Chevy stormed the personal luxury car scene in 1970 with the Monte Carlo and it would dominate sector sales for the balance of the decade. While the degree of creature comforts offered would vary, one thing you didn’t see very often in one of these cars was a manual transmission. They were luxury autos, right, yet this 1971 Monte Carlo and a few hundred others were built with a “3-on-the-tree” shifter. This was a special-order car, not one likely sitting out on the dealer lot waiting for a buyer to come along. Today, it resides in Yonkers, New York, and is available here on eBay where just one bid has been submitted for $10,000, not enough to trigger the seller’s reserve. Thanks, Larry D, for this cool find!
Monte Carlo production in 1971 would total 128,600 units (down slightly from the debut year of 1970 due to a labor strike). Of those, 349 copies left the factory with a 4-speed manual transmission, and fewer still – only 280 – had the 3-speed like the seller’s vehicle. Every other 1971 Monte Carlo had an automatic transmission, which you would expect for an automobile in this class. So, this makes the car seen here quite rare, especially when you assume fewer than 10% might still survive. How many of them (besides this one) could have been ordered with a gauge package normally reserved for the Monte Carlo Super Sport, which was only built in 1970 and 1971?
Until the seller acquired this interesting Chevy, it was a one-owner automobile, purchased from said owner’s daughter (estate sale?). Primer is present in several places where the original blue paint may have been, and the amount of it on the passenger side rear quarter panel signals some possible surgery. In addition, the Monte Carlo still needs front fender patches which the seller has already secured and will pass along to the new owner. The same can be said for the headliner while the rest of the interior may be fine.
The seller says the 350 cubic inch V8 (2-barrel carburetor, output 245 hp) runs quite well although the mileage may exceed 100,000. It’s driven several times a week and the seller recently took it on an overnight trip. So, mechanically little attention may be needed. This Chevy came with an 8-track tape player and it – and some 8-track cartridges – are probably in the trunk. Once restored, do you think this anomaly in the Bow-Tie world would track much attention?
WOW! I’ve never seen one like this. The “three on the tree” makes this one special (although I prefer my manuals to be on the floor!) Being a N.Y. car, I’d be concerned about under carriage rust. This looks to be the basis for a really nice restoration! GLWTA!! :-)
280 people preferred the three-speed to the four-speed? Amazing how the mind works sometimes.
may not have wanted a floor shifter.
Or too cheap to upgrade.
The column-shifted three speed manual trans was the base equipment trans for nearly all A-body cars through the 1973 model year. People didn’t “pick” the three speed, they picked the lowest price possible.
Older guys, back then, liked those things. I had a neighbor who had a 1970 Torino wagon with a column shift. We kids thought it was sorta cool.
This is an odd duck for sure . As a kid I loved finding unusual cars , in the 60’s and 70’s some really odd combinations were built . The oddest one was a 77 Caprice 2 door a friend picked up as a parts car for one of his projects . Had a straight 6 and 3 speed on the column in an otherwise loaded Caprice Classic .
You could get a ’77 Caprice with the 4.1L six, but not with a manual transmission, at least not from the factory. A THM-350 was standard, and no manual was listed as an option. Perhaps it was a Malibu Classic? The 4.1L/3-speed manual was standard
“Ok, Mr. Johnson. I assume you’ll be wanting an automatic transmission in your new Monte Carlo?”
“No way! The first and only car I owned with an automatic was a 1958 Impala with a Turboglide. The transmission was so awful I had it replaced with a 3-speed manual. After that, I swore I’d never own another car with an automatic.”
I think you’re on to something here. I ordered a 74 Hornet with an odd option combo, power locks without power windows, and a couple of other unusual options. I had to put down a fairly hefty deposit and I was told in no uncertain terms it was unrefundable. I would presume that was the case here. I assure you also he got no real deal here unless there was some sort of promotion or dealer’s end of month desperation.
That actually makes sense how this could happen.
J Nixon
Just finished college in 1970. Ordered this Mulsanne blue color from my uncle who owned a Chevrolet dealership in Sunbury,NC. He had to store it in a barn under a tarp until Sept. 28,1970 ,when Chevrolet said I could buy it. What a beautiful car. Then GM went on strike. Don’t think the assembly line cranked back up until Dec 70 or Jan 71. I was lucky . It rode and handled like dream. Plush blue fabric interior.
Bargain basement special no AC, no cruise, manual windows 8 track may have been the only option. Can’t tell if it has tinted glass.
No a/c either
All one has to do is look at the windshield. It most obviously is of the tinted variety.
@Chuck Dickinson
IF and that is a big if it is the original windshield. Probably not after 51 years.
Bargain Basement Special with full gauges including tach and 8-track? I hardly think so. This is a very appealing car with original seat cloth surviving in amazingly good condition and it’s pretty obvious the buyer wanted traditional six-passenger seating capacity whilst retaining a manual shift. Probably ordered by an older gentleman who had no interest in slushboxes but appreciated the classic-era reminiscent style of this Mulsanne Blue stunner. The Deco-inspired original hubcap evidenced in the trunk backs that up.
1971 was in my opinion the classiest and most beautiful of all the subtle 1st Gen MC styling variations and you cannot equate modern standards with the lack of cruise and AC in a 1971 car. Cruise wasn’t on most car buyers radar (still isn’t) and AC was considered by many who had lived through the austerity of war times a fuel and power-robbing complicated luxury more appropriate for Cadillacs.
Three-speeds, with Detroit motors with flat torque curves, were no real handicap, unless you were looking to shave fractions of seconds off quarter-mile runs. A five-speed behind a SBC is silly.
