Spring cleaning must be in session in garages all over America. Just this past week, we featured a handful of automobiles that had indeed spent decades hidden in garages. The skies seem to be raining well-preserved automobiles. However, none have been more perfectly preserved than this black beauty referred to us by Dennis H. This 1975 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for sale on Facebook Marketplace in North Royalton, Ohio, has just 4,589 miles on the odometer. The provided photographs reveal automotive perfection circa 1975. This black beauty with a white interior looks like it just rolled out of a time warp. Is the $34,900 price tag too much? Perhaps not. The ad has recently been amended to state that the sale is pending. Do you think it will sell for that amount? Thanks again to Dennis H. for this museum piece find!
The story behind this mint-condition Monte Carlo is short and sweet. One family owned this remarkable car for nearly fifty years. With less than 5,000 miles on the odometer, the statement that it was driven sparingly is the understatement of the year. The picture above shows that the black paint still holds a full gloss and that all of the chrome and other trim is flawless.
Unlike many cars we see for sale, this one also has a documented history. It was purchased as a new car on the day after Christmas, December 26, 1974, from C.W. Sommer Inc. in Lodi, Ohio. The car still has the dealership’s original license plate frame. The last time it was registered was in 2009. Thankfully, it was properly stored and maintained during that period when it would have been regarded as just a used car.
Yet, even a car that is little used needs parts and pieces to make it a reliable driver once more. The seller has replaced the battery, gas tank, hood insulation, air conditioning compressor, and all four tires. Two original tires were saved for historical purposes and will come with the car.
Especially noteworthy is the condition of the white vinyl interior. We all know a white interior is almost impossible to keep clean. Interiors such as this are also susceptible to sun damage-induced yellowing. This car shows no signs of that whatsoever after all these years. Another interesting piece on this car is the CB radio. Does anyone know if this is an early GM unit built before they were integrated into radios or if this is an aftermarket radio? Also, where was the antenna?
Under the hood is a 400 cubic inch V-8 that has been recently detailed. We can see that all of the factory parts and pieces, such as the air intake snorkel, are still in place. Also present is the extended fan shroud, which often got tossed later when radiators and fan belts were replaced. We can also see that the car was equipped with power brakes. It also came with power steering, but you cannot see the pump in the photograph.
A look at the underside reveals just how pristine this car is. The exhaust does have that used look, but that is to be expected. The replacement tank stands out as well. It would have been nice if the original tank had been refurbished and reinstalled for the sake of originality. However, a replacement is an easy fix for a gummed-up, rusty tank.
Taken as a whole, this car is absolutely amazing. Imagine how often this story could have taken another turn, and the car would have ended up as just another used car or in the junkyard. Thankfully, it survived in such good condition. While I usually suggest driving such a find sparingly, seeing this one end up in a museum would be nice. Cars this pristine are valuable to researchers and restorers who want to get their cars 100% correct.
Am i the only one who always wants to hear how these low mileage cars came to be? I would love to know the circumstances that allowed or resulted in such low mileage. Having a CB makes me think the owner envisioned a lot of highway driving. Gorgeous car. Cant imagine a more desirable interior color combo
You’re not alone Matt. I cannot figure out how you buy a car and hardly ever drive it. The only thing I can figure is that it was bought for someone, a spouse, as a gift and that person didn’t drive much anyway or drove the other’s first car. Then that person died and it was kept as a reminder. I know, it doesn’t make sense.
In my household, the explanation for low miles was having and using a company car. My company cars could easily accumulate 50k miles in a year while my personal cars got infrequent use. I didn’t actually need a personal car but just liked to have a car that I enjoyed available when I felt like driving it.
These cars drove and handled well, but the first catalyst equipped cars(1975)really lacked any performance, they were really dogs! Later on gm seemed to iron out some of the sluggish performance the 75’s had. It is abeauiful car but I personally do not feel it is a 30 plus thousa nd dollar car.
