Go Back   The Supercar Registry > General Discussion > Lounge


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-07-2022, 01:20 PM
markinnaples markinnaples is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Naples, FL
Posts: 4,637
Thanks: 21,542
Thanked 1,364 Times in 662 Posts
Default First Gen Monte Carlo Convertibles

We had a few comments about first Gen Monte Carlo convertibles in the other thread, and happened to come across this article about them yesterday and thought I'd share.

https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/unic...4gNtLsAf3evUPg

Unicorn: The 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Convertible
Posted on November 1, 2022 by MCG

Chevrolet never produced a Monte Carlo convertible in 1970, but somehow, we can still find a number of them around.

From the moment of its introduction on September 18,1969, the Monte Carlo was a solid hit for the Chevrolet division. Despite a labor strike at General Motors that halted production for 67 days, the new personal-luxury four-seater racked up sales of more than 130,000 in the first year. Much of that success was no doubt due to the generous variety of choices available to Monte Carlo buyers: several different exterior looks; a range of small-block and big-block V8s; even an SS model. But oddly, perhaps, there was just one body style, a formal-roofed coupe. No convertible.

Still, you can find a surprising number of Monte Carlo convertibles around the collector car scene. Now where did those come from? They’ve been constructed after the fact by enterprising shops and skilled DIY-ers, aided by the friendly interchangeability in GM vehicle platforms. The Monte Carlo, technically designated a G-body, is actually a variant of the A-body—Chevelle, Olds Cutlass, Pontiac Tempest, Buick Skylark—all of which were available as convertibles. And they share the same black metal, windshield, and other critical points. A talented body technician can gather up a Monte Carlo coupe and an A-body donor car and put together a Monte convertible that looks for all the world like a factory production job. And who knows how many of these hybrids have been constructed.

Snip
__________________
1968 Camaro Ex-ISCA Show Car
John 10:30
Reply With Quote
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to markinnaples For This Useful Post:
67 Nova Boy (11-07-2022), dykstra (11-07-2022), JBALL (11-07-2022), Lee Stewart (11-07-2022), PeteLeathersac (11-07-2022), Too Many Projects (11-07-2022)
Attachments - The Supercar Registry Bruces LS6 Monte.jpg 445CE272-27D3-43FE-8C69-364398E621AE.jpg 243-3-1.jpg
O Garage vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.
Click here to view all the pictures posted in this thread...
  #2  
Old 11-07-2022, 01:28 PM
SS427's Avatar
SS427 SS427 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Pleasant Plains, IL
Posts: 10,137
Thanks: 2,659
Thanked 3,813 Times in 993 Posts
Default

A friend of mine built this SS454 convertible in the mid 80's grafting all the Monte panels onto a GM a body convertible and reworking the quarter panels, recovering the rear seat and side panels with Monte Carlo upholstery. It sported a real LS6 engine and Turbo 400 and have a steel working cowl hood. Pretty neat car for its time.
Attached Images
 
__________________
Rick Nelson
Musclecar Restoration and Design, Inc
www.musclecarrestorationanddesign.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62r-6vgk2_8
specializing in (only real) LS6 Chevelle restorations
Reply With Quote
The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to SS427 For This Useful Post:
67 Nova Boy (11-07-2022), big gear head (11-08-2022), dustinm (11-07-2022), dykstra (11-07-2022), markinnaples (11-07-2022), olredalert (11-07-2022), southernfriedcj (11-14-2022)
  #3  
Old 11-07-2022, 01:45 PM
markinnaples markinnaples is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Naples, FL
Posts: 4,637
Thanks: 21,542
Thanked 1,364 Times in 662 Posts
Default

That Monte Carlo came out looking great.
__________________
1968 Camaro Ex-ISCA Show Car
John 10:30
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-07-2022, 02:02 PM
Too Many Projects's Avatar
Too Many Projects Too Many Projects is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Town of Troy, WI
Posts: 4,045
Thanks: 2,100
Thanked 2,844 Times in 1,346 Posts
Default

Definitely cool as a convert. I saw a number of them In the Twin City area back then.

