Fresh 454: 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
First-year Chevrolet Monte Carlos are not something that we often see here at Barn Finds, but they tend to be in above-average condition for their age when we do. This 1970 Monte Carlo continues that trend, and making it a more tempting proposition is the fact that this one features a freshly rebuilt big-block under the hood. After splashing some cash on the drivetrain, the owner has decided that he must part with the Chevy. It is located in Columbus Junction, Iowa, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding currently sits at $13,500 in what is a No Reserve auction.
The Monte Carlo is finished in Forest Green, and its condition appears to be quite reasonable generally. It is not perfect because the paint does show some marks and a few spots where it has begun to deteriorate. However, it isn’t horrendous and should be considered to be acceptable for an original survivor. The panels are straight with no evidence of significant dings or dents. What strikes me is how tight and consistent the panel gaps are on this car. This could be a lucky-dip with any Chevrolet from this era, and the Monte Carlo was no exception. Darker colors tended to hide this sin, but looking beyond that, these gaps are better than average. Rust is not an issue with this Chevy because there’s nothing visible in any of the clear photos that the owner supplies. The trim and chrome are in excellent order, and there are no problems with the glass. The car rolls on a set of factory Rally wheels and these have been wrapped in a set of BF Goodrich tires.
Chevrolet offered several engines in the 1970 Monte Carlo, but only the SS was available with the 454ci V8. As this car isn’t an SS, it also can’t be numbers-matching. The 454 that you see here has only recently been rebuilt, and it is backed by a TH400 transmission that has also been refreshed. The big-block has only clocked 5,000 miles since its rebuild and has been fitted with new headers and a dual exhaust. If the engine specifications are on a par with the SS, it should be pumping out around 360hp. The transmission has clocked the same mileage since it was rebuilt and fitted with a shift kit. It should effectively feed all of the mumbo from the big-block to the 3.73 Posi rear end. Assuming for a moment that this engine is producing the sorts of numbers that I’ve quoted, that should allow the Monte Carlo to rip through the ¼ mile in around 14.4 seconds. A well as fitting new tires, the owner has treated the vehicle to new shock and brakes. That should mean that the Chevy is ready and raring to go for its new owner.
The Monte Carlo’s interior is probably nicer than the exterior, and it has no immediate needs. The vinyl upholstery is free from rips and tears, while the dash and pad look good. If I am going to pick faults, then some of the woodgrain trim is starting to age and lift, the carpet has faded, and the wheel has a crack. There is also a radio/cassette player fitted to the car, and its condition is pretty average. The rest of the interior is largely untouched, although a column-mounted Sun tach and some gauges under the dash help to monitor the health of the big-block under the hood.
Bidding on this 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo has been quite solid to this point, and it’s easy to see why. It is a clean and tidy car, and the 454 under the hood should give it winning performance. It is not as desirable as an SS, but its bidding is nowhere near the level you would expect if it were an SS. I wouldn’t be surprised if the bidding nudged up towards $17,000. If it was a numbers-matching SS, you could conceivably double that figure. Therefore, if you’re not bothered by the lack of an SS badge, this Monte Carlo will offer comparable performance at a fraction of the price. That doesn’t sound like a bad thing to me.
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Comments
Correction! You could order a 454 withought the SS option! If it is in fact numbers matching expect the price to go way up. A 454 4 speed is much rarer than an SS by the way.
There has never been a documented factory-installed 4sp in any 1970-forward Monet Carlo. This one is aTH400 Automatic. Wheels are not factory, these are 8″ Corvette, not the 7″ that were original.
Correction. $speed was available with any engine except the 454. My friend Greg has a documented 71 402 4speed, I’ve seen the build sheet myself.
That’s not true. The only way to get a 454 in 1979 and 1971 was to get the SS package. There are no such things ( or st least not documented) as an SS with a 4 speed. You could only get the 4spd with a 402 big block or a small block.
70 & 71 The 454 was only available in the SS, 72 in any trim. no 4 speed behind the 454.
I had one many years ago. 70 SS. It would burn the tires off but looks like a box and if you hit a corner faster than 50 mph you’re in the woods.
Just wondering, what is that sending unit doing in the valve cover?
I think he did it to plug the hole for the factory PCV. Weird…
what is a refreshed transmission ?
this typically refers to a transmission that has received a cool, sparkling beverage, for instance a Pellegrino, Perrier or similar carbonated mineral water.
I was thinking the transmission was offered a box of Junior Mints
Or an air freshener or a couple shots of Fabreeze!
Behind the torquey 454 the beverage would be a Monster energy drink, not mineral water…ha ha, you guys had me laughing!
You’d think if they had the engine out they could’ve cleaned up the engine compartment a little.
A car of this type is missing a lot more than just badging if it were an actual Super Sport Monte Carlo. Also available in the SS package were buckets with a mock wood grain center console to match the inlay in the steering wheel, a horse shoe shifter and a full instrumentation console with an in-dash tach and gauges.
