DeLorean, who succeeded Estes as Chevrolet's general manager earlier in the year after previously heading the Pontiac division, where he led the development of the Series 276 Grand Prix. Though the Monte Carlo was developed at Chevrolet under the leadership of Pete Estes, it was formally introduced in September 1969 by John Z. When the car debuted for the 1970 model year, the only body style available was the two-door hardtop. It has been noted that the sedan resembled a full-size Oldsmobile 98 prior to the use of the GM G platform with at least one photo showing the pull-up door handles that would be introduced on the 1970½ Camaro and 1971 Vega and full-sized Chevys, but not appear on Monte Carlos until the second-generation model debuted in 1973. At one point, the proposal called for a formal coupe, sedan, and convertible. The usual practice at the time was that all Chevrolet model development names started with a "C". Ī mid-1990s article in the magazine Chevrolet High Performance stated that the first generation Monte Carlo was known to Chevrolet management under the working name Concours. A fiber-optic exterior light monitoring system was optional. New exterior " coke bottle styling" featured concealed windshield wipers. They modeled the styling on the contemporary Cadillac Eldorado, although much of the body and structure were shared with the Chevrolet Chevelle (firewall, windshield, decklid, and rear window were the same). (Pete) Estes, general manager of Chevrolet, and Chevrolet's chief stylist, David Holls, giving Chevrolet and Pontiac an alternative to the E-body Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado. The Monte Carlo started as Chevrolet's version of Pontiac Grand Prix, as conceived by Elliot M. The new layout was first known as the A-body Special, but would evolve into its own class known as the G-platform. This gave the design an unusually long hood design helping the new Grand Prix to outsell its larger B-body predecessor, despite higher prices. In 1969, GM introduced the Pontiac Grand Prix, a two-door that used A-platform layout that was stretched ahead of the firewall to make it 210.2-inch (5,339 mm) long. During the 1980s, the Monte Carlo SS was introduced, featuring aerodynamically-enhanced styling as part of its revival, the Monte Carlo again represented Chevrolet in stock car racing from 1995 through its discontinuation.įor the 1968 model year, GM instituted a split- wheelbase policy for its A-platform intermediate-sized cars. During much of its production, the Monte Carlo represented the Chevrolet brand in stock car racing. In response to declining sales of the model line, Chevrolet discontinued the Monte Carlo after the 2007 model year. After the 2002 model year, the Grand Prix coupe was discontinued, leaving the Monte Carlo as the largest two-door coupe produced by an American auto manufacturer. Following the discontinuation of the four-door Lumina in 2000, the Chevrolet Impala became the four-door equivalent of the Monte Carlo. Sharing the front-wheel drive W-platform with the two-door Grand Prix, the Monte Carlo was again slotted above the Camaro as the largest Chevrolet coupe. After an abbreviated 1988 model year, the Monte Carlo was replaced by the two-door Chevrolet Lumina.įor the 1995 model year, the Monte Carlo was revived, replacing the two-door Lumina. The rear-wheel drive A-body platform underpinning this generation of Monte Carlo was redesignated as the G-body when GM's front-wheel drive A-body cars were introduced for 1982. For 1978, the model line underwent extensive downsizing but was still considered a midsized coupe. The Monte Carlo was a closely aligned variant of the Pontiac Grand Prix through its entire production.įrom 1970 until 1972, the Monte Carlo rode on the unique "A-Special" platform with the Grand Prix, shifting to the standard A-body intermediate chassis for 1973–1977. Introduced for the 1970 model year, the model line was produced across six generations through the 2007 model year, with a hiatus from 1989 to 1994. Deriving its name from the city in Monaco, the Monte Carlo was marketed as the first personal luxury car of the Chevrolet brand. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a two-door coupe that was manufactured and marketed by the Chevrolet division of General Motors.
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