1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Coupe

305 CI 140 HP V8

Saginaw 4 Speed Manual

1Z37U8B544009

Clear

Gasoline

Up for auction is a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1AZ37 Sport Coupe. Great example of a very unique optioned late 70's GM "luxury muscle car". This car rolled down the Baltimore, Maryland assembly line, and was equipped with the optional 305 CI 140 HP V8. Mated to the SBC was a very rare, very low optioned Saginaw 4-speed manual transmission. This combo along with 800 lbs, and approximately 15 inches taken off the revised body of earlier second generation Montes, made it one the of the very few choices for someone looking for a sportier vehicle in a more economical time. This was mainly influenced by the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo and CAFE requirements. The muscle car era soon there after was close to non-existent. The majority of the population wanted a more fuel efficient vehicle. A V8/Manual combo didn't exactly fit the bill, especially in a luxury coupe like the Monte. GM manufactured 225,073 Monte Carlo Sport Coupes in 1978. Out of these cars made just 1,719 were 4-speeds. More than half of those cars are believed to be paired with the 231 CI 105 HP V6. 1978 was the only year you could order the V8 and 4-speed combo since 1971 in America! You could get a 4-speed/V6 combo in 1979, but not one equipped with the V8. This particular Monte was specially ordered and sold by Booth Chevrolet in West Babylon, New York. Between 1978 and 2012 the Monte spent most of it's life in Tennessee, which it's current title will still reflect. In early 2012 it was purchased by a small performance shop in Carpentersville, IL, which is were I acquired it. Although this car runs and drives it is a project car. The floors will need patchwork as well as the lower quarters. Both of the doors are showing rust in the lower portions with the passenger door being the worst of the two. The paint is "driver" worthy in the areas where it is not peeling off. The interior is worn, but everything is complete. Divers seat is torn. Power windows, wiper blades, gauges, defroster, dash lights and indicators all in working order. HVA/C system is complete. Body by Fischer door sill plates and original TTop coves are present. This car shows no sign what so ever of being in any type of accident, and the frame is solid. Going off of the original dealer invoice the special ordered options include: Now the important options in my opinion are 305 V8 (LG3) and Saginaw Trans (MM4), but then you throw in the 4 season AC (C60) a $430.00 option. And the option which sets this apart from all other 4-speed cars (CC1) removable glass roof panels for $487.50. This is 1 of 2 cars I have found with the CC1 and MM4 option. The other car did not have the original motor anymore, was not for sale, and the site it was posted on, was dated 2008, so who knows where it is now. Yes there are other 4-speed cars out there for sale. I really believe you will be hard-pressed to find a TTop car that still retains so many of it's original factory equipment. The car is for sale locally, and I reserve the right to end the auction early. Please feel free to e-mail me with any additional questions you may have.