Or the person was a veteran and was killed in action after buying a car and was left for the family or spouses..
I think the CB is non original because none of the pictures showed a CB antenna which was usually centered on the front edge of the trunk lid. The cars radio antenna was 2 vertical wires in the center of the windshield that ran to the top and went horizontal about a foot in both directions. If somebody were to remove the fan shroud and toss it, the car would have an overheating problem mostly in hot weather in stop and go traffic. I had 74 MC with a 350 and now I wish I had it back.
The cb antenna is the same as the radio antenna.when you have both radios on,when you key in the mike it will interfere the regular radio,you can hear your voice in the car speakers too that are probably in stereo that part is cool.
Amazing condition. But a boring car.
Ohh 😮 🤌🤌🤌 wtf why is it boring!! ?? Every wap I knew had one!!
Cricket’s 🦗🦗🦗🦗
It is – was – it was sold. Bench seat, column shifter. Definitely wasn’t my cup of tea back in the day, but a nicely equipped colonnade coupe was. I had 2 Cutlasses and 2 GPs 1974 through 1977.
OK, nice ride. Way too much money, and I can’t get over those gawd-awful impact bumpers…
Hi guys I bought a 73 Monte Black On Black with white bucket seat , ordered with a 454 rally wheels I absolutely loved that car cost 5400 Dollars was stolen I cried seeing this Automobile open my eyes to buy another one but 34k is to much for me Beautiful Automobile !!!!!!!
Or you try buying a big block car for 50k and needs work 🤷!!
That’s like saying about cars from 1920s and 30s “okay, nice ride, but I can’t get over those big fenders and running boards… ” Starting in 1973 that’s what it WAS. No getting around it.
👎
Yes, too much money being asked here, especially when it doesn’t have a 454 and the swivel bucket seats.
Called the Used Car Factory today. Yeah, they’re done making these.
It’s beautiful. Less than 5,000 miles!!!!
You can almost detect that new car smell from the photo. Black and white wasn’t as common as one might hope. In addition to how well the white panels have held up the knobs on window regulators are still clear. Good equipment for an S with the 400 and full gauge package. Was the rear stabilizer bar included on all MCs?
Yes, the rear stabilizer was included on all 1973-1977 Monte Carlo’s. The Pontiac Grand Am and Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon were built the same way. They had steel belted radial ply tires as standard equipment. GM marketed them as having a European feel. The odd thing is that the Cutlass Salon was a 4 door with bucket seats and a console. The Grand Am was available as 2 or 4 door.
You could also get a 2 door salon ,owned 2 of them
Beautiful car, always liked the MC. It would be 100% better with bucket seats, console and floor shifter.. Without that, it’s just another car.
I disagree. It’s not like you can go down to your local Chevrolet dealer’s and order it the way you would like it. About 90% of Monte Carlo’s had a bench seat and a column shift. When they had buckets they had those awful swivel buckets. They never latched securely enough into place and an empty passenger seat would rattle as you drove. I had one.
Beautiful car, made even more so by the color choices and the lack of a vinyl roof. I even like the base wheel covers. As for the CB, GM did offer an under-dash accessory CB radio, but the one in this car doesn’t look like the GM accessory. I find the presence of the CB to be curious. Although nothing about the car’s appearance contradicts the ultra low mileage claim, why would anyone put a CB in a car they didn’t intend to drive regularly?
https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Chevrolet/1975_Chevrolet/1975%20Chevrolet%20Accessories%20Folder/image3.html
Some half dozen years ago we had a customer in the service department ask if we would be interested in buying his pickup. He had bought two new vehicles at the same time and never drove the truck. It was 6 or 7 years old with less than 100 miles. Absolutely spotless save for the dust on the outside. Still had the 15-day temp tag in the rear window. When asked how this could be he said I guess I just drove the other one more. That car had over 100k on it.
