Last week we covered this 1976 Chevrolet Vega and bandied about possibilities for the way that Chevrolet could have solved the issue of the Vega’s ignominious motor. Well, they were sort of working on it with a concurrent and successor model known as the Monza, a car that turns up here about as infrequently, or even less so, than the Vega. And today, thanks to Matt H, we have a 1980 Monza coupe for your review. It is located in Spokane, Washington and is available, here on craigslist for $4,250.
The Monza, offered between 1975 and 1980 was, like the Vega, based on GM’s “H” platform and shared the same wheelbase. The overall length was a bit longer and its more svelte lines made it look as if it had little relationship to the Vega. The ’75 model offered good news and bad, the base engine was the cantankerous Vega 2.3 liter in-line four but there was also a 262 CI small-block V8 offered – that was a surprise! It was the smallest Chevy small-block V8 ever produced and since it fits in a Monza, it should have fit a Vega as well. By ’75 the Vega was on the way out, it still had two more years to go, and the Monza seemed like a reasonable replacement so it probably made no marketing or financial sense to upgrade the Vega with a better prime mover.
By the time 1980 rolled around, the Monza’s engine choices had changed – the V8 was sadly no longer available and in its place was a 110 net HP Buick 3.8 liter V6, such as our subject car possesses. As standard equipment, the 2.5-liter, in-line four-cylinder engine, known as the “Iron-Duke“, would be found. The miserable Vega 2.3 liter pea-thrasher squirrel cage went into permanent retirement in ’77 when the Vega itself bid us all farewell. This Monza claims a recorded mileage of 50K and the seller states, “I’ve done a bunch of work to it including new carburetor new water pump new spark plugs new wires new car new rotor and new valve cover gaskets and new filters also did an oil change“. It would have been helpful to have an included image. The transmission is more than likely a Turbo-Hydramatic 200, a three-speed automatic that got a lot of black eyes for durability issues when coupled to an eight-cylinder engine, a place where it never belonged. But since this car is equipped with a V6, it should be adequate. Better yet, the gearbox could also be the latter THM 250-C which proved to be a bit more reliable than the 200.
The exterior of this Monza is still sharp looking as its Dark Green Metallic finish (no special or unique name was used to describe this hue) has held up very nicely. Ditto the trim and bumpers, the entire package shows as new. While there is no documentation attesting to the low mileage reading, the exterior condition lends credence to the claim. The cool-looking wheels are actually optional Deluxe Color-Keyed Wheel Covers, per the ’80 Monza sales brochure. One issue and that’s the grille, is it broken in the center or is the appearance the result of a shadow?
The interior of this little Chevy shows pretty well though the seat inserts seem a color mismatch – perhaps it’s fade caused by sunlight exposure or the passage of time. The dash pad is obviously split but the seller states that he has a new cover on the way. The entire instrument panel and dash front, extending across the passenger side, is a true exercise in simplicity. Note the top of the console, there is something funking going on there – it looks like a giant red-wine spill. All-in-all, the interior is not bad but it’s not in line with the exterior’s crisp appearance.
So, 50K miles for real? The seller states, “the original owner said that the miles are actual and I strongly believe they are“. I would say that the exterior says yes, the interior says maybe, maybe not, and the lack of an engine image doesn’t cinch the claim. The listing suggests, “these cars are super rare to find in stock condition usually they were cut up to make drag cars“. While I agree with the sentiment, I don’t think I would use the descriptor “rare” in the case of a Monza. It’s more like an example of a one-time, very common (720K produced over six years!) and now a seldomly seen model. So, what do you think, is this the sub-compact Chevrolet should have developed first and in place of the Vega?
I worked with a widow lady in 1980. Her husband was part owner of the Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership when he died in 1966
She traded her 1967 Cadillac sedan DeVille in for a cute yellow 1980 Monza with the butterscotch interior like the featured car.
I know that some readers say it for every single listing, but this car could make a pretty nice sleeper with a healthy V-8.
My older sisters boyfriend had this exact year same interior but dark metallic brown exterior. He had a brother who raced stock car that he got a 355ci , one of the engines built and used for racing and put in the monza with a 4 speed manual. I was probably only 13or14 years old and so I’d be in my sister’s care from time to time so I remember my sister not being one for any reckless driving and me growing up watching the Dukes knight rider etc loved nothing more than fast cars and crazy driving so any time wed let my sister out to go shopping or whatever it was on ! . Not sure now how old her boyfriend was but I’m thinking under 20 so between me egging him on and his own young man’s recklessness I’m sure were lucky to be alive and not hurt anyone. He could handle the car pretty well and was a good driver but to this day I don’t think I’ve been In a car quicker than that one . I remember he had quite a few sand bags piled up in the back of the hatchback for more weight over the back tires or balancing out for the heavy 8cyl.up front. He definitely needed them as I recall he could leave a light smoking both back wheels and be in 2nd still smoking them b4 getting across the intersection and still getting wheel spin shifting into 3rd and all in less than probably 10 seconds. I also remember racing a few cars at stop lights and always laughing out heads off every time as we blew the doors off anything that tried and not by a little but just left them like they were standing still . He eventually got rid of because of something to do with the rear end that he broke on a regular basis and wanting to keep his driver’s license. It had 14 inch alum 5slots with some wide 60s and I thought it was a really nice looking car I’d recommend anyone buying this car to spend some money on fitting a good 8cyl and all the other necessary upgrades to make this car fast and be really fun toy. I know I would if I could
Wild how the dashes and consoles in those years would bake brown in this case or red’s turning pink and Blues chalky gray….. Co-worker had a silver one with the 4 banger and 4 spd. It was ok to drive. He didn’t keep it long enough to have issues.. He got a Chrysler
sporty thing with an electronic dash. Had real problems with that..
