UPDATE – This nice looking, very clean ’77 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a driver-quality survivor that’s only had one owner and has been driven a scant 55,000 miles the past 49 years. I’ve driven these second generation ’73 – ’77 Monte Carlos and seen many as well (they were a sales smash – selling over 1.6 million units), but I can’t recall seeing this particular pleasing color of Cream Gold with a contrasting “Oh-S0-’70’s” white vinyl top. Fellow Barn Finds writer Aaron Toth did a nice writeup on this ’77 Monte Carlo last month (see below) where it was listed for $13,500 firm. The price has been lowered to $12,000 (“firm”) and it is featured for sale here on craigslist. Thanks to super-spotter Tony Primo for sending this survivor to Barn Finds. Hopefully, the second time around will find a new home for this well preserved, nice-looking Monte Carlo.
FROM 01/07/2026: Bill Mitchell, GM’s Vice President of Design from 1959 through 1977, was famously responsible for some of the best shapes in the American automotive industry, but near the end of his career, some questioned the neoclassical themes he began using on some models. They’re barely visible on the 1973-77 Chevy Monte Carlo, but the separate fender swoops that seem to hark back to the separate fenders of the 1930s and 1940s are elements that are a little controversial even today. I have no problem defending them, however, because I like second-generation Monte Carlos, and if you also like them, this one-owner, 55,000-mile example might be for you.
By 1977, the Monte Carlo was only available with two engines, both small blocks: the 145-horsepower 305 and this 170-horsepower 350 with a Quadrajet. The seller doesn’t say much about this one except that it “runs…like a dream.” It also has air conditioning, and if the comment that “everything works” can be believed, you’ll have a cool ride when the weather warms up again. The Turbo Hydra-Matic was standard equipment in 1977, and HEI had been standard for a couple years at that point.
The Monte Carlo had several different seating packages available, including swivel bucket seats or a “Special Custom Interior,” but this one appears to have the standard split bench in “buckskin.” The dashboard seems to have one crack, and the steering wheel cover may or may not be hiding a cracked steering wheel.
Aside from those minor blemishes, the interior is in great shape, with the plush vinyl seats and door panels looking almost new. The seller has even thrown in a handy cupholder for those longer trips. Of course, whether you leave it in there or not is up to you.
According to the color chips, this Monte Carlo appears to be painted a nice shade of “Cream Gold,” which complements the white vinyl top well. As I sometimes point out, the fact that the front fenders are a shade off the rest of the body implies that the paint is original; Fisher Body would paint everything but the front clip, so original paint tends to fade slightly differently.
The classic Chevy rally wheels were optional, and they look good on almost any 1960s or 1970s Chevrolet, as they do here. The seller mentions that this is a rust-free car that has spent its entire life in Colorado; it’s been garage kept and can be yours a price that doesn’t seem too far out of line. If you’re a fan of Mr. Mitchell’s later work at GM, or if you grew up when these Monte Carlos were flying off showroom floors, it might look like a bargain.
Seems like a decent car at a fair price. I am surprised it did not sell. A new set of carpets would make a world of difference.
My boss had a new one years ago and he often had me take it to wash it, or as I called it “Blowing out the carbon.” LOL. That 454 ran good. :-) Terry J
I have always liked these MCs. They’re too big, usually under powered, terrible MPG, and the mid70s is not the height of US car manufacturing but I like them anyways. The more 1970s the color the better.
I’m not an alarmist however, the tracking and data transmission etc on new cars is sickening to me. Some don’t mind being tracked, speed and braking data being sold to insurance companies etc. Or expensive service only being available with software largely at dealers, that’s fine.
I do mind so I’m a proponent of owning low mileage older cars that can’t be shut down remotely, or your data being owned or reprogramming because of a battery replacement. Cars like this simple to repair and get the job done.
Had one of these in college, two-tone with swivel bucket seats. Got around 8 MPG as I recall…. You’d have to have a big garage to fit this bad boy. Hood is so long I had a couple F18 Hornets mistook me for an aircraft carrier and tried to land on it. But seriously, they do ride nice but I wouldn’t want to have anything less than a 350 in it. I think 12k is high for this low-desired (IMO) car, around 6-8k would be my belief in value for it in todays market.
