Chevrolet Monza
Chevrolet Monza | ||
---|---|---|
Curb weight 2,800 lb (1,270 kg) | | |
Chronology | ||
Predecessor | Chevrolet Vega | |
Successor | Chevrolet Cavalier |
The Chevrolet Monza is a
Introduced for the 1975 model year, the Monza 2+2 and Monza Towne Coupe competed with the
History
Origin
The Monza 2+2 debuted as a single-model 2+2 hatchback. The Monza is 4 inches (100 mm) longer and weighs 180 lb (82 kg) more than the Vega from which it is derived.[3] General Motors' John DeLorean nicknamed it the "Italian Vega", citing styling with a strong resemblance to the Ferrari 365 GTC/4.[4]
GM had planned to introduce the GM
Overview
The 1975 Monza 2+2 houses then-newly approved rectangular headlights and a slot-style grille in a slanted nose made of resilient
In April 1975, the Monza Towne Coupe was introduced — a
A lower priced "S" version of the 2+2 hatchback was introduced mid-year. It featured as standard the Vega one-barrel engine with a three-speed manual transmission. The sport suspension, full console, sport steering wheel, day/night rear-view mirror and wheel opening moldings were deleted on the "S". The Chevrolet Monza 2+2 won Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year award for 1975.[10]
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1975 Chevrolet Monza 2+2
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1976 Chevrolet Monza Towne Coupe
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1978 Chevrolet Monza wagon
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1978–1980 Chevrolet Monza Coupé
Model year changes
The 1976 140 cu in (2.3 L) four-cylinder engine, as used in the Vega, got some refinements. Named "Dura-built 140", it features quieter hydraulic lifters eliminating valve adjustments. The basic four developed 70 horsepower, but two-barrel carburetion increased the rating to 84. The 1976 model was the introduction of Chevrolet's new 5.0 liter (305 CID) V8 engine with a two-barrel carburetor generating 140 horsepower (100 kW) at 3,800 rpm, but only for California and high-altitude Monza customers, and replaced the 350 V8. The 262 was again the optional engine in 49 states. A redesigned dashboard replaced the Vega-derived one. A mid-year option for 1976 was a "Sport" front end available for the Towne Coupe, which featured the 2+2's polyurethane front end and quad headlamps. The Monza Spyder equipment package was introduced in 1976 for both the 2+2 hatchback and Towne Coupe. It featured a two-barrel carburetor version of the four-cylinder engine as standard, a floor console, sport steering wheel, F41 suspension with larger front and rear stabilizer bars, and special shock absorbers. This equipment had been standard on the original 1975 2+2 (excluding the mid-year "S" model).[11]
The 1977 Monza was highlighted by two new Spyder option packages available only for the 2+2 hatchback, one being a $274 Z01 performance equipment package and the other an additional $199 Z02 appearance package.[12] An 84 horsepower (63 kW) four-cylinder engine was standard, but Monzas could be ordered with a 145 horsepower (108 kW) 305 cu in (5.0 L) V8 instead. The Monza dashboard contained round gauges in a brushed-aluminum instrument panel. The Towne Coupe Cabriolet was deleted, but a half-vinyl roof and opera windows could still be ordered.
