It’s the Fourth of July, the Day Americans celebrate their Independence from England, or the original Brexit. Well, in this case the US left Britain, of course, so maybe it should be Amexit. But that sounds rather like one of those synthetic corporate name. For that matter, it’s really altogether different, and I’m a bit tired of the subject, so let’s just savor this perfect shot for the ocassion posted ta the Cohort by William Rubano. What could be more American than a zaftig mid-seventies Monte Carlo?
You can’t have Independence Day without the 1974 Chevrolet Impala Spirit of America Edition.
It would be…un-American!!
Greetings to fellow CCers all over the globe on this American holiday.
My choice for automotive Americana is a little more subtle than Paul’s classic Monte Carlo.
Just hung my flag out for this 4th of July.
How about the current champion of the “Assembled in the USA with the highest percentage of US sourced parts” – the Toyota Camry. No picture necessary.
Ironic.
Now the £-$ at the lowest for 30 years cheap vacations are available in the UK. Come on… see what you have been missing for the last 240 years!.
I just got back a month ago! I should have waited a month. But I go every year so hopefully the exchange rate will still be lower next May-June.
Love it, Mark!
Just sitting down to work here after having Friday off.
Happy 4th to my American friends!
Love the Monte Carlo!
Is that the rear bumper of a Volare / Aspen peeking into the frame?
Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
Looks like a ’73-’74 Nova (or Ventura).
Wouldn’t it be the USexit?
Happy 4th of July. I hope y’all have a fun and safe holiday. 🙂
A happy 4th to all of my CC friends.
My contribution – good old American iron!
Never liked that generation of Monte Carlo back in the day. Now…I feel different. The one pictured under the flag looks fine to my old eyes. I really like the wheels.
Happy 4th of July to all of you down south!
Last year of legal sale and use of fireworks in my city. Most citizens are opposed to this “ruling” and a lot of good causes are losing a lot of money from fireworks sales, but our spineless “City Council” had to suck up to a few well heeled crybabies. One less freedom, as seems to be the trend these days. Things are going out with a bang this year.
Happy 4th everyone in CC land!
67Conti, are you in Vancouver?
Yes. For now surrounding areas next year will still sell fireworks and allow use.
Vancouver, Washington? I am still debating about going to see fireworks there instead of Portland.
Yes. The neighbors are putting on a good show this year so I’ll just stay home and watch the local fireworks.
Haven’t been to the fireworks show in years. The show is great but the traffic is a nightmare, at least it was the last time I went.
It still is.
There needs to be a west coast Curbside Classic meet & greet!
“There needs to be a west coast Curbside Classic meet & greet!’ .
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Yes , there does .
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Hopefully close to So.Cal. .
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I’m willing to travel though .
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-Nate
I would enjoy that. Were are in Paul’s neck of the PNW. Last night really did go out with a bang, there were more fireworks than ever going off last night!
Here’s a bunch of Bicentennial Buick pace cars. You can read more here:
http://psautomobilist.blogspot.com/2013/07/cars-of-american-revolution.html
Would a bicentennial Vega or Nova be worth more than any other of that year?
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY ALL ! .
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When new , I didn’t like Colonnades , now they’re fine .
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I went to the races Saturday afternoon , the final race was a demolition derby , a Colonnade did very well indeed ~ it kept running after many hard hits and smashing directly through several trailers…..
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-Nate
Happy Independence Day from all of us in the UK.
Have you got any tips for making it a success – I think we might need them!
Though having that Monte Carlo by a beach could be a good start – great picture Paul.
Tips for making a success of Brexit? Donno, old bean; that’s a bit of a poser. The illustrious Mr. Farage seems to have taken the strategic decision to go away now and let other people deal with the mess, but that probably won’t work for, y’know, regular people. Can’t help with advice, but this ought to at least help get all parties to the conversation on something of an equal footing, in terms of comprehension.
For Independence Day, some more GM technology (2 Cadillac V-8s and a Hydra-Matic transmission,) in a hull built by AMERICAN Car and Foundry-the M3 Stuart:
While the Stuart’s wartime usefulness was limited thanks to its obsolete gun, they were popular among certain lesser countries afterwards, as they were cheap to buy & maintain. Wiki says they’re still in active service in Paraguay, & a private owner in the UK has a functioning example.
Their finest hour was not during WW2, but during the 1949 Battle of Kinmen, in which the PLA found out that Human Wave tactics don’t work against tanks. ROC has a monument featuring one.
Thirty years ago when I was driving GM cars of this type, (’73 and ’76 Cutlass), I was a bit caught up in GM’s hierarchy, and the Olds brand did deserve a reputation for generally decent products during the ’60s and ’70s.
So, I mostly ignored the Monte Carlo in its day. I know that a lot of people see this car as over-styled, but these days I find it one of the most attractive over-styled vehicles ever done. The car even wears its Federalized bumpers quite well.
If I were to pick a Colonnade era GM car for a classic in my garage, I’d look for a loaded up Monte with a 350 under the hood; a perfect representative of the hottest automobile segment in America in the ’70s.
Terrific era appropriate color on that Monte.
Happy America Day.
Yee-haw! »Bang, bang!« YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-HAWWWWWWWW!!!!! »Shoot, shoot!«
Here’s a Spirit of ’76 Dart Sport.
I like this Dart ! .
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I’m in South Central L.A. and this year there’s almost NO gunfire for a change .
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A few blocks away on (I think) Van Buren Av. where the cops won’t go unless multiple carloads of them , someone set up a Commercial Grade MORTAR in the middle of an intersection and really had nice show =8-) .
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It’s been several hours and just now beginning to abate a bit .
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-Nate
American Spirit in one word: Peterbilt.
An American businessman couldn’t find a truck to do what he needed to further that business, so he bought a struggling truck company and created what he needed.
Happy Fourth, you guys. Enjoy the day!
This is the perfect angle on that Monte. The way the sun is shining off that flank sculpturing makes me “get” what the designer was trying to do.
It helps that this is a 1973 Monte Carlo, and thus lacks a 5-mph rear bumper. Without a chrome railroad tie hanging off the rear, the car looks sleek.
Too bad the Colonnades didn’t debut for the 1972 model year, as GM had originally planned. Then we could have seen how these cars would look without the heavy safety bumpers.
All American Day at Lakeside Raceway. My usual Independence Day & Thanksgiving Day
celebration