifetime, including four-cylinder, V6, and V8 engines.
Monte Carlo was built on top of the Chevelle platform but geared more towards the personal luxury market with a nicer interior. It looked like a crossbreed of Pontiac and Cadillac, both running popular on the streets, which included a long hood and short rear deck.
Innovative design
While being derived from the Chevelle, the Monte Carlo is a unique car with a unique frame. It shares some suspension pieces with the A-body Chevelle, Montes were stripped for their desirable parts, such as their standard disc brakes.
This means that today, owners can tap into the wealth of restoration and upgrade parts available through the aftermarket. Chevrolet offered a wide range of options when these cars were new, including power steering and brakes, wider wheels, and heavy-duty suspension. This makes it easy to tailor a Monte Carlo to your driving tastes.
Not the usual cabin
For the 70s, the interior features offered by Chevrolet in its Monte Carlo line-up were more than luxury. The Monte Carlo’s interior was typically equipped with a bench seat, but bucket seats, a console, and a floor shifter were popular options. The door panels were different from those of contemporary Chevelles, but they were interchangeable.
The dash was the same as a Chevelle SS’s, with the addition of wood-grain veneer. In keeping with Monte Carlo’s luxury theme, numerous comfort and convenience options were available, including remote mirrors, air conditioning, AM/FM/stereo, an 8-track tape deck, and extra body insulation.
71 Monte has a better engine than 70 Monte
In 1971, Chevrolet lowered the compression ratios of the engines in the Monte Carlo to meet GM’s new self-imposed regulations to run on unleaded gas. This meant less power, the standard 5.7-liter V8 that was fitted into Monte Carlos’ engine produced 250 horsepower in 1970, but only 245 horsepower in 1971.
The base engine, the Turbo-Fire 350 engine produced 175 horsepower at the tires, while the upgraded Turbo-Jet 400 produced 260 horses. No doubt these were impressive power outputs despite the horse loss.
Super Sport Trim
Only 1,919 units of 71 Monte Carlo were sold with the SS 454 package. The “SS” stood for “Super Sport”, which meant more power and better suspension.
The Super Sport trim was the real deal, as it was discontinued the following year. The SS Monte Carlo was a muscle car that borrowed the more aggressive camshaft from the Turbo-Jet 454 engine. This engine made 390 horsepower in Chevy’s full-size sedans and the 1970 Chevrolet Corvette. As a result, the SS Monte Carlo produced an impressive 365 horsepower at the crank and 285 horses at the wheels, even with the lowered compression ratio.
The reason given for discontinuing the SS was that the Monte Carlo was marketed as a luxury vehicle instead of a muscle car, so it was no use giving it all that power when nobody expects this much power from a luxury vehicle.
Robust Transmission
A three-speed manual transmission was standard on the base 350 engine and could only be paired with a column shifter. The Powerglide automatic transmission was optional with the base 350 in 1970, but only with the base 350 thereafter.
Any engine could be optioned with a three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission (TH350 or TH400, depending on engine selection). A Muncie four-speed manual transmission was available with any engine except the 454 in 1970, with only the four-barrel 350 or 402 in 1971, and not at all for 1972. Both 10- and 12-bolt rear axles were installed in Monte Carlos, with most small-block cars receiving the 8.2-inch Chevrolet 10-bolt.
Rust and Shortage of Body Panels
Rust is Monte Carlo’s biggest enemy. Vinyl roofs were a popular option, but they can trap moisture and cause rust in the rear window area, quarters, and even the floors. Be sure to inspect the underside and trunk of any potential purchase.
While it shares some body panels with the Chevelle, it has enough unique bodywork that even minor damage can derail a restoration project. Some parts, such as bumpers and hoods, are reproduced, but others, such as front fenders, are notoriously difficult to find. The aftermarket is finally starting to catch up with demand, but it’s still worth looking carefully for any potential rust issues.
Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift
We all remember this famous scene in Tokyo drift, Sean Boswell revs his 1971 Monte Carlo’s engine, ready to race Clay’s Dodge Viper SRT-10. The stakes are high: the winner gets Cindy, Clay’s girlfriend. Sean takes an early lead, but Clay’s Viper is faster. Sean is forced to take alternate routes through a construction site, but he keeps up with Clay. Sean gains the lead when he catches up with Clay, but Clay isn’t giving up. He rams Sean’s Monte Carlo repeatedly, forcing both cars off the road.
The race is a draw, but Sean wins Cindy’s heart with his Monte Carlo. Not only does he win the heart of Cindy but he also wins the hearts of collectors all over the world, placing it in the most-desirable car list for many.
Affordable Pace!
The Super Sport package made the most powerful Monte Carlo, but even the standard ’71 Monte Carlo was no slouch. With a 365-horsepower engine, it wasn’t the quickest car on the block, but it was still faster than its rivals, the Pontiac Grand Prix and Ford Thunderbird.
And at a price of $10,000 to $32,000, it’s not some collectible classic but an affordable classic sports car. But obviously, Super Sport trims are rare and if you’d find me it would be somewhere between $25,000 and $50,000 in 2023.