I once had a Gremlin with a 232 six mounted up to a three-speed floor shift. Crude? Fer sure. But I didn’t want another gear…really, two mindless shifts and you were in High…direct drive…and over 30 mph, that was all you needed.
Probably the same here. I can see the owner…not unlike myself. He wanted total control…no pressing-the-gas-pedal and listening to the wheels slip. But he wasn’t excited about a Hurst shifter poking up through the carpet on the tunnel.
So he got the compromise. Unsporting equipment, but full control. Gauge package let him watch the engine health – not that an SBC needs much monitoring, but…control freaks.
Probably a retired cop or banker.
I saw one of these once when I worked in a gas station in high school (’74-’76).It was in rough shape then, so I doubt it still exists. I also knew somebody with a 454 SS with a 4spd, stolen and never recovered. I think these shared a lot of parts with the Chevelle, so pretty easy for GM to make these, but surprising that they did.
I had a 74 Monty given to me by my boss in 80 . It had a hole in two pistons. I had a 350 with a complete bell housing , clutch and four speed . Got clutch-brake pedals from a Chevelle . Drove it for years .
Many were built at the Kansas City, Leeds Chevy plant. Watched them go by my house on transport trucks. Saw a 71 Monte at Super Chevy show at Heartland Park Topeka KS. The Monte was a 454 4spd. It was tricked out by Dick Harrell from Grandview MO. Well known high performance speed shop back in the day.
Hi…a 4 speed SS454 was NEVER made. Only a 402 was made with a factory 4 speed. Absolute fact. Honest. I have owned my SS454 for 21 years. I know every story. Thanks all
You are correct Andrew, the 4 speed was available with the small block or the 402 only. No SS 454 Montes ever were built with a manual trans. My friend owned a 1970 MC with the 402 4 speed. Very rare and very cool. I owned a 71 MC in this great color of Mulsanne Blue Metallic and it had the 402 automatic on the column. Great driving car. I have only seen one first gen MC with this 3 speed manual and it was a 72 model. That was actually the standard way the car came unless you opted for an automatic or 4 speed on the floor. I would guess this car was ordered by an older person back in then. Seems like some of the older folks still preferred the “3 on the tree” that they grew up driving over the years. Or maybe he was just a tightwad…LOL
A coworker of mine in the late 70s had a ’73 Monte Carlo with a 4 speed on the floor. I’ve never seen another stick shift in a Monte since
I learned to drive on a 3-on-the-tree ’68 Chevelle Nomad Custom (6cyl). My aunt & uncle drove a ’66 Chevy Caprice Estate – also 3-on-the-tree! If my wife could drive a shift, I’d put in a bid!
I own a 71 Monte Carlo 350 two barrel with factory 3 on the tree. Front bucket seats no console blue with white painted roof. Blue cloth interior. I was looking for a 3 on tree. This is rare for sure. The only thing I found maybe a little more rare. 68 Camaro. 307 with 3 on tree.
@STEVEN LEMPERA
I’m the one who contributed this Monte Carlo to BF. I sent it to them because I had NEVER seen a column-shift 3-speed in one of them ever. I’d never even heard they existed.
But I would say the MC is much rarer than the column-shift Camaro. I’ve seen a few of them in person and some more in pictures. I think just the sportiness of the Camaro lent itself to owners ordering straight drives, even if they were on the column.
I worked for GM dealers most of my working life. In 1970, I had a four-speed Monte Carlo for a company car. Many people thought it was cool and two ordered ones for themselves.
during that period of time”almost” anything could happen I owned, in the 90’s a1967 Chevy Caprice “formal roof ” coupe. It had bucket seats, full gauge package,factory 4 speed and a 396\325 horespower. A documented car with a build sheet. A Canadian car. One of 11. I sold it for 14,500. It sounded wonderful. I have a soft spot for the 396. So ,with regard to the Monte Carlo”almost ” anything could occur by design or by “accident” as it rolled down the assembly line.
Sorry, the “anything could happen” myth is usually pushed by people asking Barrett-Jackson money for a one-of-none car. GM had to not only build cars but support them under warranty with service and parts. These are not one-off cars built outside the assembly line. The column shift three speed manual was the base equipment trans. There’s no mystery in that. The fact that few were bought that way doesn’t make it some special order deal. Gauges, buckets, etc. were all regular production options. People regularly ordered their cars to their taste, unlike today where factories only have a limited number of packages to minimize their cost.
I think all 70 MC are awesome. But I also think the 3 on the tree option is the rarest. Now we know of two still existing.
had a friend that ordered a 1967 pontiac catilina convert red with blue interior was told at first he couldn’t do it but he was persitent and gt his ugly car
@Ron York
I had a friend who worked for the local Chevy store as their “Corvette Salesman”. The year was 1974 and a young man came in and talked to my friend about ordering a new 454 Corvette coupe, the last year of the Big Block Corvette.
They went down through the options list and got all of that nailed down. Then came the point to pick interior and exterior colors. He decided to go with Dark Brown for the exterior and Silver Leather interior. The salesman questioned if he was sure about that and the guy said yes.
So, the salesman decided to discuss this with the Sales Manager. This dealership normally required a $100 deposit (remember this was way back in 1974). But the Sales Manager said the only way they would place this order for this car was if the buyer paid a $1000 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit because they were afraid they would never be able to sell that car if he didn’t take it.
Well, the buyer agreed to their terms. The order was placed and the car arrived a few weeks later. And the happy new owner drove off in his brown on silver 454 Corvette!
I bought a 74 new with 3 on the tree from Ed Stinn Chevrolet In Fairview Park Ohio. My first new car , thinking it was right around 3k. They had quite a few in stock all black on black bare bones, I had a vinyl roof installed. I always figured GM was trying to liquidate those outdated transmissions! It was a lot of car for the money at the time.