Rare Big Block: 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 454
Wow, if I had my driver’s license and $4,000 , I would not know what new car I would buy in 1971. Would I opt for a Trans Am, Chevelle, split bumper Z28, Boss 351 Mustang, Hemi GTX or Buick GS-X? Here is another option, a 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo built with a 454 cubic inch V8 engine that is for sale here on eBay. It has a Buy It Now price of $31,495 or you can make an offer. The car is located in Orlando, Florida and is one of 1,919 built that year.
The engine compartment is clean enough to eat off of. The car is optioned with air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power windows and automatic transmission. All Monte Carlo 454 SS cars came with the LS5 454 cubic inch V8 engine that was also available in Chevelles and Corvettes. For 1971, the LS5 454 cubic inch V8 engine produced 365 horsepower and was a street friendly engine.
The Code 707 black cloth interior is stunning and goes well with the code 53 Placid Gold exterior. Additional interior options include tilt steering, bucket seats, adjustable headrests and AM/FM Radio. The eBay ad includes over 100 high definition pictures.
These cars just don’t come up for sale very often. This is a powerful, elegant machine and appears to be a clean, rust free Monte Carlo. I was a Pontiac guy in high school but my friend had a Monte Carlo and put 4:11 rear gears in it so it would smoke the tires at every stop light. Who else has some good Monte Carlo stories?
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Comments
Not fond of the color, but EVERYTHING else checks all of the right boxes! Was the blackout on the rear panel standard from the factory? It seems to add an unfinished look (IMO); I think the standard molding looks better. GLWTA! :-)
It was standard on the 1971 SS. The 70 SS did not have it.
The ’71 Monte SS454 also had a rubber impact strip across the rear bumper. This car doesn’t have it.
Me neither. I’d ripe out the interior out and start over. I like the shade but it’s the wrong color. It needs to be that factory Light Mint green metallic. Hope he doesn’t want too much. I’d have to put 15k into it. I’d take out the TH400 Put in at least a 700R4. Sorry doing 3 grand at 60mph. That gotta be fixed right up front.
If it had a small block it will rev high with a non overdrive auto trans at 60mph. But not with a long stroke big block chevy. & you would never recoup savings in gas(real cheap now) with the expense of the overdrive trans, unless u do a LOT of driving. Tho if you want somewhat quicker acceleration, a built turbo 200-4R might be a better choice than a 700 due to the gearing in the 200,
The vinyl top looks weird the way it goes all the way to the trunk lid that not factory.
Yes the black strip between the taillights is stock for a 71 SS only
Cool car, quick and understated. Nice options, but seems to be missing the Automatic load levelling compressor, which I’ve always understood to be a mandatory option on these. Figure out the clone vs. incomplete equipment issue prior to purchase. Maybe that was only for 70? Always though the 71/72’s were better looking.
You’re right, it should have the automatic load leveling system on it, if it’s a true SS454. It was always included in the SS454 option for both years. It was also an option on all non-SS Montes from ’70-’72, but it’s very rarely found on a non-SS.
I had a 71 Monte SS. The 454 only came with the SS.
If the block number matches the vin then it is original. Also the load leveling is another indication as it also came standard on the SS. (many removed this feature but the mounting holes should be on the left fender well)
Good Eye Rhett.
https://www.firstgenmc.com/forums/index.php?/resources/ss454/
Correct if I’m wrong but I think the vin number would tell you if it’s a true SS there wer only 1!919 made in 71 that only came with a 454 up to 360 hp does anyone no if it’s in the vin??
The VIN has nothing to indicate an SS option. They started putting an engine identifier in the VIN with the 1972 models.
A friend of mine had a 74 Monte carlo in high school. Same engine in it. We named his car the Hotel because we were in it to go to the hotel pub we liked or we’d just be drinking in the car, ( SO STUPID ). His car had a high ratio rear end so it was a bit tame off the line but when it hit about 50 mph it would really come alive. That car could cruise at 130 mph all day long. He eventually put it into a power pole and that was the end of the for his monte. I think that these Monte Carlo’s were some of the classiest cars gm ever produced well at least up to 1977 after that they were quite ugly.
I remember reading there were something like 6 built with 4 speeds
Recently Hemmings wrote these up. They said categorically that none were ever made with a four speed. I saw a Monte Carlo a couple of years ago at a car show, SS badges, big block and four speed. The owner insisted it was factory, but who knows.
All sorts of phony 1-of-whatevers are offered for sale, but there are rare exceptions to stated factory specs.
