1979 Chevrolet Monza Was Bought New But Parked For Three Decades
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- čas přidán 11. 10. 2023
- Robert Wright of Falls Village, CT bought his 1979 Chevrolet Monza new in 1979, but later sold it to his brother. It sat parked in a barn gathering dust for more than three decades before he swapped his brother a Jeep to get it back and put it on the road, which he did in 2021.
I had a black 79 spider with 305 5 speed in 1987 loved that car
I bought a beige 1975 with a 4.3L V8 and a four speed for 400 bucks in 1985. So fun. Wish I still had it!
At least you have memories and, I hope, a few pictures.
I owned a 1977 Monza Mirage in the late 80s. It had the factory 305 and auto. I pulled the 305 out and installed a 350 4 bolt main with 2.02 heads and 4bbl. Wish I still had it. Evidently, Mirage Monzas are collectable...
I loved Bob Glidden's pro stock Monza. That five year stretch was pretty rough in US car manufacturing but the Monza was pretty cool looking given the cringe worthy other stuff coming off the lines in Detroit.
You pretty much nailed it!
Watched this video and my jaw dropped. This gentleman story is exactly like mine on ordering his 79 Spyder V8. I was in the Navy stationed overseas. I knew I was coming home in late '79 I knew the Spyder was getting defanged and changed in '80. So I custom ordered a Black and Gold '79 4 speed, 305, with tan interior exactly the same way this fellow did. I loved that car however had to sell it after I got married and our first was on the way. Just a wonderful and fun car.
Great story!
There used to be a silver Monza Spyder in my neighborhood when I was a kid. It had the black spider decal on the hood. 🕷
Wish you had a picture to share.
@@ride-ct-classiccars Now that would have been cool. Of course back then we didn't all have magic phones we could snap pictures on! 😉📱A couple of members of my extended family had Monzas also, but they were regular coupes and not "sporty" versions.
love these..i had one too in high school...sweet..i want one again
I imagine they're hard to find. I was stunned when it appeared before me at a car show.
Inlike the Fox Mustangs, I always thought the notchback Monza looked sweet.
I have a yellow monza 1977 hatch back 2+2 with 262 v8 66500 miles
Lucky you. Take care of it!
I had a ‘75 with a 262. The clutch was so stiff that my left calf got to be bigger than my right and is still so today. It was a fun car until I wrecked it.
I'm sure that there are a lot of us who wish we had cars we destroyed.
When I was a kid, my grandfather had a 78 Buick. Skyhawk looked just like this.
Didn't Pontiac also have a Sunbird variant?
I'm glad he likes it.
Edit: I'd NEVER again put a powerful engine in such a flimsy car.
It certainly gets comments.
@ride-ct-classiccars it probably doesn't have its original windshield, or second.
Saludos cordiales desde punta arenas chile aquí se vieron 2 versiones Monza 77 4 cilindros y el Starfire con v8 son contados con la mano los que van quedando. Hermosa maquina poder americano 💪🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅🦅🦅
Monza was such a pretty little car that you could get engine options that were as powerful as a Camaro. A lot of power in a small package, just as a Nova was a mini-Chevelle, so too was a Monza a mini-Camaro. But that was the great thing about Chevrolet back then---they had variety for every budget My first car was a 1976 Camaro, but I think if I were able to do it all over again--( would have gotten a Monza, instead!
This one certainly gets a lot of attention.
I still drive my 75 several times a year. Street legal!
What shape is it in?
I love the monza. Would love one with about a 400 hp v8 like a high revving 327 or something but good luck finding parts... door panels, head liner, etc... beyond basic maintenance, all that other stuff is tough if you need to get it
It's amazing how some models that weren't considered collectable or out of the ordinary at the time now have more appeal.
My brother had bought a brand new 1980 monza Spider, silver with red decals
I owned 1978 Chevy Monza 2+2 brown it looked like crap, 196 V6 350 Tranny even when I had it service they were surprise it could hall a few patio stones since the seat folded back, drove it 700 miles to Montreal got decent mileage when transport trucks came you felt it lol, interior was the classic 70's , the passenger door was starting to hang , it just started going down hill, but I do agree a fun car to drive at the time,
Thanks for sharing your story!
This thing is like a Pinto mad:-e a baby with a Pacer, kind of, in my eyes! ;-)
I had the bigger v6 sunbird of 78.
In the late '70s there were two at HS that gave old Mustangs and mild Camaros a run. Another case of GM dropping the ball right when they got it in their court when Fox body Mustangs came out in '79 and got a name in '82. Chevu should have owned that segment. 305HO would have been quick.
We'd run out of fingers very quickly counting the planning and marketing mistakes made by Detroit over the decades.
Had a 79. I thought Id be able, within a few years, to find NOS parts at swap meets. Kept it 13 years, and parts for it never showed at any swap meet.
That strikes me as unusual...
wanted one real bad when i was a teenager never had the money
Sounds like Monza needs a new exhaust system....
The buick skyhawk from 78 to 80 should haver come with the new 231 v6 turbo that was offered in the monte carlo and regal, and ended up evolving into the grand national. even the chevy monzas had the same non turbo v6 but they would not offer the v6 turbo buick. I feel like that would have changed this cars history in a big way. Needless to say i am now building a grand national turbo copy for my 78 Chevy monza right now. The v8 is just too heavy and the car is not liking it after all these years. I am hoping to change the handling characteristics with the new build.
Good luck!
😂😂 Does it have a fifth (overdrive) gear?
I don't recall. I've just left a message with the owner and will update when I hear back.
Just heard from the owner. It has a manual four-speed.
no 5 speeds in those days
Ah, the life that Boomers got to live where they were able to easily buy homes and multiple cars on a single income. Must have been nice.
Cars weren't so expensive back then.
Hes not a boomer.