Chevrolet Monza (United States)
| Chevrolet | |
|---|---|
 Chevrolet Monza 2 + 2
|
|
| Monza | |
| Sales designation: | Monza |
| Production period: | 1974-1980 |
| Class : | Middle class |
| Body versions : | Coupe , Kombi Coupe , Kombi |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 2.3-5.7 liters (51-114 kW) |
| Length: | 4516-4569 mm |
| Width: | 1661-1808 mm |
| Height: | 1265-1275 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2464 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1167-1258 kg |
| Previous model | Chevrolet Vega |
| successor | Chevrolet Cavalier |
The name Chevrolet Monza was based on the Chevrolet Corvair Monza, which popularized the concept of the sporty compact car in the USA in the early 1960s and can be considered the forerunner of the pony car , a vehicle class of compact sports coupés whose first and long-leading representative was the Ford Mustang was.
Sister models of the Chevrolet Monza were the Buick Skyhawk (1974–1980), the Oldsmobile Starfire (1974–1980) and the Pontiac Sunbird (1974–1980).
Model year 1975: Introduction of the Monza as a three-door hatchback sports coupé ( Monza 2 + 2 ) with rear-wheel drive. The roof line of the body was reminiscent of the Ferrari 365 GTC / 4 , overall the lines were quite European, right down to the beveled front (made of polyurethane) in the style of the Opel Manta B at the same time . The drive was initially taken over by a choice of a 2.3-liter four-cylinder with twin carburetors (51 kW / 70 PS) or V8 units with 4.3 liters (81 kW / 110 PS) or 5.7 liters displacement. Four or five-speed gearbox or three-speed automatic. Spring 1975: Introduction of an additional notchback coupé (model name Towne Coupe) with a conventional front section.
1976: Towne Coupe also available with the front section of the 2 + 2 on request, and also as a luxury version with a “Cabriolet” package that included a vinyl roof, chrome trim and the like. Introduction of the Monza Spyder as a sports version of the hatchback and notchback model with sports suspension and upgraded equipment with all engines. Five-liter V8 (103 kW / 140 PS) replaces the 5.7-liter.
1977: Elimination of the 4.3-liter engine. Two new Spyder packages were on offer (only for the 2 + 2), once a pure optics package with decorative stripes and spoilers, and the other as a performance package, which included sports suspension. In the spring of 1977 the limited special model Monza Mirage made its debut, also with a sporty design and equipment.
In 1978, the model range was reorganized with the Monza S as the basic model with a conventional front section as a hatchback coupé as well as a notchback and tailgate coupé and station wagon (taking over the corresponding variants of the discontinued Chevrolet Vega ), plus Monza Sport (with plastic nose) as stepped and 2 + 2 - hatchback coupe. The engine range was also changed; the prone aluminum 2.3-liter was replaced by a cast-iron 2.5-liter four-cylinder (85 PS), and there was also a new 3.2-liter V6 with double carburetors (66 kW / 90 PS) and the familiar ones 107 kW (145 PS) more powerful five-liter.
1979: Changes to the cylinder head and carburetors of the basic four-cylinder engine result in a higher output of 66 kW (90 hp), the new engine is a 3.8-liter V6 with 85 kW (115 hp), the 3.2- Liter now has an output of 77 kW (105 PS), the five-liter drops to 96 kW (130 PS).
1980: Elimination of the 3.2-liter and eight-cylinder. Monza Spyder with modified, but still very noticeable decorative stripes. The four-cylinder now developed 63 kW (86 hp), the V6 81 kW.
A total of around 700,000 copies of the Chevrolet Monza were built; Ironically, after its most successful year (169,000 units), the model was dropped from the program to make way for the Chevrolet Cavalier , which only sold 190,000 times in its first, overly long model year, although it was sold as a complete model family (sedan, coupé, Station wagon).
literature
- Contemporary advertising literature; and: James M. Flammang, Ron Kowalke: Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1976-1999. 3rd edition. Krause Publications, Iola WI 1999, ISBN 0-87341-755-0 .
