Nicest One Left? 1976 Chevrolet Custom Cloud
Automotively, there was little to get excited about as the 1970s progressed. Once iconic performance models had been strangled to the point where they produced more noise than acceleration. Some of the more elegant classics from the era were lumbered with new bumpers that not only looked like bridge girders but they weighed roughly the same. The environment seemed perfect for someone to provide their own spin on prestige custom builds, and products from General Motors seemed a popular target. As the Pontiac Grand Prix begat the Stutz Blackhawk, an ingenious individual transformed the humble Chevrolet Monte Carlo into the Custom Cloud. The styling won’t appeal to everyone, but the seller believes that only around twelve of these cars exist. They make the bold call that this is the best one left, and their price reinforces their belief. The Custom Cloud is listed here on Craigslist in Westwego, Louisiana. It could be yours for $22,500, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P for spotting it.
The seller claims that Chevrolet commissioned the Custom Cloud and that one hundred of these classics were produced. That isn’t actually correct, although a group of Florida Chevrolet dealers were in on the ground floor as the car was developed. The Custom Cloud was the brainchild of a gentleman named Jon Tedesco. He envisaged a vehicle that offered the luxury and prestige of a European classic but at a fraction of the cost. The dealers saw it as the opportunity to park something eye-catching in their showrooms that would draw in potential buyers. The story becomes quite complicated, but Jon determined the Chevrolet Monte Carlo was the ideal candidate for his “special” brand of treatment. It offered a bulletproof mechanical package, an electrical system that wouldn’t take unplanned vacations and affordable maintenance costs. Some of the more interesting facts about the project concern the grille. Jon discovered that Rolls-Royce didn’t hold an American patent for that feature, so he grabbed it while he had the chance. The grille isn’t a genuine Rolls item but was custom-made by a local fabrication shop from stainless steel that was then chrome plated. It features a Custom Cloud insignia perilously close to being a straight copy of the Rolls item, and the flying lady is a reasonable facsimile of the genuine “Spirit of Ecstacy.” However, it wasn’t all smoke and mirrors because the transformation did include the installation of genuine Rolls-Royce taillights. The custom panels were fabricated from fiberglass. The rear quarters and trunk lid were blended into the original Chevrolet steel, while the front posed fewer hurdles because everything was bolt-on. The seller says this Custom Cloud has spent its time in a museum and that its dazzling White paint is flawless. There are no visible issues in the supplied photos, and the panels are equally impressive. There is no rust, the fiberglass additions are in good order, and the car rolls on wire wheels wearing wide whitewalls.
The only interior difference between a Custom Cloud and the donor vehicle is the steering wheel. These varied across the production range, but most cars featured a sports wheel wrapped in leather. The rest of the trim and equipment comes straight from the Monte Carlo options list. This interior is trimmed in Burgundy cloth and vinyl, and its condition is as impressive as the exterior. There are no signs of wear or damage and no aftermarket additions. The lack of issues supports the seller’s claim that this former museum exhibit has a genuine 18,000 miles on the clock. If this were an unmodified Monte Carlo, we couldn’t help but be impressed by the range of features available to the new owner. They will benefit from air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a power trunk release, power mirrors, a tilt wheel, a rear defogger, and an AM/FM radio/8-track/CB radio. There is a tape in the 8-track in these photos, and it seems almost fitting that it is a release by Elvis Presley.
Jon Tedesco created the Custom Cloud as a Rolls-Royce copy, but it had several significant advantages over the British classic. The first was that its electrical system was almost bulletproof. However, its ace was the genuine and unmodified Chevrolet drivetrain. It meant parts and servicing would cost its owner a fraction of what a “Roller” owner might face. This Custom Cloud features a 400ci V8 that sends 175hp and 305 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a three-speed Hydramatic transmission. Unsurprisingly, power assistance for the steering and brakes was an integral part of the package. There have never been any confirmed performance figures provided for the Custom Cloud, although the donor car would have covered the ¼-mile in 18 seconds. It is unclear whether the modifications added weight to the vehicle, but the extensive use of fiberglass may have shaved a few pounds. The drivetrain news is positive because this Custom Cloud is in excellent mechanical health. The seller doesn’t indicate whether they hold evidence verifying the mileage claim, but they say it runs and drives like a new car. The indications are potential buyers can consider it a turnkey proposition.
