And now it’s time for something from the “just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should” department. I guess it’s a metamorphosis of sorts for a generally unliked, and unwanted malaise-era Chevy Monza with a bodacious attempt to turn it into something with some machismo, I suppose. Well, you have to appreciate a sense of adventure and imagination, so let’s see what happened here. Monzilla is located in Calgary, Alberta Canada and is available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $4,402 U.S. (approximately) or $5,600 CDN.
Offered between 1975 and 1981, the H-Body Chevrolet Monza was a sub-compact and a sorta Vega replacement. Some early models came belabored with the same dismal boat anchor Vega engine but V8s were on the option lost too, along with V6s and Pontiac’s “Iron Duke” pea thrasher four-cylinder. Regardless, GM could still sell iceboxes to Eskimos in those days and almost 731K unsuspecting owners ended up with one. And that’s not including the badge-engineered-to-death other variantssuch as the Pontiac Sunbird, Oldsmobile Starfire, and Buick Skyhawk.
The seller’s listing opens up with, “You will not find another like this one“. You got that right! Actually, a Monza is really a hint of what this mash-up is as the body is perched upon a K5 Blazer frame and suspension. And considering the market interest that there is in old 1980-era K5 Blazers, one has to wonder what was wrong enough with it to create this. There are what looks like tacked-on, homemade fender flares and then ramming speed bumpers and a front brush guard, from who knows what, that bookend the front and back. The seller mentions that there is the ability to increase ground clearance by four more inches if so desired.
Power is provided by what is claimed to be a 300 HP, 350 CI L82 V8 engine. It’s a very stock-looking, non-L82 appearing motor, and that engine, in its eight-year production run (’73-’80), never wrangled out more than 250 net HP, so I’m not sure what accounts for the difference. Other mechanical components include a New Corp 14 bolt rear differential, Dana 44 front differential, full-time hubs, 4.10:1 gearing, THM 350 transmission, and a 208 Transfer case. The seller adds, “The vehicle is very reliable and it is street legal. Starts with a turn of the key“.
The interior, other than the non-OEM steering wheel is worn out Monza all the way. There’s nothing unique or modified about it, it just looks as one would expect a high-mileage, 43-year-old, Chevy subcompact interior to look.
While subjectively, Monzilla is a bit hard on my eyes, I have to hand it to the builder, it’s creative – a lot more modification than I would be capable of facilitating. That just leaves the question, why?
Quite the liftover for that hatchback. Will make cleaning out the human debris that much harder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udjS5yhtT8I
I’ve never wanted a car less.
I like it. Front end looks perfect. Back end needs a better design. Cue the zombie apocalypses jokes……
Looks like something out of Fury Road
“What a day,what a lovely day !!”
I’ve got a K5 Blazer with a rotten body and a blown engine. I’ve got a functional small block sitting on stand. I’ve got a Monza with no drivetrain. How do I clean out my shop?
All kidding aside, this might be fun to chew through the sticks with.
That guy in the left lane barely doing the speed limit is gonna move over…
you just described me in me early 20’s
why why why
For just that Reason.
Further proof that no matter how you slice it, an abomination is still an abomination. You can, however, find a more remote cliff to drive this mess over!
Fits right in with today`s Abomination. I`d call it my Riot Cruiser.
Gentlemen you are looking at ugly. Beyond Pontiac Aztec ugly. Pure unadulterated automotive ugly. The kind of ugly that causes divorces, HOA’s to become involved and law enforcement to question your intentions. Yow.
Don’t mind me, I’m just here for the comments.
West virgineeee special
A hillbilly Chevy.
Somebody was really into the MAD MAX movies
My friend had a ’70s skyhawk & also, like this car,
had the tinyest fuel gage i ever seen!
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FHgAAOSwrHliSiwb/s-l1600.jpg
I wonder if anybody ran out of gas not noticing it. lol
Compare that to the huge std fuel gage on a Chevette or ’67-68 f-body.
Who is Mad Max the seller?
At least it’s not a Chevelle or GTO etc ……. This is the kind of car it’s ok to do this to .
I Love it, wish I could post my 71 Challenger convertible 4X4
Bought it off a ol fella from Akron OH 14 years ago. Still having fun with it.
You have a71 challenger convertible 4×4 ?
The mopar guys must have a vigil every time you take it out for a drive !
Why can’t you post it, don’t you have pictures???
Back in the late 1990s, there was a 4th generation Camaro sitting on some kind of 4×4 chassis outside of a junkyard along US-23 in Alvada, OH. It had been launched across a ditch, shearing all of the suspension off but, the body was undamaged. The guys working at the yard made it into a mud racer and it actually looked pretty decent.
Think of the positives;
No worry about parking dings.
Or the kids marking the interior.
No need to wash it.
Will pee off the neighbours if wished.
To the negative… not so keen on the rear. Looks like a wheel-less car on a trailer. And the door mirrors are yuk.
Then there’s the sum that goes tired V8 + full-time 4wd + 4.1 rear = 8mpg… which maybe is why he – it has to be a he – is selling it.
Back in the late 70’s/early 80’s I knew a guy who took a Monza & threw out all of the near dead weight powertrain & most of the suspension. A decently worked small block fit nicely under the hood with minimal effort & it looked reasonably stock. Unless it was running or you saw “Immaculate Deception” artfully painted across the hatch as it went screaming down Weatherby Road in NJ