Had an 80 with the Buick V6 and 4 spd manual loved that car.
If you had one in college, then maybe…
Married at the time with 2 small kids. Sister-in-law crashed it was only reason it went bye bye
Had an identical Monza in early marriage that my wife drove. We called it the Bomb! The thing would not quit. It had 187,000 miles and I traded it in on a citation station wagon. Should have kept the Bomb.
No problems an LS swap couldn’t solve.
GM has never been known for their interior plastics but this one may take the prize for the worst I’ve ever seen on a low mileage car. Giant cracks in the dash, 20 different shades of beige…wow
“20 Shades of Beige”
Sounds like a new book about someone whose tastes in automotive interiors are a bit… unusual.
Had Vegas. Had Monzas. Had Starfire’s. Ran a garage and kept my kids in cars.
Iron “Duke” – as in John Wayne?
Not even close…pilgrim.
Pretty sure these also came in 305 and 350 flavors. As I recall, you had to unbolt the engine mounts and jack up the motor to change the rear sparkplugs.
True. The V6 a better balance for ease of service and economy.
A 76 Sunbird long term test by Motor Trend found the performance adequate and the mileage very agreeable.
I think the weight balance may have been better as well.
The seller brags about it being “one owner” but since he didn’t buy it new, it isn’t. And that well-cooked dash pad would seem to indicate it spent a lot of time somewhere hotter than Spokane (and no a/c…maybe those are original miles).
‘By ’75 the Vega was on the way out, it still had two more years to go, and the Monza seemed like a reasonable replacement so it probably made no marketing or financial sense to upgrade the Vega with a better prime mover.’
Ahhh but they did. Chevrolet made significant changes to the 76 version and even called it “Dura-Built” addressing multiple problems [that should have been addressed four years before actually].
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Chevrolet/1976_Chevrolet/1976_Chevrolet_Vega_Brochure/1976%20Chevrolet%20Vega-04%2005.html
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Chevrolet/1976_Chevrolet/1976_Chevrolet_Vega_at_Death_Valley/dirindex.html
If the assessment came from some other place besides a Chevrolet brochure, it might have some veracity. But coming from the source? I don’t think so. Dura whatever it was still the same lousy iron head, aluminum block lump.
JO
The 1st & 2nd gen f-bodies & other GM cars w/o a/c have UPPER fresh air vents.
This car has none. Hmmh.
Looks like a modified chevette steering wheel that would not look bad in a ’67-81 camaro – & the gages would not be blocked.
I had one exactly like this, bought it brand new after a year of driving ( lots of problems ) I noticed the front tires wearing …took it to have the front end lined up ….. the dude sent me to a frame shop after I told him that the car had never been wreaked , seems the frame was made so cheap that it was actually spreading ….The frame shop straightened it up and got the front end lined up again and the guy who did the work said to get rid of the car , which i did …..Last chevy I ever owned !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi i’m frech and i have Chevy monza coup town 1980 v6 black with screen roof, and caramel interior 53 000 miles . Ils very rare in france and found parts IS impossible
On mine the heater core went out while it was still under warranty among other problems , they really shouldn’t have been a problem but I guess they had to remove the dash to take the heater core out !!! Next I could go to changing the spark plugs ?????????
Maybe not(about the heater core & removing the dash) – if a Monza NOT have a/c.
and maybe so , My Monza did have A/C and like I said the dash had to be removed to replace the heater core , i was actually at the chevy dealer ship when this occurred !!!!!! The Monzas were just another POS that chevy put out , I used to be a GM man but no more !!!!!!!!!! Thats why so many people buy foreign cars nowadays , for the most part American cars are junk !!!!!!!! sad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had a 1975 Monza with the 262 & a 4 speed. The 262 was junk by the time I got it (as was the car lol). I also had a 1971 Impala wagon with a 400 small block & a cracked frame.
That 400 found its way into the Monza. That was the quickest piece of junk in the area lol.
Back in the day I owned three Vegas, a Monza and an Olds Starfire. I was in the auto repair business and these vehicles kept my kids on the road. Yes, a head gasket or two and a V8 swap for my driver. The warmed over 262″ ran right with the 5.0 mustangs of the day. Great handling and fun factor.
I bought a new Vega in ‘74. At 80,000 miles did a valve job. No sign of a cyl. ridge at all. The pistons did not ride on aluminum. They rode on silicone, that is harder than iron. I had no prob at all with the block or head. The weakest part was the clutch disc. Went thru 3 of them. …..Spark plugs! Haven’t changed one in 50 years. 170,000 miles in 11 years, traded for an El Camino. Nice car but Vega was a better work car.