I saw a real Monte 4 speed for 70 ,no way was it faked or put in .
I would post a picture I took of it if I could .Matching Interior and everything,they are real ,but I don’t know how many .But maybe a 402 ,not positive on that.
Nobody has ever produced proof that any SS454s were factory built with a 4 speed.
They made 4 speed Monte Carlos, but only as 350 and 402 models, never the 454.
A friend of mine had a red ’70 350 . Factory 4 spd and no vinyl roof – which he offered to me to purchase around ’72 – Shaking my head all these years later on my poor judgement for not buying.
Your absolutely correct
I inherited my older brother’s ’71 SS and yes, the blackout panel was factory. I miss that car!
It’s truly my dream car
Horseshoe shifters for the win.
Without the air tank and paperwork I would be skeptical. Shouldn’t this have a tach as factory equipment? I am sure there is a Monte fanatic that can chime in on this. Finding an air tank will cost thousands to make this right and not having it would cause me caution. I would like to see a build sheet or something to substantiate the claim.
I’m seeing more and more I question – I’ve seen a million of these, but to my recollection all 71 vinyl tops were of the halo type, and non terminated into the trunk drip rail like this one does. Tach/gauges were not standard on the SS and of course the Ride control issue (there are no pictures showing the remnants of the system either) The VIN on this car would tell you nothing, unless you could determine all SS’s were produced at a specific plant. Research carefully.
No mention of it being matching numbers, that would be a minor piece of the puzzle but could be restamped at some point so that would not convince me.
It has an aftermarket vinyl top. As you noted, the factory vinyl top didn’t reach the drip rails, and also didn’t extend down the A pillars. The ’71 Montes were built at Los Angeles, Kansas City, Baltimore, and Oshawa, Ontario. All of them made some of the 1919 SS454s.
Definitely an aftermarket top. They didnt even bother to replace the rear window trim when they mashed the top passenger side out of shape……..
Thanks for pointing out the top… something just didn’t look right from the photo’s but couldn’t figure out what it was!
Build Sheet answers all questions
I would like to see the VIN. I looked all over that eBay listing and didn’t see it listed or a photo of it. Nice looking car with a few panel alignment issues, but doubtful SS454.
There’s nothing in a ’71 VIN that designates engine size, or the SS454 package. The VIN would be 138571XXXXXXX.
13857 is for Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2 door hardtop; the 1 is for 1971; the first X would be L if assembled in Los Angeles, B for
Baltimore, K for Kansas City, or a 1 for Oshawa, Ontario. The last 6 are the serial number, or sequence number.
Nice ride…
4 5 4 would be a nice car to take out and run the ponies in….
And more from Hemmings, need to see the suspension components, why are those missing….I am sure many of these were “converted” to SS’s at one point in time and without paper and considering missing parts, proceed cautiously.
Speaking of ride, the SS 454 package mandated the installation of both the F41 suspension system and the G67 Automatic Level Control system. Beginning with the former, the coil-sprung suspension included heavy-duty shocks and springs, additional frame stiffeners, boxed lower rear control arms and an upgraded front anti-roll bar (1.125 inches); it also added a .88-inch rear anti-roll bar.
The Automatic Level Control consisted of a compressor pump, rear leveling valve, rear air shocks and corresponding shock-absorber air-line shields. It functioned strictly on engine vacuum, which was first sent to the large compressor pump mounted on top of the left-front inner fender, which then distributed compensating pressure via the valve to the air shocks. For the most part, the system compensated for added rear weight far more reliably than similarly designed GM systems in the late Fifties, although it had a habit of overloading the rear shocks just a tad without any weight, inadvertently providing a slight rake versus a truly level ride.
Do Ls5 ‘s have a particular letter or # on the block or heads for 71 Montes? My 71 monte has 3:31 gears available with the Ls5,th 400 ,f41, 1.25 r.sway/7/8 front sway .factory black interior.a/c with the load leveling comp .tank no vinyl top,adjustable head rest ,full gages. Tach speedo clock ,all work etc.gm states the rear gears available for the Ls5 were 3:31. …4:10 and 3:08 option (ZQ9)were available in 71 ss monte but not for Ls5 equipped models…the rear end code RV C 230
A /Eaton positraction .originally rosewood metallic . I don’t have a build sheet . How many had the load leveling? And did they make a 454 71 optioned (non ss) monte?
All ’70 and ’71 SS454s had the LS5. The stamped prefix on the right side of the block for ’70 is CRN, and for ’71 it’s CTB. The 454 was only available with the Super Sport package.