I bought a 72 Chevy Vega from a wholesale dealership when I was younger and it ended up breaking down 3 days after I got it. I found out the carburetor was gummed up with varnish and needed cleaned. About 3 or 4 days after cleaning it, it broke down again. Same problem. I was looking in the glove box and found the original Chevrolet warranty with a phone number on it. Called it and ended up talking to the previous owners son where I found out it was his mom’s and had 8,800 actual miles. It was literally driven to church and the store only and was parked in the garage with a full tank of gas and when they pulled it out to sell it they had to put gas in it to move it. Stupid me did all the work to make it reliable again and sold it to a 16 year old kid as his first car. One of my bigger mistakes in my life. Another car I was talked out of and lost money on. Guess I’ll never learn. Still doing stupid things like that today.
These cars drove and handled well, but the first catalyst equipped cars(1975)really lacked any performance, they were really dogs! Later on gm seemed to iron out some of the sluggish performance the 75’s had. It is abeauiful car but I personally do not feel it is a 30 plus thousa nd dollar car.
No offense but I wouldn’t worry too much about letting a Chevy Vega slip through your hands.
I’m 67 and still doing stupid things. You know what they say “You can’t fix stupid”. Hopefully I make better choices today.
Beautiful example but there are driveable cars (that won’t lose value by the mile) available from the same era for less.
These cars were no big deal when new nothing exciting about them. Now as for the mileage and cb. I was a trucker before I retired a friend of mine was also a long haul trucker. He lived 2 miles from where he parked his truck. He had an early 90s model Chevy pickup that he only drove from home to his truck and back when he was home. When his pickup was 20 years old it has less than 10,000 miles on it. So maybe toe owner of this monte carlo was a long haul trucker that was only home once a month. That would also explain the cb as a lot of truckers had CB’s in there cars or pickups. I also believe the price is to high but the way things are today some one will pay it. GLWTS
I believe the story of your friend, but i doubt it applies to this car. It wouldn’t look this nice if it was parked outside in a lot for extended periods This one has been sheltered.
lol you keep telling yourself these cars were no big deal when new. They weren’t two-three on every street for a reason.
It’s Their not there when referencing a person!! These came from the factory as an option just like caddy’s and Vetts!! The power antenna had dual rolls!!
It’s roles not rolls. Rolls are something you eat
Hands up! It is thee English poleez! Stick to the cars, guys.
Yes the cb was an option not a power antenna.Never seen one on any MC.Winshield antenna on my friends black 75.This ones a superb low mileage survivor.$25k reasonable
I have admired these cars since they were new, and I never saw one that was black with a white interior. It’s a great color combination.
That’s one gorgeous Monte! I always liked the body style. I actually kinda dig the bench seat, column shift. All the cars I owned of that era had the column shift. Since the bench seat no longer exists in new cars, I think the column shift/bench seat makes it a little unique?
Made for a great drivin movie theater date car without having to jump in the back seat!! 😂
Always liked these. Had a blue on blue ‘76. The pinnacle for this body style was the ‘77 right before they downsized everything in ‘78. Agree with others that some rally wheels and removal of the mud flaps would be first things on the list. Also agree that even with those miles about $25K would be the max value.
The pinstriping is not factory. It would have started on the front fenders, and followed the belt line to the rear of the door.
This is speaking my language. Although Grand Prix is my personal choice I loved the Monte Carlo especially in black and white interior? Ah ah what’s better. Who cares it’s not the fast cars of 1970’ but what a beauty where could be parked anywhere.
Why does every car have to be “fast”? This generation was a lot like me, “”Built for comfort, not for speed”!
Amen and Hallelujah to that! I’ve always preferred OTT elegance and comfort to speed. Old motto, There is more to life than increasing its speed. Now a Vintage Rolls Canardly (Roll down one hill and Can ardly get up the next )I still believe it. Current 2007 Town Car Signature is there perfect balance of power and the last gasp of traditional American Luxury CARS.
