Barn Find 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
The personal luxury car was becoming a hot market segment by the late sixties, so Chevrolet decided to get into the game too when they introduced their Monte Carlo in 1970. The first generation only lasted three model years before getting a major redesign for 1973 and joining the GM Colonnade lineup, a move that proved very successful for the company, but it’s just hard to beat those body lines of the 1970-72 offerings. This ’72 Monte Carlo is part of an estate and had sat in a garage for more than 18 years before being pulled out and bathed, with the seller’s suggestion that this Chevy is a great candidate for a Restomod sort of making me cringe, but in the end, its future will be a decision left up to the next owner. Whatever your vision, the car can be spotted here on Craigslist with the seller open to hearing offers.
This one’s been owned by the same family for nearly the last quarter-century, but it’s unknown why they decided to stop driving their Monte some 18 years ago. Between these folks and the first buyer, it has only traveled a total of 64k miles but did receive a repaint many years ago in the original factory color, with the seller calling the condition amazing. One possible discrepancy is up front, as the hood appears that it may not shut all the way down properly as can be seen in some of the garage photos, and in most other shots it isn’t closed at all. However, this might not be all that difficult to repair, and I’d sure rather see this get fixed and keep the car original rather than it becoming a modern-day Restomod, plus the exterior looks a lot better once the 18 years of garage residue got washed off.
With the nice condition of the seats, I was wondering if maybe they’ve been recovered, but most of the interior is still in very good shape, which made me curious why that eyesore floor mat wasn’t removed and the carpet given a vacuum before the photo shoot. There’s a pull near the bottom of the door panel on the driver’s side likely due to operating the manual window crank, and I’m not sure what’s up with those rags covering parts of the back seat, but I’m optimistic that an afternoon’s worth of solid attention would work wonders on this interior.
The seller devotes three words in his ad regarding the drivetrain, 350 with automatic, so whether or not the motor or transmission is currently functioning remains a mystery, although the visible pull chain in the outside photos might indicate at a minimum it won’t start easily. But even if either or both need a rebuild, to me the real value here lies in the fact that this one’s claimed to be rust-free and still ever-so-close to being an original example. What’s a reasonable price to offer for what we’re seeing here, and is this Monte Carlo better left as-is or turned into something more modern?
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Comments
The seats have been recovered. They should be the same color as the door panels and other side panels inside.
I’ll go a step further and say they were taken from a donor car. And I’m always leary about what’s under a repaint.
yep….looks like a scam one-owner dealie…..
These don’t sell for big money even when restored and equipment with big blocks. The car here is really rough and not worth a full restoration. Parts are a little harder to come by than other full size GM cars like Chevelle. These were highway cruisers for old men when new. And are still highway cruisers even with big blocks.
Funny how this is still a great looking car fifty years later. I love the first gen MCs. That saddle seat cover is a bit jarring in place of the neutral that was originally used. I cut grass for an elderly couple who had a 72 Monte Carlo Custom like this. Theirs was blue with a 402 and dual exhaust.
My folks had one in 1970. I was 16. As I recall it was a 396 putting out 350 HP. Dad thought there was something wrong with the car. They couldn’t keep tires on it. Go figger.
😂😂
As to that long fan shroud – an owner told me he
had to check for cats before he started his,as they
would crawl up into the shroud after the car was stopped
because it was nice and warm.
Years ago we lost the family cat that way. Dark, cold winter morning, the neighbour taps on the door to explain that the fan had caught our old tom cat.
Mom apologised for the mess it made.
It was never fun to cut the belts to get a cat out, seen it done twice and the cats didn’t make it.
I had to do it twice. Two different cats (ours), same neighbor, different cars. Both cats survived, however.
64k very doubtful,looks like crap under hood wrong valve covers etc.
I had a 70 I restored in the late 80s. Converted from bench to buckets and console. could never tell car was a bench seat car. Loved that car. Was stopped at a light and got rear ended by a truck and that was the end… Totaled back then. today it would be fixable..
My first car was a 72 MC , red , black vinyl top, black interior, buckets , console and factory rally wheels. Sure loved that car , lots of memories
Wow…I had a ’72 Monte Carlo my senior year of high school (1977) Forest Green w White vinyl top..Green door panels and green fabric seats..350 4bbl..Automatic..This car replaced my 1st car ..a ’62 Studebaker Lark…with 289 2bbl 3spd.
Probably 164000 instead of 64000. Those are later model valve covers, originals would be smooth and painted orange. Seats look like they have been redone. White walls and Rallye wheels says old man owner. These are big heavy cars, they were best with the big block 401 powering them.
Bama, The big block formerly known as the 396 was given a .030″ overbore in 1971, which made them a 402 cubic inch. Chevrolet still advertised them in their Chevelle as an SS 396 because that model had been established as a very recognizable option. Even though Chevrolet reduced the compression ratio, they still produced a lot of torque and turned out to be very dependable engines.
Ya meen 402 and there was a 454 a available in the M/C SS.
Looks like someone is cleaning seat belts.
Not only does that car have the wrong valve covers on it but it also has the tall wing nut valve cover bolts holding it in place. It also has what looks to me to be an aftermarket Aluminum Intake Manifold. I don’t know what else is different but I don’t believe that’s the original motor just from looking at it. The seats are also the wrong color for sure or the door panels because the carpet is brown so one or the other has been changed. Still a really nice car as long as the price is right it’s too bad he doesn’t say anything about how much they want for it. And what I’m gathering from the ad it looks like he wants to try and sell three of them together even though he’s only advertising the one there. I owned a 1970 with a 350 horse 350 small block in it. It was a pretty cool car. One owner. Literally owned by a little old lady but it still had 107,000 miles on it when I bought it. Doesn’t seem like a lot but when I changed the transmission fluid the transmission went out in it because it cleaned the varnish off the bands. I’m sure there are plenty of people out there that know that problem. This one will definitely be a nice car though if the price was right
Had a Blue 72 sold it around late 90’s early 2000, trying to find it, excellent car wish i had it back. Still looking.
VIN. # 1H57H2K593771
O’Fallon, IL.
I have/had a butt ;pad of cars in my 58 years but never a Monte not counting the CooCoo Marlin plastic model I built
Monte Carlo and Chevelle are not full size cars. They’re mid-size. Full size are the Impala and Caprice.