Vehicle Description
1978 Chevrolet Monza
Drag racing seems like it's been with us forever. In truth it's a
postwar phenomenon, with roots stretching back to the dry lakebed
racing in Southern California in the 1930's. From those humble
beginnings to modern times, when a modern Top Fueler can go 0-1000
feet in a tick over 3 seconds at speeds topping 330mph....we've
come a long way baby!
The Chevrolet Monza is a subcompact automobile produced for the
1975 through the 1980 model years. The Monza is based on the
Chevrolet Vega, sharing its wheelbase, width and standard inline
4-cylinder engine. The car initially had been designed for the
Wankel rotary engine, but due mediocre fuel economy and emissions
compliance issues that program was canceled and the V8 option was
substituted. For consignment, we have a Monza race car that has
been modified to the hilt to go as fast as possible in a straight
line. Read on and get your adrenaline pumping!
Exterior
The Chevrolet Monza looks like it's going fast standing still,
almost like the designers had racing in mind when this body was
penned. Dipped in blue and white with yellow flames and orange
highlights licking down the side this steel and fiberglass 1/4
miler means business. The only remaining steel panels are the roof
and rear quarter panels, all other bodywork is fiberglass. The
hood, hood scoop and doors are easily removed for those between
rounds thrashes. A fiberglass front fascia has a bowtie cutout in
the center between the faux headlights and 3 cut outs down below
all in the name of cooling. A large hood scoop sits atop the center
rear of the hood and flows back to the windshield. This scoop is
ready to suck in all the air the engine needs along with any errant
birds or small children who get too close. Lexan has replaced all
the glass in the name of weight savings as has the hatch lid which
is now fiberglass. A small aluminum spoiler keeps the rear of the
car planted firmly on the ground at high speeds. Factory taillights
take up residence in the rear bumper and flank a parachute to bring
things to a graceful whoa after a high 8 second pass. Just below
all of this is a set of wheelie bars to keep the front end from
going to the moon!
Interior
A swing of the ultra-light fiberglass door and we're greeted with
aluminum panels, a black painted mild steel roll cage, a pair of
vinyl covered racing bucket seats and a litany of gauges,
controllers and buttons. A bare bones steering column features a
detachable wheel for easy ingress and egress. Once inside the air
powered shifter is to the driver's right and a G Force racing
harnesses are in place to keep you buckled in nice and tight.
Gauges are placed strategically along the fabricated aluminum
dashboard and monitor all vital engine functions. Also included is
a Dedenbear delay box and on the passengers, floor are an MSD
ignition controller and another Dedenbear controller. One note is
the small electric fan sitting on the transmission tunnel, this
writer only sat in the car while it was being maneuvered around for
its photos and let me tell you I couldn't imagine being in a full
fire suit on a 90 degree day strapped in without this little life
saver.
Drivetrain
Removing the lightweight hood and massive hood scoop we are met
with not the factory engine bay but an open expanse that stretches
from wheel to wheel with nothing in between but steel tubing and a
big, big V8 engine. This V8 engine weighs in at 468ci of big block
Chevrolet power. This massive mill is a 4-bolt main, has been
balanced and blueprinted, uses ARP studs on the bottom end
assembly. Sitting atop this block are a pair of Chevrolet aluminum
cylinder heads that have been ported and polished, again using ARP
hardware when installed. Feeding this mighty mill is a pair of
Ron's Flying Toilet alcohol injection units. Backing this up is a
Powerglide 2-speed automatic with a transbrake and a Hughes torque
converter. The power is put to the ground via a Ford 9" with 4.30
gears that uses all Mark Williams hardware.
Undercarriage
Mild steel tubing replaces the factory unibody and now runs the
full length of the car along with sheet metal replacing the factory
floors. Independent suspension with adjustable coil overs is on the
front while a ladder bar setup with adjustable coil overs is on the
rear. Headers hang down from the engine and disc brakes are on all
4 corners. All business down here.
An almost race ready operation available here for the taking here
at the Classic Auto Mall. A lightweight large engine race car,
extra parts including a spare engine block, slicks and 2 spare
transmissions and you'll be hitting the strip in no time. While we
didn't run the car, (the fuel system has been fogged to protect it
during storage), our consignor will come in and get it fired up for
you. Now get in, strap on the belts, and get ready for an afternoon
of running 8.80's!!!
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
