Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo



Chevrolet introduced the 1970 Monte Carlo as an answer to the restyled 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix, and to compete with the Ford Thunderbird. Both cars were based on the mid-size GM A-Body platform, and rode on the aforementioned 116 inch wheelbase as the four-door Chevelle and the El Camino. The 1970 Monte Carlo was only acquirable as a two-door coupe, and it holds the distinction of having the longest hood ever installed on a Chevrolet! It was billed as a \"personal luxury\" car, or a \"gentleman's performance\" car.

The standard engine was a 250 HP 2-barrel version of the present small country 350 CID V8. It could be ordered with a 300 HP 4-barrel 350 small block, a 265 HP 2-barrel 400 CID small country V8, or a 330 HP 4-barrel 402 bounteous country V8 that Chevrolet for some think marketed as a 400. There was also a Monte Carlo SS version acquirable that came with a 360 HP version of Chevrolet's brand new bounteous country 454 V8 engine with a stiffer suspension, front round brakes, and some discreet badging. The SS-454 was a lively performer, with a zero to sixty time of 7.5 seconds. There were reportedly ten cars that year special ordered with the 450HP LS-6 454 engine. The small country equipped cars generally came with the Turbo-Hydramatic 350 transmission, patch the bounteous country cars typically had the heavier-duty Turbo-Hydramatic 400.

The base 1970 Monte Carlo weighed in at 3460 lbs, most 200 lbs. more than a comparably-equipped 2-door Chevelle with the shorter 112-inch wheelbase. Many Monte Carlos however, were equipped with more wealth options than the typical Chevelle, such as air conditioning (yes, in 1970, air conditioning was thoughtful a wealth option, unlike today!), power windows, and another items that increased the container weight. Fender skirts were also a favourite option.

There were somewhere between 130,000 and 146,000 Monte Carlos produced in 1970, depending on what inventiveness you reference. Only 3,823 of those had the SS-454 package, and those cars are highly sought after today by enthusiasts. The early cars (1970-1972) have an active following, with several clubs and online forums sacred to them. Since it mutual the aforementioned platform as the Chevelle, some aftermarket high-performance parts that were designed for the Chevelle will sound the Monte Carlo. Even though it was marketed primarily on the basis of luxury, it became a favourite model for have automobile racing. Several bounteous names in NASCAR crowd Monte Carlos, such as Bobby Allison and Neil Bonnett.

The 1970 Monte Carlo succeeded very well in its original purpose: to compete with the Pontiac Grand Prix and the Ford Thunderbird. There were more 1970 Monte Carlos oversubscribed than the Pontiac Grand Prix and the Ford Thunderbird combined! The sculpted body, long front fenders and offense \"Coke Bottle\" appearance made it a muscular-looking, classy car, and to me it is much better looking than the Chevelle. It is digit of my favorite embody styles; I just desire they had made a 9/10 size version of the car!

Keith Farren is an ASE Certified Master Technician with a BS in Business Administration, an Associate degree in Automotive Technology, and over note years experience in the automotive industry. He also operates digit websites sacred to classic cars, Classic Car Financing and Loans and Classic Car Prices Today.

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