This classy Monte is a solid cruiser that's benefitted from careful use only on an as needed basis, and as a result has a mere 24,639 title verified original miles. An unrestored original car with all the right boxes checked and presents very nicely, you simply won't find more muscle and luxury for the money! A believed to be 3 owner car that was parked in a block building with a concrete floor in 1982, this 1st year redesign Monte Carlo is fresh out of a 40 year hibernation and has been fully serviced and is ready to go and show...just let those swivel bucket seats suck you in.
Exterior
Dark Green Gold Metallic 46T code, (say that 10 times real fast!), bathes this car with the consignor stated factory paint. A few faults particularly the trunk where something had dripped on the car while in storage in a block building with a concrete floor for nearly 40 years. Also the front passenger side bumper has some neoprene cracking between the bumper and the body in the 5mph crash buffer. This car sports sleek lines with single headlights in the round flanking a narrow horizontal slight V shaped egg crate grille and fairly shiny bumper below. Just some beginnings of dimpling on this front bumper but you've got to get close to see it. A wonderful feature is a crease in the side panels beginning on the front quarter where it begins its swoop downward, eventually dying into the mid door. It picks up again on the rear quarts and ends up on the back of the car with the angled in the corner tail lights, large trunk lid, and another shiny bumper below. On top we see an Ivory vinyl covered top which has the vertical "italicized" glass on either side for the rear passengers to watch the world go by. Trimmings and surrounds are all excellent including the lower rocker trimming which clads this car all around, and shows no rust all around! Shiny Chevrolet Motor Division chromed spoked wheel coverings are wrapped in new narrow white wall tires. 1973 never looked so good, and you can remember your kitchen appliances in this wonderful avocado coloring, it never gets old!
Interior
Stressing originality cannot be done enough for this example with a swing of the doors we see light neutral ivory mixture of molded plastic/vinyl with stitched tuck and roll uppers, a vinyl door pull and a large armrest with a supple vinyl topper for your elbows. Some power window toggles are on the doors as well as the mirror joystick, door actuator lever, and the necessary ash receptacle, although looking at this original interior it was never smoked in. Slipping inside I use the swivel front bucket option, and viola! I'm in with little to no effort. I now sit on a sleek light neutral ivory vinyl bucket with some stitched and buttoned tuck and roll inserts and smooth bolstered high back buckets. The chairs, including a matching original back bench all float in a sea of goldish-green carpeting which shows no stains or fading. Grabbing on to the original wheel I peer into a square panel which is covered with burl appliqu© and this panel houses 2 round instruments and a few warning lights and turn signal lights. A green/gold vinyl padded dash covers the passenger side, and faux burl veneer and back fronts the dash from centerline to driver's door. The factory AM/FM stereo, some gauges, including the speedometer and fuel gauge reside within the burl while the supporting pods reside in the black plastic and encompass warning lights and the clock. A standard GM Monte Carlo steering wheel fronts the dash. Another ash receptacle with a built in lighter and glove box is on the passenger's side of the dash, all original and all factory unmodified. Above is a tight light ivory headliner in perfect condition with a working central round courtesy light. A shout out to the trunk with factory stickers n the inner lid, and original spare and jack with pristine lining throughout. Looks nearly untouched.
Drivetrain
A lift of the hood and an amazing aura of cleanliness abounds and consignor says it is virtually untouched even as to detailing, it did not need to be done. Within these clean confines is a numbers matching 350ci V8, (casting number 3970010 if you are checking), and on top under the factory spit shined black air cleaner covering a single 2 barrel carburetor. On the back is a TH350 numbers matching 3-speed automatic transmission. The rear axle weighs in as a 10 bolt and 2.73 gears. Some new hoses, a differential gasket, fuel filter, and a full coolant flush have been performed in the last 8 weeks of this consignor's possession.
Undercarriage
Up on the lift it is amazingly preserved with a shiny fuel tank and factory appearance undercoating with no peeling or cracking. Some surface rust on the usual suspects like springs, driveshaft and rear undercarriage supports, but all unremarkable as to structural stability. We note no drips or oiling from the underside of the V8, and independent coil springs for the front suspension and a 4 link with coil springs for the rear. Power disc braking is in front, and power drums for the back.
Drive-Ability
I love test driving these low mileage large Detroit iron cars, and this one left me with a smile on my face. I slipped through the swivel seat and grabbed the wheel and turned the key, and I was off like a prom dress to the test track. Here it performed flawlessly, with no creaks, complaints, and great acceleration.
An incredible barn find, all original with some minor maintenance performed, and no need for any restoration because doing so would actually devalue this car. Early 1970's color scheme, swivel seat option, and smooth running low mileage car ripe for the collector picking. It will be difficult to match a find like this, and then if you do the owner must be willing to part with it!
