Chevrolet got into the personal luxury car market in 1970 with the new Monte Carlo. It was based on the same platform as the Pontiac Grand Prix with some visual nods to the mid-size Chevelle. 97% of the new car’s buyers were looking to be pampered, while the other 3% wanted a muscle machine with pizzazz. That came in the form of the Monte Carlo SS 454 with the company’s new big-block V8, like in the seller’s car. This triple black example has been 90% restored, so minimal work should be needed by its next owner. Located in Webster, New York, this powerful Chevy is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $20,188 but the seller’s reserve is still hovering.
The Monte Carlo was an instant success for Chevrolet and the car would remain in production through 2007, though it took a break from 1989 to 1994. For just two years, 1970-71, Chevy would include a Super Sport version of the Monte Carlo, which would not turn out to be popular (demand for muscle cars was beginning to decline when the new vehicle was introduced). In 1970, just 3,800 or so of the 145,000 Monte Carlos produced came with the 360 hp 454 V8. That was followed up by fewer than 2,000 of the beefier model in 1971, so it would not return in 1972.
If you had an extra $420 to spend, the SS 454 brought more than the big motor to the deal. It also included a TH-400 automatic transmission (as opposed to a TH-350), the F41 sport suspension, bigger wheels and tires, dual exhaust, the appropriate badging, and more. These were hot cars, with published test results coming in under 15 seconds in the quarter mile. This black SS 454 is being offered by a dealer who apparently acquired it from the owner who had done the restoration work but grew tired of the process.
The black paint has been redone, along with the top, chrome, parts of the interior, and some of the mechanical bits, like the brakes. We’re told it runs and drives well and should present no problems to the buyer. But the seller does not mention what the remaining 10% of the restoration should include. The odometer reading is 104,000 miles, so that’s about the time these 1970s cars began to need attention.
The engine bay looks rough, and not anywhere close to original.
I totally agree. One could open the hood with the original hardware and be mesmerized. This one is fitted with Pep Boys items. Plus it is an AC car lacking the obvious items rendering that expense to undergo.
If it is a true SS and has the 12 bolt posi Trac with stabilizer its worth 20K. That’s it.
Yep looks rough plus no ac
Add said car is believed to be a big block car. Without documentation this might not be a true SS.
Needs more documentation on it being a SS454. It’s missing the load level system under the hood that all SS454 Monte Carlos came with.
Papers are important if you are pushing it’s original. Also AC is missing. Maybe the seller has the rest of the system.The engine was it rebuilt? I love the paint job very clean. I remember I had a chance to buy a 70 Monte SS loaded. It had a factory moon roof. It was in my friends Uncle body shop in Chester,NY . Hey $8,000 it’s yours. Damn didn’t have the money. It’s was original very clean. It was black on black. Oh well we here plenty of stories like this. This one reserve is probably over $25,000. Good luck to the seller. 🐻🇺🇸
I’m suspicious of this being a real deal SS also. Something just doesn’t look right about the car. The seller does state “believed to be an original big block car” so he does have the get out of jail card. In addition to the missing AC components, it is also missing the automatic leveling control, they were standard equipment on the SS. There doesn’t appear any evidence of it ever being mounted as well. It does have a rear sway bar, but it looks aftermarket, the front is clearly not the original, and there is not a view of the rear suspension to see if it has the F41 boxed lower control arms. It does have the correct style exhaust tips, although they are larger than the originals. FYI, there was no factory installed sunroof option from 1970-1972, it could have been done at the dealer before delivery, but they were never available as a factory option.
Know the difference between “here” and “hear”?
It looks like the wrong in dash tach for the 454. 350 had a 5000 RPM redline, 454 had a 5500 RPM redline.
Hard to really tell, but to me it looks like a 5000 EPM redline
I have a ’70 SS454 and a collection of build sheets. Both the 5000 and the 5500 redline were factory installed in SS454s.
I saw a triple black Monte SS 454 years ago at a car show. Loaded with power seat, locks, windows, a/c, AM-FM ( can’t recall a tape player or if it was a stereo). Also had rally wheels.
My ss has boxed controll arms on the rear end this car does not this is only possible SS if they have build sheet this is not a SS model
What photo shows the real lower control arms?
Chevrolet nailed these models. Im a Ford guy but these are awesome. So many variations to boot. Stick shifts not available w the 454. Chevy didn’t mess around though w the autoloaders. Stout 400 trans w 3.31 gear ⚙️.
A friend in high school bought an SS454 with a 4-speed in 1978. Sticks were available.
Bet it was a 71 model yr Steve, or a very late run 70… They were available in 71, not on the 1970 model.
