1978 Chevrolet Monza

1978 Chevrolet Monza #2913

Drag racing seems like it's been with us forever. In truth it's a postwar phenomenon, with roots stretching back to the dry lakebed racing in Southern California in the 1930's. From those humble beginnings to modern times, when a modern Top Fueler can go 0-1000 feet in a tick over 3 seconds at speeds topping 330mph....we've come a long way baby!

The Chevrolet Monza is a subcompact automobile produced for the 1975 through the 1980 model years. The Monza is based on the Chevrolet Vega, sharing its wheelbase, width and standard inline 4-cylinder engine. The car initially had been designed for the Wankel rotary engine, but due mediocre fuel economy and emissions compliance issues that program was canceled and the V8 option was substituted. For consignment, we not only have a Monza race car that has been modified to the hilt to go as fast as possible in a straight line, but it also includes a trailer to get you to the strip and a plethora of spare parts in case of catastrophic failure. Read on and get your adrenaline pumping!

ExteriorThe Chevrolet Monza looks like it's going fast standing still, almost like the designers had racing in mind when this body was penned. Dipped in blue and white with yellow flames and orange highlights licking down the side this steel and fiberglass 1/4 miler means business. The only remaining steel panels are the roof and rear quarter panels, all other bodywork is fiberglass. The hood, hood scoop and doors are easily removed for those between rounds thrashes. A fiberglass front fascia has a bowtie cutout in the center between the faux headlights and 3 cut outs down below all in the name of cooling. A large hood scoop sits atop the center rear of the hood and flows back to the windshield. This scoop is ready to suck in all the air the engine needs along with any errant birds or small children who get too close. Lexan has replaced all the glass in the name of weight savings as has the hatch lid which is now fiberglass. A small aluminum spoiler keeps the rear of the car planted firmly on the ground at high speeds. Factory taillights take up residence in the rear bumper and flank a parachute to bring things to a graceful whoa after a high 8 second pass. Just below all of this is a set of wheelie bars to keep the front end from going to the moon!

InteriorA swing of the ultra-light fiberglass door and we're greeted with aluminum panels, a black painted mild steel roll cage, a pair of vinyl covered racing bucket seats and a litany of gauges, controllers and buttons. A bare bones steering column features a detachable wheel for easy ingress and egress. Once inside the air powered shifter is to the driver's right and a G Force racing harnesses are in place to keep you buckled in nice and tight. Gauges are placed strategically along the fabricated aluminum dashboard and monitor all vital engine functions. Also included is a Dedenbear delay box and on the passengers, floor are an MSD ignition controller and another Dedenbear controller. One note is the small electric fan sitting on the transmission tunnel, this writer only sat in the car while it was being maneuvered around for its photos and let me tell you I couldn't imagine being in a full fire suit on a 90 degree day strapped in without this little life saver.

DrivetrainRemoving the lightweight hood and massive hood scoop we are met with not the factory engine bay but an open expanse that stretches from wheel to wheel with nothing in between but steel tubing and a big, big V8 engine. This V8 engine weighs in at 468ci of big block Chevrolet power. This massive mill is a 4-bolt main, has been balanced and blueprinted, uses ARP studs on the bottom end assembly. Sitting atop this block are a pair of Chevrolet aluminum cylinder heads that have been ported and polished, again using ARP hardware when installed. Feeding this mighty mill is a pair of Ron's Flying Toilet alcohol injection units. Backing this up is a Powerglide 2-speed automatic with a transbrake and a Hughes torque converter. The power is put to the ground via a Ford 9" with 4.30 gears that uses all Mark Williams hardware.

UndercarriageMild steel tubing replaces the factory unibody and now runs the full length of the car along with sheet metal replacing the factory floors. Independent suspension with adjustable coil overs is on the front while a ladder bar setup with adjustable coil overs is on the rear. Headers hang down from the engine and disc brakes are on all 4 corners. All business down here.

TrailerThis trailer, a Haulmark Model G824T2, is 24" long, has a 7000 GVWR rating, has a rear ramp door, and a side man door. Outfitted inside with centrally ran roof lighting, storage cabinets, a work bench, a winch, and onboard air & water. Also, inside are extra tires, 2 spare Powerglide transmissions, an engine short block, and a pair of floor jacks. Pretty much everything you'll need is here with the exception of the truck to pull it all.

An almost race ready operation available here for the taking here at the Classic Auto Mall. A lightweight large engine race car, extra parts and the hauler to haul it in you'll be hitting the strip in no time. While we didn't run the car, (the fuel system has been fogged to protect it during storage), our consignor will come in and get it fired up for you. Now get in, strap on the belts, and get ready for an afternoon of running 8.80's!!!

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.