I knew a guy who had one in 1993. Rattle and roll.
A friend and I bought a 1970 SS454 Monte Carlo back in the 90’s as a flip. The car was also missing the auto leveler. I’m sure the rear air ride was ditched when it started failing back in the 70’s. I have a 2004 Buick Rainier that also had the rear automatic leveler which someone had removed before I bought it.
No sense in fixing something that nobody really cares.
I wonder if the owner checked the top of the gas tank, that’s where we found the build sheet.
It is not that whether it works or not, it is whether it was with the car at any point. The value of that particular part is very high and lends to the originality of the car. Curious if there are any mounting holes or marks to show it was even previously there.
There is just enough wrong with this one that I would question everything about it without the build sheet to prove it’s a real SS. The full gauge instrumentation was a separate option (U14) and not part of the SS package (Z03) but, that still doesn’t prove anything.
That vinyl top below the rear window is completely wrong for any Monte Carlo of this era.
The Z20 is the SS454 package, not Z03.
Z20 is correct. Sorry for the error.
Atta Boy Dan!
I’m excited to see this for the memories. I had to put 1500 miles at the wheel with my dad before I could take the car out. This took from when I was 16 until I was 18 because there were 8 in the family. My aunt would visit and she had this car and color but might have been a 350 because it was not an SS. It was like her to have a sleeper so it could have had anything under that long hood. She would throw me the keys and give me a task and a wink so I could thrash that thing! Tight variable ratio steering and tight suspension with tires ablaze let me get my ya yas out. It’s the best body design of the series and better weight balanced than most rear wheel drives of the time. Loved it…
Nice car. I strongly doubt that $4000 would have bought a ’71 Monte SS454 with those options in ’71, though.
After reading these comments, I would say there is a 99% chance this is a plain jane monte.
No air ride
No mounting holes for the air ride on inner well
After market half ass done vinyl top
No under carriage pics
No proof of F41 suspension
So much wrong with this, no mention of matching numbers which would be the ONLY way to verify the engine belongs in the car but really would not prove sufficiently given the ability to re-stamp.
Very weak car, someone will buy it and learn the hard way they have a plain monte with some CLONE add ons.
Sellers like this make this hobby near impossible at times.
My grandmother had a ’71 Monte when I was in high school in the late ’70’s. It was triple black, with cloth buckets and console. It wasn’t an SS, but it was cool seeing my 60 something year old Nana tooling around in it. The best part is that it was one of the cars I learned to drive in, and she let me drive it every once in a while after I got my license.
The seat covers are not at all correct for this car. They look decent, but not correct.
There appears to be some a/c hoses missing …
http://assets.superchevy.com/f/32185477.jpg
Missing the lines, but still has a belt on the compressor!
Ya, selling before the paint’s dry…not the way you want to buy!
Love that style Monte!
In 1981, I was stricken with 125% below poverty with the help of food stamps and welfare. For some income, I sold my second car. 1964 Chevy Impala Convertible. Well, I actually received $2000 cash, got to keep my true spoke knock-off wheels and got a 1971 Special Edition Monty in trade. Gold in color with a tan vinyl top and gold interior bucket seats with console shifter. The impala was a 327 Powerglide, but over the years of ownership, I put on the new white top, custom diamond tuck and roll velour black interior, tilt the front end with power top cylinders, chromed out the new built 350 engine. She had 4:10 gears and really got up and went. Now, I am searching for my 165 car.
In 1979 I sold my 1973 Pontiac Luxury Lemans with every option in the book, Black Laquer w clear, white interior full white roof, spokes and beautiful 1.5 inch whitewalls, for the dumbest reason, followed it found it, and lost it again in 1983, been searching ever since
The previous 4 members, I believe are correct. All the comments Daleone3, Dan Janes, JoeNYWF64 and John mentioned are absolutely correct.
I bought a very nice 1971 in the mid to late ’70’s and it was just like this one….except a 350 V8. I even had the fender skirts!, however it was not a SS454. I too could have put the 454 in and the badging on it and offered it with the same description with the exception of the color combo, beige on saddle. I’d probably still have it, (Like we all would), if my brother hadn’t wrapped it around a pole.
Thanks to all of your comments, it absolutely made me look closer at the pics and realized you all had a great point. All of Daleone3 comments, Dan’s the wrong seat material, Joe’s pic of the A/C hoses missing, John’s the belt on the compressor but no hoses comment really showed the importance of looking closely. And…..of course the price is only as good as someone is willing to pay for it and that person is not me!