The Monza “Mirage” was a one-year only (1977) sporty body modification package produced by Michigan Auto Techniques (MAT), an
The 1978 Monza line expanded to include
The 1979 Chevrolet Monza lineup was trimmed to four models. Added standard equipment for 1979 included an AM radio, tinted glass, bodyside moldings, and sport steering wheel. Only the 2+2 sport hatchback kept the sloped Euro-look front end; others had a freshened grille. A more-potent standard 151 cu in (2.5 L) four-cylinder with a redesigned cross-flow cylinder head and two-barrel carburetor developed 90-horsepower — five more than in 1978. Three optional engines were available: the 105 hp (78 kW) 196 cubic inches (3.21 L) V6, 115 hp (86 kW) 231 V6, and 130 hp (97 kW) 305 V8. The Spyder performance package cost $164 and the Spyder appearance package added $231. All Monzas had a color-keyed instrument panel, and all except the base coupe had a center console, and corrosion protection was improved. Discontinued at the end of the 1979 model year were the Monza wagon, the 196 cu in (3.2 L) V6 and the 305 cu in (5.0 L) V8.[14]
The 1980 model year lineup consisted of a base 2+2 hatchback, notchback, and 2+2 sport hatchback; the 151-cubic-inch (2.5-liter) four-cylinder engine remained standard and the only engine option was the 3.8 liter (231 CID) Buick V6. The wagon was discontinued as the Citation hatchbacks offered equal cubic cargo capacity with the rear seats down along with better rear-passenger accommodation. Chevrolet decided to discontinue the Monza at the end of the 1980 model year although production of 1980 models continued to the end of calendar 1980 with its "1982" Cavalier replacement debuting in early calendar 1981.[15]
Monza Spyder
The "Spyder" nameplate had been used to designate the 1962–1964 Corvair turbocharged model. The "Spyder" name was introduced for the Chevrolet Monza in 1976. This package included performance equipment and some small appearance items. The Monza Spyder equipment package was available on all 2+2 hatchbacks and Monza Towne Coupes (with the "sport equipment" package) with five-speed manual and Turbo Hydra-matic automatic transmissions. The Spyder equipment package included a two-barrel, Dura-Built 2.3 litre engine, floor console unit, large front and rear stabilizer bars, special shock absorbers, steel-belted radial ply blackwall tires, wheel opening mouldings (chrome), day-night inside mirror, a sport steering wheel (two-spoke), a special instrumentation and "stitched" instrument panel pad with added wood-grain vinyl accents (standard on 2+2), distinctive "Spyder" identification (script fender emblems, steering wheel horn button insert) and Spyder front facia and rear-lock cover.
Chevrolet made extensive changes to the Spyder package including separate equipment and appearance packages with separate RPO codes found on the build sheet. The Spyder equipment package was a regular production option (RPO) Z01, while the Spyder appearance package was RPO Z02. The Spyder packages were available on Monza 2+2 sport hatchbacks. Spyder decal colors were determined by the body color of the Monza ordered. There were four color combinations for 1977. For 1979, there were six combinations, which included a green and a blue color scheme.
- Z01 – Spyder equipment
- BR70-13C Steel-belted radial ply blackwall tires, sport suspension, sport steering wheel (two-spoke), center console, inside day-night rearview mirror, Spyder identification, wheel opening moldings (available if the Z02 – Spyder appearance package was not ordered), dual tailpipe system and white lettered tires were available in 1979.
- Z02 – Spyder appearance
- Black highlights on front, side and rear of body headlight openings, parking light openings, windshield, rear window and side window moldings, body sill, door and center pillar louvers, rear end panel – (bright window moldings with black exterior), black or gold rear accents (taillight blackouts and rear end panel decals), body color front air dam and rear spoiler, Spyder emblems (front facia, rear lock cover and sport steering wheel horn button insert), body side stripes with Spyder lettering in red, white or gold depending on body color, black painted styled-steel wheels with trim rings and center caps, black sport mirrors, special hood decal and rear spoiler decal. For the 1980 model year, Chevrolet combined the Spyder equipment and appearance packages into one Spyder equipment package with an RPO code of Z29 and included newly re-designed bold Spyder side decals and a new front air dam that blends into the front fender wheel openings. Spyder decal color choices (five) were based primarily upon the interior color specified rather than the body color as in previous years.
- Z29 – Spyder equipment package
- BR70-13C steel-belted radial ply blackwall tires (with option for raised white lettering), sport suspension, black front and rear bumper rub strips, black headlights frames, black windshield, belt, side and rear window moldings (not available with black exterior), black painted body sill (also not available with black exterior), black door and center pillar louvers, black painted taillight frames, body color front air dam and rear spoiler, Spyder emblems on front facia, rear lock cover and sport steering wheel (horn button insert), black sport mirrors (LH remote, RH manual), rear spoiler and body stripes with Spyder lettering outlined in accent body colour, Spyder hood decal, black painted Rally II wheels with bright trim rings and center caps.[16]
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1978 Chevrolet Monza Spyder
Wankel engine
In November 1970, GM paid $50 million for initial licenses to produce the Wankel rotary engine, and GM president Ed Cole projected its release in three years. The GM Wankel was initially targeted for an October 1973 introduction as a 1974 Vega option. The General Motors Rotary Combustion Engine (GMRCE) had two rotors displacing 206 cu in (3.38 L), twin distributors and coils, and aluminum housing,[17]
Unwilling to face the
End of the H-body
A total of 731,504 Monzas were produced in six model years.