When I worked at my buddies gas station in the mid 70’s a lot of ladies drove these cars and would put a rise in my pants because they had on a revealing blouses and short skirts!! Full service cleaning the windows even if it wasn’t dirty lol!! 😁😂
I concur on the Pontiac. In the early 90’s a friend picked up a ’77 GP from a family member for a song. It had the pw, pl, 400, velvet power bucket seats, console, full guage package… Factory moon roof! Driving it? Was the nicest car that I’ve ever driven. Probably ever will. Period.
My wife picked up a 78 GP in 82, had a 301 v8 and 200 metric AT. I replaced the cat conv. with a test pipe an bored out the fuel filler to take regular gas, that car had some get up and go got 18mpg. Rode very smooth but rust took its life in 86.
In 1976 I bought this 1974 Monte. Every option., 454, swivel buckets, console, tach & gauges, power windows and locks, AM/FM 8 track! cruise control, rear defogger, etc. For it’s day it handled better than probably 90% of cars sold in the late 70s. Mine had the F41 sport suspension with the quicker ratio power steering and with 8″ Corvette rallys and BFG T/A radials it cornered nicely.
In this area 73 to 77 Montes ruled the local circle tracks until they became almost extinct. 2 of my nephews ran them until they couldn’t find any more and then switched to 77- late 80s Impala/Caprices often set up with left over Monte suspension pieces.
Awesome car!! Did the mud flaps say Back off!!😂
Rocco lol. Probability used the back off flaps on my pickup! I think these had the Chevrolet bow tie.
I traded the Monte in 1980 for a NICE 66 ElCamino factory 396 4 SPD bench seat and factory A/C. I put a 67 GTO tilt column and an original 64 – 66 Chevy 2 spoke wood steering wheel in it and ran 69 SS 396 sport wheels on it. Sadly, it became part of our down payment when we bought our home.
Wish I still had both!
Don’t we all wish we had what we had!! Lol
I am thinking this was Tony Two Chains from the neighborhood’s car. Only drove it to the deli and an occasional Teamsters job. Sadly, Tony was never heard from again sometime in 77. His old lady parked the car in the garage hoping one day he would return. I hear she would sit in it sometimes at night hoping to hear his voice come through the CB. She passed and the kids want to cash in on the bungalow and car. Rest in peace Tony.
I thought I recognized that CB radio, a Johnson 123A Messenger, my 1st CB. They won’t get out far with no antenna. For once, it’s the real deal, and entirely possible. I know of several cars like this, one a ’63 Caddy with 2200 actual miles. He never left town with it. Obviously, someone wants to cash in big time, and why not? It’s the name of the game today, a fortune awaits,,,
I’m with you, the car is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Too much money for you? Move along down the line. You aren’t going to find another.
Nice 1975 Monte Carlo. For 35g, a bit much though. No swivel seats or power windows.
Have always wanted one. It will sell. Just will keep the memories.
CB with no antenna? Emergency use, they made magnetic antennas that installed easily. Today, cell phones and a battery booster. Low miles plus CB might very well mean this was a gift for someone deeply cared for.
My family had a ’74, same pinstripes. Brown with tan stripes. Maybe a dealer install?
I always thought that the round headlights looked better with all the other curves in the body on this generation Monte.
It’s roles, not rolls. Rolls are something you eat.
Or under your chin!!
No ,Rolls is what I drive.
It’s really pretty, really nice, really clean and really overpriced. Sorry. By at least 10k
Few options is a downer , but there is always a line up of serious buyers for something this nice .A real buyer will pony up 30 to $35k quickly.
Dreamers will pay 5 to 10 grand for a project ,and never get it to this level regardless of how much they spend.
great color combo and a 400sb to boot. just needs those factory rally wheels with the w/w tires, and it would pop. Strong sale price. Very nice. i would put it my garage.