No Monte SS454 was offered with a 4 speed, but all other engine sizes offered in a ’70 or ’71 Monte could be had with a 4 speed. The rumors have been out there ever since 1970, but no one has ever come up with one that was verified a factory built car. I have a ’70 SS454 and a ’71, 402, 4 speed. The original owner of the 4 speed had his brother, who worked for GM, try to “special” order him a 4 speed SS454, knowing that Chevrolet had been refusing orders for them. They were denied and he had to decide whether he wanted the 4 speed more than the 454.
Your friend probably had a 402 big block with a 4 speed. All Super Sports had a 454 and a mandated TH400.
I have a ’70 SS454 and a collection of build sheets. Both the 5000 and the 5500 redline were factory installed in SS454s.
Why not take pics of the engine ID #’s on the rf of the block and see if they match the vin to at least see if it a 454 car with the original mill.How about a data plate pic? Nice car but such a lack of info makes me suspicious if it’s real.
The SS454 wasn’t available with a four-speed and that hurt its appeal. Back then, only Chrysler automatics were considered “performance.” We had a triple-dark green SS in stock for most of the model year. I did have a four-speed Monte Carlo with the 400 as a company car that sold quickly.
The company Nascar 🙌
I think that was rare. I dumped a 400 in my 68 Camaro about 1978 and almost shook the fenders off. Found out from Chevy parts guy 400’s used a special flywheel and that Chevy only made about 5 of them since a stick was only offered in the Monte Carlo with the 400 engine. Wound up having to buy a Hayes unit.
That’s not true. The 4 speed was available for ’70 and ’71 with any of the available engines, except the 454. https://www.firstgenmc.com/forums/index.php?/resources/productionnumbers/
Ran junkyard in the 80s 400 small blocks and 454s used the same externally balanced flywheel, stick or auto interchanged but had to be those. I junked a 70 SS back then, a green over green unit. The car a 454 th 400, boxed arms 12 bolt. I am not an expert on numbers but unless you have the build sheet, I don’t believe there are any body codes for the SS on these. Emblems, all three are easily added and this unit is the classic gearhead hack off the ac and goo on the Taiwanese chrome. The plus is the car is a great looker and for me nicely optioned SS or not, I don’t care.
I’m a Ford man too, but I remember liking the Monte C ever since they first came out. And, the 1970 is my favorite model year. The single headlights were all the rage at the time, the Ford Elite, the Chrysler Cordoba. The taillights on the 70s were really good looking, very elegant, which fit what the Monte C was about. The following years looked overweight and very full bodied. Yeap, the 1970s were a very good looking Chevy. Oh wait, a very good looking Chevrolet.
Is it a 25k car with all the questions about it. No air, not confirmed numbers matching, possible front end damage
I have ’71 ss with all the rite dressings& build sheet silver on black mint wudnt take less than 40,000.00 compared to Chevelle’s that’s cheap today only 1919 ss made in ’71 how many left today maybe 1/2 that # so much more rare than any Chevelle & much better cruising car
Totally agree. Even if it isn’t a “real” SS here it’s one hell of a start for a clone. How many are there left??? Nice body, good interior, solid and a 454! So what it’s missing the A/C compressor and lines, GM used the same parts on millions of cars. Easy to find. I’d never buy a car off the Internet without seeing it in person but the price isn’t bad. If I didn’t have so many cars now I’d be there making a deal. Go find another one… Good luck
Looks like a newer model engine with all of the newer model pieces that are on it. No one even mentioned the Buick or Olds carburetor on it. ”Believed to be” big block car. Would dealers please quit saying this. That tells me they know it isn’t. With Chevelles it is ”appears to be” an SS. If not original engine or original transmission, how do you know?
Look closely at the pictures,,,they have painted the engine black and you can see blue paint where it has flacked off under the left valve cover and next to the timing chain cover and also the lifting tab on the intake. I’d say this is a later model engine…GM changed from Chevy Orange to that blue in 1977. I’d say it’s a junk yard motor.
Notice the driver’s door panel at the power window switch…looks like it is almost covering where there was a window crank.
I had a black on black on black true SS and mine had a small “SS” (chrome with white inside) under the Monte Carlo emblem in place of the “By Chevrolet” on the rear body panel.
The power window switch occupied the same spot on the door panel as a crank handle did. I have 2 Montes now. 1 has factory power windows and locks.
I understand the switch is in the same spot as the handle…but the switch has a rectangular hole for it and does not start life as a round hole. This car’s door panel used to be a crank handle door panel.
Only 1971 had the ss emblem on the trunk sail panel 1970 did not have that ss emblem
restore it..
keep it stock big block!..