1974 was a down model year for most of Detroit’s larger cars, thanks to the OPEC oil embargo the previous year. That turn of events sent buyers scurrying to smaller, more fuel-efficient automobiles. The Chevy Monte Carlo was all-new for 1973 and so well-received, that sales increased 20% in 1974, bucking the car shopping trend. This ’74 Monte may have been in storage for a while given that it’s said to have just 35,000 miles on the odometer and the tires are suffering from old age. Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, this Chevy is available here on eBay where the reserve has yet to be met at $7,100.
The Monte Carlo was Chevrolet’s gateway into the personal luxury car market in 1970 and was based on the Pontiac Grand Prix, although it also had lineage to the Chevy Chevelle. When it came time for a redesign in 1973, the Monte Carlo followed the rest of General Motors’ intermediates with their new Colonnade styling. It was named Motor Trend’s “Car of the Year” for ‘73 and sold 250,000 units, a record for the nameplate to that point. The car was little changed going into ‘74 other than the bumpers got bigger in support of new Federally mandated impact standards. This run of the Monte Carlo would continue through ‘77 after which they were downsized going into 1978.
This car is described as a “well-maintained time capsule” by the seller. We’re told that the yellow paint is original and shows well although there are a few little dings here and there. The interior is also original and there are no tears or rips in the upholstery. The seller says it smells clean inside due to having spent time indoors (I would think musty would be more appropriate).
Equipped with a 350 cubic inch V8 with an automatic transmission, we’re told the car runs great and handles well. Just put the key in the ignition, start her up, and take off! Even the factory air conditioning does a great job of keeping occupants cool and comfortable. Other than a new set of tires, the seller has no suggestions on anything else the car may need. Not the customary ride to take to Cars & Coffee, but these are not expensive vehicles to get into the game with. Hagerty estimates that the top dollar is $15-$20,000.
They kept this body style for several years, and for good reason. It was probably the best-looking Chevy of the time. This car is nice, too.
When the ”73s were introduced, I thought they were garish and overdone, compared to the simplicity of the earlier years. They have kind of grown on me now, even though they are still garish and overdone.
Pretty decent-looking car! For the record, “Collonade” referred to the new style of hardtop, where a “pillarless” car could look like a hardtop while still having a B-pillar. This was due to new safety mandates that required door side beams.
The round head lights always looked better than the stacked quads same with Cordoba, I always felt they coulda put forth more effort into these dashboards like the GP instead of basic Chevelle….but those hips got swagger…
The trunk latch mechanism shows this car has been repainted.
The reason manufactures don’t paint latches etc. is the paint will wear/scar from use. This sort of damage is most noticeable on door latch pins which have been painted.
Over spray also shows up under the hood behind the spring on the drivers side. Not original paint but it does look good. I would drive it.
I looked at the 74 Monte Carlo’s new back in the day. I don’t remember that color being a factory color but I could be wrong.
I Google searched “1974 Monte Carlo color chart”, and this color wasn’t on the chart. Beige was as close as it got. That being said, it is possible, I guess, that it was a special ordered color. Not real likely, but possible. In spite of the fact that the color probably isn’t original, this is a nice car. I am shocked these are selling for this much on a regular basis. I remember buying nice ones like this example for $500.00. I recall buying rusted, dented hulks (which now sell for $6,000 +) for $200.00. They even ran and drove, although not well lol. This is amazing to me.
Cars and Coffee?
These bench seats were taxicab quality.
A friends Dad bought him a used low mileage 74 Monte. He was a bit bummed. Wanting a Camaro or a Chevelle SS. His Dad thought it was a nice sporty practicle 2 door sonny couldn’t get in trouble with. The laugh was on Dad. Sonny popped the hood and a low and behold. It had a 454 Big Block in it!!
My aunt and uncle bought one new. Solid red with black interior. It had a 350 . It was a really nice car. They had it about 4 years and traded it in.Never had a bit of trouble with it. A friend of mine bought it. 2 weeks its looked like junk.Black primer spots all over it .About a week later it CAUGHT on fire and burnt up. I asked my aunt did they ever smell anything burning in it. She said never. He set it on fire. He bought a 68 GTO off of our friend. Our friend bought it off of me and it was a really nice car-never had any trouble out of it. I told my friend I would sale it to him .If he would promise he WOULD NOT sale it to Roy. Roy tore it up in about a month . He lied. Drove it straight to the guy and sold it. Then about a month later. His brother- in – law shot and killed him.
Something doesn’t feel right on this car. Definite repaint, although they failed to paint the rear bumper filler. And, that rear bumper doesn’t seem to line up correctly. Maybe just me, but something doesn’t seem as it appears.
I agree. The seller says it’s the original paint…yet readers have shown why that’s not the case. Makes you wonder what else he’s not telling us. The car has an old tired look to it. Betcha the car has 135k…not 35k.
I think this car was beige in a previous life
I agree that the body style on the 1969-1977 Pontiac Grand Prix and 1970-1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo were beautiful and my dream cars in college. My graduation present was a 2 year old 1974 Grand Prix J that I loved. The car featured in the advertisement looks fantastic for its age but is not the ” full Monte” with bucket seats and a 400 or 454 engine. Contemporary writers said the handling and steering were improved on the 1973 models. Anyone lucky enough to buy this car will be able to drive it on cruises and to car shows in comfort and pride.
Lance, if memory serves, those bucket seats could be had with the swivel option in 73 and 74. Made getting in and out pretty effortless. Loved em.
John, my family had a 73 Monte Carlo Landau.
The “swivel” bucket seats were only standard on the Landau model, not the Monte Carlo S.
My wife’s parents had a white ‘74 Monte with black top when we were dating. It was only a couple years old- and it was a boat. This is an old boat in fair condition. The early Montes were sharp-this rendition-not so much.
~ Maybe it’s the angle of the shot, but that rear bumper looks just a bit tweaked. – I so wanted one of these when I was 15-16 in California. They were made to be lowriders. Airshocks in the back and you got an instant drop kit. I settled for a 67 Impala. Another instant lowrider. ~S
I just wanted to respectfully comment on Bunky’s “boat” message. The Monte Carlo was built on a stretched intermediate wheelbase of 116 inches. An Impala or Caprice was built on a full size 121.5 wheelbase in 1974. For its day,1973 the Monte Carlo was a deluxe midsize. Chevrolet print advertising described the Monte Carlo as “a car designed and built to achieve special handling characteristics like those found in the great road cars of Europe.” Except for police package equipped full sized Chevrolets, the Monte Carlo had better road manners. One can truthfully say nearly a half century later that the cars of 1973-74 were bigger than the 111.4 wheelbase of a 2021 Malibu but the Monte Carlo was not a boat based on its contemporaries.
My older brother bought new a very early production 73 monte dark red metallic with full black vinyl top and black cloth interior power everything 400 cu 4 bbl. dual exhaust handling suspension pkg with vinyl turbine wheels that was one sweet mix of performance and luxury he let me use it as my junior prom ride
I like how this car looks in yellow – whether it is an original color or not. I have to wonder why they photographed the car in front of an abandoned boarded up building with a very rusty VW Beetle in the driveway!