I think the CB is non original because none of the pictures showed a CB antenna which was usually centered on the front edge of the trunk lid. The cars radio antenna was 2 vertical wires in the center of the windshield that ran to the top and went horizontal about a foot in both directions. If somebody were to remove the fan shroud and toss it, the car would have an overheating problem mostly in hot weather in stop and go traffic. I had 74 MC with a 350 and now I wish I had it back.
I had a ’75 Monte Quartlow in the early 90’s. 50,000 miles and $550 dollars. Practically rust free and shiny, too! They were dogs. But they rode real nice. Kept it for a couple years, then sold it to my boss for $1500. He proceeded to kill it within a year. This one? $35k and 4500 miles. I guess you could trailer it to the local shows.
the radio antenna should have been in the windshield
Negative !! It had power antenna!!
Mom’s 76 Malibu Classic had the same Dash, Gauge on the left is a “Fuel Economy” Vacuum Gauge. Always loved flooring it and pegging the needle to “Minimum”. Performed better when we took the catalytic converter off
I own ‘77 Monte otherwise stock sans catalytic converter. Removing those early converters is good for about 25 HP, enough to make these cars at least run good – if not “fast”.
These are great looking, good handling, nice driving cars that EVERYONE liked back in the day. I get lots of “I had one of those back in the day – loved that car” comments.
Nice cruiser for sure. THIS one is exceptional. It will get 35k from the right buyer.
I bought the last 77 Monte Carlo (black with black cloth interior and gold pin striping) in our town in July 77. Only brand new car I ever bought. List price $6,300. Loved that black beauty. A friend said it was Sex on Wheels. Kept it for 5 years. One day while washing it, the chrome panel between front wheel well and driver’s door dropped off revealing a rust though. Took the car back to Rusty Jones where it was rustproofed when new. There I was told it was surface rust not covered by warranty. Guess that’s why Rusty is gone. Unfortunately so is Monte Carlo. And YES, the 77 WAS the best! 🏆
put on some BF Goodrichs with Cragar rims, dual exhaust with some glasspacks; and stroll right back to the 70/80s
Break one nine for the rubber duck that is a beautiful ride but I wonder how much rust those cylinders have after sitting that long.
I’ve been in the car business my whole life. Here is just my thought. What can you buy in a new car for 35k? You can buy a boring Toyota sedan, Maybe a 6 cylinder Charger, ( BTW a Charger with a 6 is 325 HP). Or in this case a as new Monte Carlo. What would you rather have?
It is rare to find a 49 year old car in such great cosmetic condition. I did love the styling of the 1970-77 Monte Carlo and its GM sisters such as the Pontiac Grand Prix. The 400 V8 was rated at 150 hp or 175hp based on whether it had a 2 bbl or 4bbl carb. The 400 V8 was a stepup from the base 350. Bucket sears and floor shifted automatic would have been more desirable but you take what you get in old classic cars. Despite its pristine survivor condition and personal luxury appeal the asking price is the deal killer.
The factory brochure listed one 400 V8 at 175hp differing from other Internet sources. Regardless, the Monte is sold anyway.
Such comfy cars, surprised Chevy didn’t put a center arm rest in these. Were all 400’s of this era 2bbl’s?
Some 4bbl in California and high altitude. 2bbl everywhere else.
That would be true pre-1974. For 1974 2bbl and 4bbl were offered for the 400sb. 1975-76 all 400s were 4bbl.
For the Monte, you could not get a 400 prior to 1974. Last year was 1976.
Collanade (1973-1977) MC engines:
1973: 350 2bbl; 350 4bbl; 454 (350 4bbl only California all years)
1974: 350 2bbl; 400 2bbl; 400 4bbl; 454
1975: 350 2bbl; 400 4bbl; 454
1976: 305 2bbl; 350 2bbl; 400 4bbl
1977: 305 2bbl; 350 4bbl
Thanks for the info Jason. We had a 74 Caprice Classic with a 400 2bbl (150hp I believe), which really surprised me because GM was typically very generous with 4bbl’s – unlike Ford.