When I first saw this 1976 Chevrolet Custom Cloud, I wondered about the seller’s rarity claim. Therefore, I delved back through the Barn Finds archives, discovering that we have featured four of these cars previously. This one is the most expensive by a significant margin, but it is also the nicest we’ve seen. Placing a value on a car of this type is virtually impossible, and it comes back to that old story about it being worth what someone is willing to pay. Will someone hand the seller their asking price? Your guess is as good as mine. However, stranger things have happened in the classic world. Would you buy it?
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Comments
This almost works in retrospect / rose glasses sort of way, but its unfortunate that the interior was left pretty stock. Should have charged a little more for leather / pleather and better surfaces. The outside world can think what they want, but the occupants see a rental car inside.
Too bad Liberace is dead. He’d love this.
At least the Stutz had mink interior.
Gosh, that’s awesome.
The Chevy dealer that I worked for, back in the mid 70s, pulled a brand new Monte out of inventory and put one of these kits on it. At least he could use all the front end metal in the body shop to recoup some of the cost but when I saw what they had to do to the rear of that car to put the glass quarters on it, I felt my stomach turn over.
Not feeling it at all. To each his own. GLWTS
Butt ugly 🤮
I’d drive it only cause I’m goofy.
I think it’s tacky but for some reason I actually don’t hate it. Maybe you and I are both goofy.
Exactly, looks too Chevy inside.
These are one of the most elaborate kit customs that don’t evade far from the original car. I guess I’d really need to be seen to roll up in this. For those concerned about the interior that is the optional special custom divided seat. Saw one days ago on another site that had white vinyl and no air. The ones for sale appear to be well cared for. To each their own.
Evil 😈 villain Batman film vibes from the Jack Nicolson Joker movie.
Cheapo GM plastic interior ridiculous body mods.
Clowns 🤡 in the trunk.
I couldn’t drive it. But in the seventies, I can see Johnnie Guitar Watson styling around town in this attention grabber.
Not felling it. Like most “custom” makeovers of stock cars with add ones, it takes a decent car and turns it into a joke. Not that this style Monte Carlo was the best looking car on the road, it was ok for its time, there are many other vehicles I’d rather own from that time period. I’ve heard there’s a butt for every seat, but mine wouldn’t be caught in this monstrosity.
Not feeling it, damn autocorrect!
The REAL Custom Cloud story is here: http://www.coindispenser.com/story.html . Don’t believe all the “rare” or “only 10 ever made” crap. This example especially isn’t the “last” nice one out there.
When driving this bad boy through town? You have to have Issac Hayes’ classic, “Theme from Shaft” blaring out of that 8 track. And a wide brimmed hat….
Yessir and a Beautiful Cloud this is☁️ Big C 🎶
No wonder RR sued this company out of existence. I fart in it’s general direction.
The estate of Richard Roundtree should buy it and bury him in it…
Yuk… just lost my breakfast over this one.
Pimpmobile. Would look great in “Shaft.
A pimp driving a Chevy would get a lot of respect, I imagine.
Truly. It’s craptastic. Let’s hope it’s the nicest one left, and the only one…
The back of the car is decent looking but that front is ugly. Someone might like it
Only a fool would pay anything over $5k for this hideous mess.
