Table of Contents
What so special about the Monte Carlo?
Everyone drools over Corvettes and Camaros while only a handful will be willing to acknowledge the glorious heritage of Monte Carlo. It was GMs take on Europified muscle car that was compact, luxurious, and powerful.
More importantly, it was last among a handful of there to be offered with a big block V8 before the Arab Oil Embargo and its shenanigans came into effect, pussifying the engine displacement for good.
All Monte Carlos came with the famous egg crate grill with a lot of squares (720 to be precise), I counted them and a gladiator-esque hood emblem in the middle.
The car was so good-looking that a survey revealed that 82 percent of its buyers bought it for looks alone.
Interior was limited to a couple of options. A Custom knit nylon or a plain old cloth/vinyl affair
What was the SS package on the 1971 Chevy Monte Carlo?
The SS trim AKA RPO Z20 of the 971 Monte Carlo got you a 360 hp/500lb-ft Quadrajet 4-barrel LS5 454 V8 paired to a Turbo Hydramatic gearbox.
The package also came with heavy-duty self-leveling suspension with roll bars(1-1/8″ in front), 15*7 white walled tires, and dual exhaust and an HD battery.
Chevy wasn’t particularly big on badges and emblems for the SS, which resulted in a truly deceptive sleeper car look, with only a single “SS454” emblem mounted on the rocker panel on each side.
Other popular options for SS include-
- Center Console
- Bucket seats
- 12-bolt Positraction with rear end with 2.56 GR.
- Special Gauge Package
- Power steering
- Rally wheels
How fast was the 1970 Monte Carlo SS?
Despite its long hood and nearly 5 ft width, Monte Carlo SS had a remarkably small wheelbase of 116 inch and measured 206.5 inches long.
Motor Trend tested one back in the day, clocking a 7 second 60 mph sprint and a 14.9 second quarter mile at 92 mph.
How Much Is a 1970 Monte Carlo SS Today ?
A regular Monte Carlo is worth around $25,000 to $30,000 while only 3,823were equipped with “SS 457” package. The latter will set you back around $50,000 in pretty used condition. While Hemmings recommend not paying more than 30k for the top spec SS trim.
While purchasing a used 1970 Monte Carlo SS look for the usual rust underneath cowl, fenders and carpeting. The A-Body Monte Carlo SS shred lots of its parts with Chevelle and are interchangeable , especially the suspension bits.
Image source- 72 droptop@firstgenmc