Not sure why you were getting 8 MPG, maybe you had a 454 car? I’m jealous if that’s the case… When my ’77 305 car was stock it was getting 20 MPG Hwy. Now, with headers, 2.5 duals, x-pipe, Edelbrock 600 and performance tune it gets ~22.
Great cars! Some had the swivel entry seats and were comfortable! The SBC easy of working on and clean engine bay sold me
There must be some unseen thing wrong with this car….it’s been on CL since back to November. It keeps getting reposted every few weeks, but no takers. Maybe wrong time of year to sell, maybe price now reduced, maybe location, just a little ways out of the front range population centers, but maybe something about the car. It looks beautiful and well kept, and these are desirable cars, but wondering if there’s something that’s a turn off at a physical inspection….
Hopefully it sells. On the surface looks like a good deal.
These are called personal “luxury” cars. WHY?! I ordered one when the 1973 model first came out. I had to wait a year for it to be delivered. I had to add everything as an “option” that made it a “luxury” car. AC, power windows, power seat. power locks, cruise control, tilt wheel. rear defogger, leather wasn’t even available. I LOVED that car! But you will not find many available today that had the “options” that in my opinion would land it in the “luxury” category. Every “luxury” item had to be an add-on. They did indeed fly off the showroom floor but most like this one were “spartan” in the items that made it a luxury car.
California emission 350 car. The A.I.R. hardware gives it away. That system was only used on Cali cars that year and only had 350s.
had many of these in the 80s-90s when they were plentiful for cheap. good colors and the iconic rally wheels. need to lose the cup holder on the seat and the cover on the steering wheel. this style wheel does not crack. it can get sticky but not crack. 12,500 seems fair for what is presented. i agree with others i would rather drive this than a new car.
If it was for sure a 350-4 barrel I’d be interested, but I personally have bad luck with 77 305 camshafts loosing lobes.
That issue was not limited to 305s, it was a small block chevy issue, period. I know of several 350s on ’77-’79 cars that also had worn lobes by 50k. The problem had multiple contributing factors. Zinc removed from oil to protect catalytic converters, coupled with flat tappet cams, and ultimately bad production runs of camshafts from whatever plant they came from.
I also had 4 305 cars from ’77-’78 and not a single one had a cam go bad. It simply comes down to probability of the era. This myth has persisted a long time and car guy myths have very long lives…
And yes, the above car is a 350 4bbl.
I had a couple 350 small blocks from 77-79 and never had any issues but it seemed like every 305 needed cams and I’d always put a 70 LT1 Vette cam spec in them with a good double roller timing set and they’d wake right up lol. Just wonder which engine’s in this Monte.
When the SBC was engineered a decision was made to provide plenty of oil pressure to the crankshaft first. The cam got what was left over. In a rebuild it is not uncommon to find the SBC at 100,000 miles with the crank in great shape. It is also common the find the cam is toast. :-) Terry J
I bought a ’77 brand new and I loved it. It was ordered with every available option, (except the 350 unfortunately) It was Monte Carlo light buckskin with a buckskin cloth interior and we had the dealer install T-Tops. After we took delivery I went directly to the local tire store and had a set of 8 1/2″ American Vectors with T/A radials put on it. The only real shortcoming it had (except being gutless) was if you didn’t put special braces on that hood, it would bend in the middle. (I found out the hard way)
Sorry for the mindless rant, but seeing the car just sort of conjured up some old memories.
Wish I had the money, I’d snag this one. I’ve had a 70,73,74 75 86SS and 06LTZ and loved all of them. Only the 70 had the 350ci and ran like a bear
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i have a 2015 GMC and it ate a cam lobe. so here we are 50yrs later and GM still has the same problems they have yet to fix.
Nice riding car when the weather was good. I had a 77 and it was useless, if not downright dangerous, in the snow. They told me couldn’t mix snow tires with radials back then. I got rid of it after only 3 years and got an 80 Toro.