The writer has obviously never owned a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. The earliest six cylinder, and latter SCIII cars are very reliable, robust and not prone to expensive breakdowns or maintenance headaches – in fact, I suspect that if subject to the same care, the Rolls-Royce will be the much more reliable and trouble-free vehicle than any 1970s era Chevrolet. Therefore the selling point of these was that they were so much less expensive to buy new than even a used 10 year old Rolls-Royce when these came out, not that they would be more reliable or cheaper to maintain because neither is true. For over 36 years I have driven either a Rolls or it’s Bentley equivalent and will never ever touch an American made car again.
A car that only its owner could love.
At least, someone like it.
A 70s era Monte Carlo was a trouble free car.
Some folks are just naturally masochistic.
Monte Royce? Rolls Carlo? No thanks. Blech!
I normally dispise mods like this, but for some reason I actually like this one. Hopefully I will get over it soon!
The interior is so plain. 25K seems like a lot to pay for something like this.
I’m with you on this one I would have preferred Leather interior and at least a leather clad steering wheel .Is it worth what the seller is asking only time will tell.
Wow !!! All the commenters agree on this one. At least so far. I also find it a terrible waste of a Monte Carlo. Why do people think a Rolls grille will instantly add “class” to whatever they slap it onto? It says the opposite to me.
Steve, don’t you remember all the Volkswagon beetles with the RR grill and fake Continental tire that were all over the place in the ’70s
I think those were all meant a joke.
Hi Angel,
I do remember them. There was also a 40 Ford hood. I don’t care for any of them. I’ve been driving Bugs for 50 years and still have a 67 Bug that I’ve had for 41 years. I would never ruin it’s lines with one of them.
You are very kind to call the appearance of this “styling” Of all the retro pastiches, this one wind the most ungainly award, if for no other reason than the backward-sloping hood just to serve a taller grille that isn’t even needed for the illusion attempted. As ol’ 45 would say: SAD!
Nicest one left? Really, who cares?
I find it interesting that the seller trying to impress potential buyers of the rarity of this thing would put up only 4 pictures of the modified bodywork and 12 pictures of a stock Monte Carlo cloth interior.
Yes, Adam, I would buy it and drive it if I could. There is another one here in Las Vegas. I saw it about a year ago at the “Pic-A-Part” yard.
I read somewhere Rolls Royce sued because of the grill and “Spirit of Extasy”, but since there was no American copyright. They lost. But the taillights, that’s a different story.
Huggybear is this your car? And que the red and white striped torino.
nope, the creator lost, many times. He just kept on. Finally hada stop after the 3rd or 4th court loss I think. Even used it in his adverts (“I’m getting sued by RR! but I’m great and RR is not”)
I’m British. We are not amused !
One of CAR & DRIVER magazines better ‘attitude’ articles revolved around the intro of the Custom Cloud back in the ’70s. Butt-ugly car, even worse than the butt-ugly Monte it was based on.
Nicest one left? Completely irrelevant.
All in all, I really like these cars from the mid to late ’70s..With the oil embargo going on and the fed pushing the 5 mph bumpers…I had a ’77 Chevrolet Malibu Classic..fully loaded…Now working on a ’75 Chevelle/Malibu bare bones base model with a 6 cylinder..This one reminds me of the Stutz in the movie “Night Shift”…
What!? No comment about building the engine with silk threads or the Billion dollar clients that drove these. I expected to read a tome from our favorite RR expert about this!
Monte roller is hideous
Stutz was bad too
Best thing about an old Roller
was the GM Th 400 and A/C compressor.
Until they became BMW powered you were driving a pompous grandfather clock
on wheels.
I dunno… I don’t hate it. I think I would dig driving this for a while. :)
I was pleasantly surprised to see you’re still talking about the Custom Cloud. I am the guy who created the Custom Cloud and it was one of the most fun projects I have ever worked on. Your Car and Driver article was great and added to the fun. I even enjoyed the ridiculous law suit Rolls Royce brought. I always wondered what they were so worried about. The cars do get mixed reactions. Some people love ’em and some aren’t so kind but I have always had fun with them. I think more people need to lighten up a bit. I came across one a few months ago that needs a full restoration and decided to purchase it.