What is really interesting is the posting of a convert on the accessory brochure ??? Was GM considering offering a conversion thru that channel ??? It would have been a monumental over the counter package.
__________________
Mitch
1970 Chevelle SS
1966 Chevelle SS
1967 Camaro ss/rs
1938 Business coupe, street rod
2000 FXSTS, original owner, 13k miles
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Too Many Projects For This Useful Post:
markinnaples (11-07-2022)
  #5  
Old 11-07-2022, 03:10 PM
SS427's Avatar
SS427 SS427 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Pleasant Plains, IL
Posts: 10,137
Thanks: 2,659
Thanked 3,813 Times in 993 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Too Many Projects View Post
Definitely cool as a convert. I saw a number of them In the Twin City area back then.
Interesting. The photo of the Red convert was built by Bruce Haar from Bloomington, MN.
__________________
Rick Nelson
Musclecar Restoration and Design, Inc
www.musclecarrestorationanddesign.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62r-6vgk2_8
specializing in (only real) LS6 Chevelle restorations
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to SS427 For This Useful Post:
markinnaples (11-07-2022)
  #6  
Old 11-07-2022, 03:59 PM
Too Many Projects's Avatar
Too Many Projects Too Many Projects is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Town of Troy, WI
Posts: 4,045
Thanks: 2,100
Thanked 2,844 Times in 1,346 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SS427 View Post
Interesting. The photo of the Red convert was built by Bruce Haar from Bloomington, MN.
And I probably saw it around, but I'm not familiar with Bruce. I lived in the north metro area for 67 years. Bloomington was like a trip to Iowa back then.

Spent a lot of Friday and Saturday summer nights cruising the St. Paul loop from '68-'78...
__________________
Mitch
1970 Chevelle SS
1966 Chevelle SS
1967 Camaro ss/rs
1938 Business coupe, street rod
2000 FXSTS, original owner, 13k miles
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Too Many Projects For This Useful Post:
dustinm (11-07-2022), markinnaples (11-07-2022), SS427 (11-07-2022)
  #7  
Old 11-07-2022, 04:29 PM
Formula455SD Formula455SD is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: California
Posts: 103
Thanks: 4
Thanked 148 Times in 45 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SS427 View Post
A friend of mine built this SS454 convertible in the mid 80's grafting all the Monte panels onto a GM a body convertible and reworking the quarter panels, recovering the rear seat and side panels with Monte Carlo upholstery. It sported a real LS6 engine and Turbo 400 and have a steel working cowl hood. Pretty neat car for its time.
Did he extend the wheelbase on the A-body donor car or shorten the Monte Carlo's front clip??
__________________
'66 Corvette 427/390 orig paint
'70 Chevelle SS454 4spd orig paint
'72 Trans Am #'s 4 speed orig paint
'73 Formula 455 SD orig paint
'67 GTO 4 speed 35k miles orig paint
'67 Grand Prix 4spd orig paint
'66 2+2 convertible 421 8 lugs
'67 Elcamino pro touring
'21 Challenger Scat Pack WB
'95 Impala SS orig paint
'79 Z/28... driver
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Formula455SD For This Useful Post:
markinnaples (11-07-2022)
  #8  
Old 11-07-2022, 05:33 PM
SS427's Avatar
SS427 SS427 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Pleasant Plains, IL
Posts: 10,137
Thanks: 2,659
Thanked 3,813 Times in 993 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Formula455SD View Post
Did he extend the wheelbase on the A-body donor car or shorten the Monte Carlo's front clip??
I do not recall exactly how he did it but I know he used a convertible frame and the Monte front frame section. There were no body modifications from stock other than the hood and quarters being modified.
__________________
Rick Nelson
Musclecar Restoration and Design, Inc
www.musclecarrestorationanddesign.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62r-6vgk2_8
specializing in (only real) LS6 Chevelle restorations
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to SS427 For This Useful Post:
Formula455SD (11-08-2022), markinnaples (11-07-2022)
  #9  
Old 11-08-2022, 04:06 PM
Formula455SD Formula455SD is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: California
Posts: 103
Thanks: 4
Thanked 148 Times in 45 Posts
Default

My thought would be cutting off the roof. Installing the top rack.. windshield frame and 1/4 windows. I have never seen a MC convertible conversion in person.. only pictures. A guy might need the A-body tub structure to make it turn out right.
__________________
'66 Corvette 427/390 orig paint
'70 Chevelle SS454 4spd orig paint
'72 Trans Am #'s 4 speed orig paint
'73 Formula 455 SD orig paint
'67 GTO 4 speed 35k miles orig paint
'67 Grand Prix 4spd orig paint
'66 2+2 convertible 421 8 lugs
'67 Elcamino pro touring
'21 Challenger Scat Pack WB
'95 Impala SS orig paint
'79 Z/28... driver
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-08-2022, 04:22 PM
SS427's Avatar
SS427 SS427 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Pleasant Plains, IL
Posts: 10,137
Thanks: 2,659
Thanked 3,813 Times in 993 Posts
Default

I should have clarified better, Bruce used an A body convertible donor and grafted all the Monte sheet metal to it so he made use of the windshield frame and all the other convertible structural items.
__________________
Rick Nelson
Musclecar Restoration and Design, Inc
www.musclecarrestorationanddesign.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62r-6vgk2_8
specializing in (only real) LS6 Chevelle restorations
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:34 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.