The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a two-door coupe manufactured and marketed by General Motors for its Chevrolet division from 1970 to 1988 and from 1995 to 2007.
Chevrolet Monte Carlo Introduction
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo, so-called for the city of Monaco, was the company's first attempt at marketing a luxury automobile to individual consumers. The series was first introduced for the 1970 model year and continued through the 2007 model year, with a hiatus between the 1989 and 1994 model years. As a replacement for the two-door Lumina, the Monte Carlo was brought back for the 1995 model year.
History of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo
First Generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1970–1972)
The first Monte Carlo debuted for the 1970 model in the fall of 1969. Essentially, it was Chevrolet's answer to the Pontiac Grand Prix. Introduced in 1962, the Grand Prix debuted a new, distinctive body for the 1969 model year. The massive hood stood out the most. Competition for the likes of the Oldsmobile Toronado and Ford Thunderbird was fierce, but the Grand Prix and Monte Carlo offered affordable options in the emerging personal-luxury category. Cars inside the personal-luxury market were distinguished by features such as a long hood, a short trunk lid, two doors, and an abundance of opulent trimmings. The Thunderbird was a rarity in this regard; beginning with the 1967 model year, buyers could choose between a two-door and a four-door version of the car. The firewall, windshield, trunk lid, and rear window of the Monte Carlo were all borrowed from the midrange Chevrolet Chevelle. There were two wheelbase lengths available for Chevelles back then, with the shorter one at 112 inches used for the two-door models and the longer one at 116 inches used for the four-door ones. The Monte Carlo, however, was a two-door that rode on Chevrolet's longest-ever wheelbase of 116 inches and featured an unprecedentedly tall bonnet.
Second Generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1973–1977)
In addition to the other GM intermediates, a revamped Monte Carlo was released. The Monte Carlo, along with the rest of General Motors' midsize lineup for 1973, was a columned coupe featuring rear side opera windows with frameless door glass instead of a roof. The crucial all-coil suspension and the body-on-frame architecture were carried over to the 1973 model year. Standard Pliacell shock absorbers, radial-ply tires, front and rear anti-roll bars, and high-caster steering contributed to the Monte Carlo's enhanced ride and performance in 1973. Chevrolet's 1973 Monte Carlo broke their annual sales record with approximately 250,000 units sold. The 1974 Monte Carlo differed slightly from its 1973 predecessor in several small details, including a new egg-crate grille up front, flush-mounted taillights instead of those with horizontal chrome bars, and a shorter trunk deck accommodated the new location of the license plate and also the trunk lock mechanism. In 1974, the "S" and "Landau" models came standard with the 350 CID V8, while the larger 400 CID and 454 CID V8s necessitated the automatic gearbox as an option. Despite the lengthy lines at petrol stations and record-high gasoline prices caused by the Arab Oil Embargo of late 1973 and early 1974, sales of basic and intermediate-sized cars were drastically reduced, while sales of compact vehicles and foreign-made subcompacts increased. On the other hand, the Monte Carlo set a new sales record this year with over 300,000 units.
More Production Timeline:
1975
Compared to the 1974 model year, the 1975 Monte Carlo saw only minor stylistic updates, such as a revised grille in which the Monte Carlo symbol was relocated to the center and new vertically curved taillights with horizontal louvers. To conform to U.S. and California regulations on vehicle emissions, catalytic converters were installed in all models. The engines were mostly unchanged from the 1974 models but now included GM's High Energy electronic ignition as standard. However, General Motors reduced most engine power ratings because of the catalytic converter. A newly designed interior package was available in 1975 that featured a 50/50 bench seat upholstered in plusher cloth with a passenger recliner and carpeting for the lower door panels. With double-digit inflation, the catalytic converter, and new competition from Chrysler's Cordoba and Dodge's Charger SE, sales slowed from 1974's record-breaking pace.
1976
The Monte Carlo of 1976 was easily distinguished by its new crosshatch grille, rectangular headlights set vertically, and redesigned taillights. This year, GM took the big-block 454 CID V8 engine off the list of available motors. In 1976, all Monte Carlos were required to have the Turbo Hydra-Matic gearbox. Both the standard and Custom trim levels retained the same interior styling from 1975, but rosewood was used for the instrument panel and the steering wheel.
1977
The 1977 Monte Carlo was the last year for the 1973-era style before the downsized 1978 Monte Carlo was introduced. It featured a new grille with smaller portions and the Monte Carlo "knight's crest" insignia relocated to a stand-up hood ornament. Seat upholstery is available in fabric, velour, or vinyl in both the standard and Custom trim levels and these areas saw only modest updates for the new model year. Since the B-body Chevrolet Caprice/Impala was remodeled and shrunk for the 1977 model year, this was the final model year in which an intermediate vehicle was larger in every measure than a full-sized model. As a result, the Monte Carlo is heavier as well. Sales for 1977 were 224,327 S coupes and 186,711 Landau coupes.
