It was a beautiful sunny January day and I was headed out for a hike when I spotted this Monte on the go. I thought it might be the same one I shot way back in 2009 or so, and eventually wrote up here, but looking at that one shows some differences. Its mature female driver didn’t make it easy for me to get around it for a proper shot.
But as we crested the hill on W 30th, I gained on her and got of a decent shot. These have become rare sights on the streets. And I like them so much better than its overwrought successor.
Note: a rerun of an older post.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo – A Modest Beginning To A Huge Hit (And Hips)
In-Motion Classic: 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo – Motor City Monte
Vintage Car Life Review: 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS454 – “A Gentleman’s Bomb”
I didn’t care much for these, or their successors, back in the day, but now I think this is a very attractive, simple, “pure” design. It seems to have elements of his later “sheer” look.
The original Monte Carlo is possibly a touchy subject but I think it was the perfect integration of what defined Cadillac Baroqueness and the inherent sleekness in the 68-72 A body structure. This car as much as insurance eroded the muscle car era, yet it pulls off muscle car every bit as good as a 64 GTO in factory 454 SS form, it just rolled in some classy formality back from the late 60s sleek/fuselage idiom (which in my humble opinion is why 68-72 A body coupes dont appeal to me as much as 66-67)
Cars are like wine to me. When I take a sip of wine either I like it immediately or I don’t. I don’t analyze whether it is full bodied or light, fruity or complex, aroma and flavor. Too much to get caught up in. Being that way either the car appeals to my eyes or doesn’t in an instant. This car passed that test with me, I liked it.
Like another commenter here, I found the successor Collonnade Monte Carlo to be overwrought; grotesque, even.
The basic shape is okay. But there’s a bit too much hip fat.
Boring. I thought they looked like an Oldsmobile from the rear 3/4 perspective. I hated the single headlight front end design.
I thought the ’73 was much more interesting. The way they protruded the headlights etc. Chrysler copied that on the Cordoba.
Nice. By far my favorite Monte Carlo, I will own one when i finally have room for more cars.
A shame about those non-factory body side moldings, they look horrible here and completely wreck the car’s lines on this generation. Hopefully they aren’t the riveted style so many people had added on back in the day and can be peeled off with a heat gun.
some cars just are not meant to have them, such as here and also my Gen1 1968 Cougar is another where they weren’t offered for a reason.
The car is gorgeous as the designers intended it to be, especially with those OEM lower trim moldings🤌
Remember thinking they were very nice when they debuted, a fellow teacher where my wife did her student teaching had a new one and I thought it very handsome, and still do. But the ’69 GP pulled off that same classic/sporty vibe even better, imo, so give me an SJ with 428, a friend has one, it’s just a perfect representative of this genre.
My fav, “M/C”, version.
These are a Malibu with a long hood.
Identical dashboards, door panels.
The Monte’s fan shroud is a half a mile long,
Thats The main difference in the two.
M/C had churched-up seats, and of course basic resculptured taillights and front grille.
The frame was longer so the front wheels were further forward making more fender between the front wheel and door. It adds a little extra class and gives the stylists a little more room to play with the lines.
Same thing could be said about the 1965 Mustang from the Falcon
I love this design of the Monte Carlo. It shows business like appearance, but could look bad to the bone. Put a 468 CI, in one with 3.73 gears and have fun.