Motorsports
United States
Chevrolet Monzas participated in the
The IMSA racer and future triple
Australia
The Monza also saw success in Australia in the late 1970s and through the 1980s in the
In the 1982 championship, Brock came up against Jones in a well sorted, and slightly more powerful
The Monza was then prepared for the
After 1984, Browne sold the Monza to veteran racer Bryan Thompson, who used it (along with his usual Chevrolet powered, twin turbo Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC) to win the 1985 Australian GT Championship. Thomson competed in the car over the next few years before rebuilding it over the 1988–89 off-season which also saw the Monza body shell replaced with that of a Toyota Supra. He then sold the car in 1990 to an unknown owner who then sold it to longtime Sydney-based sports car racer Des Wall. Wall was also successful with the Supra-bodied car and retained ownership of the car until his death in 2012. The car is owned by his son, racing driver and race team owner David Wall.
Others to drive a Chevrolet Monza in Australian Sports Sedan / GT racing included:
The Monza was also a favourite of drivers in dirt track racing in Australia in both super sedan and grand national racing during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Successful Monza drivers in speedway include Sydney Grand National driver Barry Graham.
Brazil
In Brazil, the Opel Ascona C was sold from May 1982 until 1996 as the Chevrolet Monza.
China
The Chevrolet Monza was revived for the Chinese market and was launched in March 2019 in Wuhan. Available as a four-door sedan, it is available in two trim levels known as 320T and 330T and five models. The 320T is available with a 1-litre turbocharged three cylinder engine while the 330T gets a 1.3 litre turbocharged three cylinder engine as standard. 1 litre models gain access to a 6 speed manual and 6 speed dual clutch gearbox while 1.3 litre models are only available with a 6 speed automatic gearbox.[21] Pricing ranges between 89,900 yuan and 119,900 yuan (US$13,350 to 17,800).
See also
- General Motors H-platform
Sources
- Flammang, James M.; Kowalke, Ron (1999). Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1976–1999 (3rd ed.). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications.
- Gunnell, John (2002). Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1946–1975 (Revised 4th ed.). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications.
References
- ^ a b "[Unknown]". Motor Trend. 29 (3): 53. March 1975.
- ^ a b c h-body.org
- ^ a b 1975 Chevrolet Monza (brochure). Chevrolet. 1974.
- ISBN 0-9603562-0-7.
- ^ "[Unknown]". Motor Trend. September 1974.
- ^ 1975 Chevrolet Monza (brochure). Chevrolet.
- ^ 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega (brochure). Chevrolet.
- ^ 1976 & 1977 Chevrolet Vega & Pontiac Astre brochures
- ^ 1975 Chevrolet Monza (brochure). Chevrolet. March 1975.
- ^ "Car of the Year". Motor Trend. February 1975.
- ^ "1976 Chevrolet Monza brochure". Old Car Brochures. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ^ "1977 Chevrolet Monza brochure". Old Car Brochures. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ^ 1978 Chevrolet Monza (brochure). Chevrolet. January 1978.
- ^ 1979 Chevrolet Monza (brochure). Chevrolet.
- ^ 1980 Chevrolet Monza (brochure). Chevrolet.
- ^ Chevrolet Monza (brochure). Chevrolet. 1976–1980.
- ^ a b "[Unknown]". Motor Trend: 52. July 1973.
- ^ a b "[Unknown]". Motor Trend. April 1974.
- ^ "2007 Rolex Monterey Historic Races – 1977 DeKon Monza". Roadcarvin Magazine. Retrieved 2009-04-27 – via Roadcarvin.com.
- ^ 1982 Australian GT Championship – Adelaide
- ^ "2019 Chevrolet Monza (China)".