Third Generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1978–1980)
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo coupe of 1978 was a hybrid of a new breed designed for efficiency thanks to its downsizing and radical redesign. The third-generation vehicle shrank by a foot in length and shed 800 pounds in weight compared to its 1977 predecessor. This Monte was easier to drive and park than its predecessor because of its reduced overhang and turning radius. Despite a radical makeover for 1978, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo coupe for 1979 was mostly the same as before. The 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo saw minor updates, such as a new grille with a delicate crosshatch pattern, new parking lights with segmented bulbs, and new wraparound taillights. The color schemes and decorative flourishes were, of course, unique. After being "downsized" for 1977, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo finally received a redesign in 1980. The car's exterior was updated with a new "egg crate" grille
Fourth Generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1981–1988)
A minor but much-needed redesign was made to the Chevrolet Monte Carlo in 1981. The nose was reminiscent of the 1980 model, although it was shorter, narrower, and featured bumpers that blended into the car's paint job. Redesigned merely slightly in appearance, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo of 1982 saw engine bay reorganization and new transmission options. Since the coupe variant of the Chevrolet Malibu was dropped that same year, the Monte Carlo was recast as a two-door version of the Malibu rather than a separate model. Like the mechanically comparable Malibu, the only noticeable difference between the 1982 and 1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was a slightly updated grille. By midyear, though, a new variety of Monte would have appeared. The 4.4L V8 engine option has been removed, just like in the Malibu. As the Chevrolet Malibu was discontinued in 1984, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo filled the void as Chevy's only rear-wheel drive midsize car. Front bucket seats with a mandatory center console were introduced as an option for the 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, but changes were minimal and mainly involved the powertrain. In 1985, Chevy's rear-wheel drive personal luxury automobile, the Monte Carlo, received greater power, although, for the first time since 1981, it was not available with a diesel engine. There was no longer a base trim level for the 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Chevy's rear-drive personal luxury automobile. In the 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, buyers could choose between the LS and SS trim levels. A notchback coupe and an Aerocoupe fastback were available for the 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.
Fifth Generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1995–1999)
Chevrolet's 1995 Monte Carlo marked the return of the nameplate. The redesigned 1995 Monte Carlo catered to buyers in the same demographic as those who purchased personal-coupe rear-drive Montes. But Chevrolet introduced a new approach to engineering for the 1995 Monte Carlo. While 15-inch steel wheels with bolt-on wheel covers are standard on LS models, all Z34 cars come standard with 16-inch alloy wheels. In 1998 and 1999, Z34 vehicles got new 16-inch wheels while the LS kept its older Z34 alloys. In addition to the previously standard dual airbags and anti-lock brakes, 1997 versions also came with daytime running lights—poor rearward visibility. Again, Chevrolet produced a small number of pace vehicles for the Monte Carlo Brickyard 400, although GM did not sell them to the public. Some people didn't like the Lumina Carlo's vague styling and front-wheel drive, but sales were good enough for Chevrolet to continue the brand with a more creative facelift in 1999.
Sixth Generation Chevrolet Monte Carlo (2000–2007)
While designing the 2000 model year model, Chevrolet not only looked to GM Motorsports but also to previous generations of the Monte Carlo for inspiration. Stylized wheel flares, taillights that are angled vertically, and a rear bumper with a similar design were all carried over from previous generations of Monte Carlos. The 1997 Monte Carlo "Intimidator" concept car was the basis for the 6th-generation Monte Carlo. The first offerings included just two trim levels: LS and SS (the latter was Chevrolet's first front-wheel drive SS). The LS and the SS employed V6 engines, but the SS's were larger at 3.8 liters. A new SS model was introduced for 2004 and 2005; the normally aspirated SS remained but was renamed LT for Model Year 2005.
Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet's sixth-generation Monte Carlo Coupe, a two-door derivative of the Impala, debuted in 2000, and a facelifted version debuted in 2005 at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was introduced in 1969 as a premium trim level for the company's coupes. Thus, the name has been around for quite some time. In 2005, the manufacturer introduced several significant upgrades to the vehicle. However, not all of these were well received by buyers. Sales of the Monte Carlo plummeted after the global financial crisis of 2007, and GM decided to stop producing it.
Discontinuation of Monte Carlo
Following a February 2007 statement, manufacturing of the Monte Carlo ended at Oshawa Car Assembly Plant #1 on June 19, 2007. On June 19, 2007, the Oshawa Assembly Plant produced the last two 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles.
Price
In 2007, Chevrolet retailed the 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $23,065 ($32,946 in 2022) for the LT (base) trim, rising to $28,165 ($40,231 in 2022) for the top-of-the-line SS trim.
Features of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Exterior Features
The '06 Monte Carlo models received a new front bumper design that included a mesh grille on the bottom side and small fog lamps on the sides. The contours of a Coca-Cola bottle could be seen sculpted into the fenders and doors, just like in the '69 model. Chevrolet's recently released SS (Super Sport) trim has a premium trunk spoiler.
Interior Features
The interior was the same, except for some silver accents that were supposed to seem like aluminum. Though it boasted potent new engines, the vehicle in question was not a sporty two-door. It was better suited for long stretches of highway than twisting back roads. The side support for the front seats in its bucket design was nearly nonexistent. Two adults could travel in reasonable comfort in the rear of the Monte Carlo.
Release Date
General Motors manufactured and sold the Chevrolet Monte Carlo from 1969 to 1987 and 1994 to 2007. The last Chevrolet Monte Carlo was released from 2005 to 2007 and was discontinued on June 19, 2007.