Point is, we all have to watch, look and listen to any and all comments, both good and bad, to make a buying decision. This site and forum can help us all and I thank you all for that.
LOOKS like a nice car but look closely. And enjoy
Another issue is the single plane intake manifold. Nice detailing, but….
Agreed it is a nice car BUT one has to consider who they are buying it from and the claims they are making. I would not trust this seller in any way, he is clearly trying to tout the car as something that it isn’t and I am sure we are seeing only what he wants us to see. I could see low-mid teens for the car based on what we think it is but not real SS money. But again, the car will change hands and someone will enjoy it for what they think it is but will soon find out that he should have done some homework. No telling what the car looks like underneath either, that is suspect as well. Without pics, I would assume there is something not looking right underneath or trying to avoid the different features that an SS had that a stock monte wouldn’t.
Here is a for sale article that talks about a lot of the issues presented here: https://www.skywayclassics.com/blog/%EF%BB%BF1971-chevrolet-monte-carlo-ss-454%20
Luxury muscle, sort of, had a guy on my block had a brand new 69 Bonneville w a 428, which I believe was around 370 hp, factory, w all the options in the world rite down to the factory 8 track on the Trans hump, I mean windows, doors tilt, A/C, Pontiac wheels , this 4000lb plus auto was blowing the doors off a lot of unsuspecting street racers of the day, with its factory duals, and only 1 428 call out on the grille, I was a kid, and the guy that owned it, owned a Sunoco station in Queens NY, so maybe he tweeked it a bit, but I would’ve loved to have been in that Pontiac running this 454 Monte
Not a four speed car–no value here pass it on Morley
I am constantly amazed by the collective knowledge of the readers on Barn finds. This car is a good example.
Looks like an aftermarket intake. A tarantula painted orange. ’70 best looking
My favorite Monte Carlos are the ’70-’72 style. Saw one for sale in Japan in 1980. A ’71 in this same gold color, but had a gold/tan interior. A 350 4 barrel car with factory air, tilt wheel, bucket seats, console with staple shifter, Tach/gauge cluster, possible F41 suspension (had a rear stabilizer bar) etc. Beautiful car at a great price. Still regret not buying it to this day. :(
Best looking one I ever saw of these ’70-’72 Monte’s was a circle track stock car. It was actually from footage used in the old flick Hard Driver.
Seen a few tough looking street machines built out of these too, with the torque of the 454 this could be interesting…but I wonder how many enthusiasts took these seriously, seems like more of a nice entry into personal luxury.
They didn’t sell very well, and only 3823 were made for ’70, and then 1919 made for ’71. That’s why the SS454 package was dropped after the ’71 model year. Some call them the gentleman’s muscle car. I have a ’70 SS454 that I’ve restored and I love driving it.
My aunt and uncle had a mid 80s Monte Carlo with a 305 under the hood with a metallic blue paint job with black interior. My uncle used to wash the car then take it into his back yard and do donuts which was kinda backwards lol. Then when I got into high school and just got my driver’s license my aunt told me I had a chance to get the car for free all I had to do was go to Tennessee and get it but I didn’t have enough money for the trip. If I could of got the car I would of had to find the correct stock interior and put it back in the car then I was going to pull the engine since it was blown and replace it with a 435 hp 427 and put a 4 speed manual transmission in it.
My friend mom has a 70 monte carlo with a 350 and 4 speed. she has passed and it is for sale.. It is stored in climate control garage. Nice car
@Robert Lampe – Send it in so we can feature it. Thanks!
Robert Lampe, please send me contact information for that car. I’m interested in buying.
Thanks!
[email protected]
My second vehicle was a 72 Monte SS 350 in 1997. My Dad bought it from a little old lady for $1200 and i drove it for a couple years. It had the horseshoe shifter and the flip up bucket seats with the release button on the back. It was in amazing shape. Of all the vehicles i have had, i probably miss that one the most. It went fast but didn’t stop too fast. We buried the speedo on a backroad one night and i almost didn’t get it shut down before the road ran out. The brakes were glowing red in the dark. It also blew a hole in the radiator. Fun times :)
They are great cars with a nice ride. Just an FYI, the SS package was only offered on the 1970 and ’71 models. All were 454s.
3823 for ’70
1919 for ’71
Now there’s a guy who knows his montes
Has a rear sway bar, and it’s hard to see in the pics but looks to have the boxed rear lower control arms also.