In the engine bay the Super Sport Monte also had a twin snorkel breather sitting on top of the carburetor as well as the much cussed (because you couldn’t keep it working properly) air suspension cylinder mounted on the driver side inner fender. Even actual Super Sport Monte owners eventually removed the cylinder (me included) when they got tired of trying to make it work reliably.
Buckets and console were not part of the SS package, but were an extra cost option on any Monte.
Correct – – Three summers ago at the car show in Big Rock I saw a fully restores all original (as can be) 72 Monte – – – not for sale for sure but astounding to find one with the buckets and all the options. It brought me back to my 73 Monte – silver-gray with a vinyl top rally wheels and new SS trim rings (I had replaced the originals with NOS right from The General), I also had added the vinyl roof, new paint new w/s, – there was zero rust around the w/s opening or anywhere on the car. I installed ALL new suspension – sway bar, ball joints, control arm bushings etc. Then she sat up at proper curb height. Before that the front springs were tired and the front end was getting pretty droopy.
She had a 350 that ran strong – – the car had only 50,000 miles when I bought it but a couple of years into ownership I did the upgrades because these cars deserved it.
I sold it to a young fellow who toted his dad along for the inspection and got the price I was asking – – must not have asked enough for wiggle room?
So the young driver’s ‘New” fresh Monte Carlo ended up totaled a month later in a ditch. I cried – – nope I’m not a sissy – – it hit a nerve.
Another one I should have kept.
John S Dressler:
I know, another BENCH Find, lol this place is full of em!
I prefer bucket seats because 1) individually adjustable and 2) they
keep you behind the wheel. Benches are good for car pooling and
for activities other than driving
What the heck is going on in the trunk?
Ian:
Re: Trunk
I don’t know. There’s no photo of the inside!
That rear bumper doesn’t look right. Bent on the passenger side.
A true 1970 454 SS would have the small SS badging down on the rockers. I know because I owned one. This car does not which makes me suspect
Marco…suspect of what? That it’s not an SS? The ad itself says it’s not an SS….”Chevrolet offered several engines in the 1970 Monte Carlo, but only the SS was available with the 454ci V8. As this car isn’t an SS, it also can’t be numbers-matching.”
Robert- You are correct. I re-read the description and noted the part about it not being an SS. The fact that it’s promoted as 454 tends to confuse folks I think. Dans1970z20 comment below clears things up as well. Also a nice link to a Monte page.
This car is not an SS, but there’s still a lot to like. Especially the lower price with all the but kicking fun of a big cube 454. Nice color too.
It’s not the greatest green, with not the nicest interior, and no A/C, a Chevelle I understand with no air, but the Monte Carlo was a step up car, similar but not as luxurious as the Grand Prix of its time, and until 73, the Regal and the Cutlass weren’t in the same class in my opinion
First of all, the only Monte’s available with 454 were the SS’s in 1970 (3808) 1971 (1616) and the 1972 Monte Carlo Custom (Gm dropped Ss badge due to insurance co’s catching on).
Only 4spd Montes were offered on 350’s or the rare 402 4spds. 3 spd on column offered with only 350’s.
SS454’s were available any way you wanted them option wise. The only thing standard was The 454, load levelling system and G41 suspension. Buckets, console, gauges rallies etc were all options.
SS454 Identification
https://www.firstgenmc.com/forums/index.php?/resources/ss454/
So just to clarify,oh hell yes you could get a 4-speed 454,in a 1970 monte carlo.
No Kevin, you couldn’t. Been building Montes for 40 years. Not one document has ever surfaced.
Had a 72 way back when, enough room for a V-16 under the hood, Dash pad & instrument cluster were ( almost ) identical to the Chevelle SS. sold it at 180,000 miles with the original ball joints still tight…..beautiful tan interior with burnt orange metallic ext, just another one i should have kept, oh well,,
“ So just to clarify,oh hell yes you could get a 4-speed 454,in a 1970 monte carlo.”
SS454 Monte Carlo’s were they only ones you could get a 454 in other than the 1972 Custom 454 (available also in 350 & 402) which replaced the SS when Chevy dropped the “SS” badging due to its effects on insurance cost.
Many think a 402 is a 454 but it is not. No 454/4spds left the factory that way. Others have stated that they knew of an SS454 with an LS6 that came that way. In both instances no one has ever produced a build sheet to support or prove differently.
Love how people who are not aware are so adamant of there perceived knowledge.
Ok guys,I double checked one of my sources for old cars I really like automobile catalog,and I stand corrected,interesting that they offered the 4-speed in 1970 with the 350,and 400 turbo-jet (402)bug block, but not the 454,with that said,I’m sure when I used to subscribe to hot rod magazine, year’s ago,there was a 70 as that was 4-speed equipped ,that looked very well done, as it would of been from factory etc.I plan on learning, and correcting,and being corrected until I’m done on this earth,and still have forgotten more than many know.