The Chevy Monte Carlo nameplate lasted six generations, with the first generation dropping in for the 1970 model year. Offered up by the Bow Tie brand as a premium personal luxury coupe, the Monte Carlo combined crisp styling and no shortage of coddling in the cabin. Now, this pristine, unrestored first-gen example just popped up on eBay.
Bidding for this 1970 Chevy Monte Carlo concluded July 26th, 2020, with the highest bid submitted at $39,800. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to meet the reserve for this surprisingly well-preserved two-door.
Although that may seem a bit steep, closer inspection reveals just how well-preserved this Chevy Monte Carlo really is. With just 6,356 miles on the clock, it certainly doesn’t look like it’s survived half a century without restoration.
This vehicle was originally a demo car for a local car dealer in Richmond, Virginia. The dealer owner later gave the car to his mother, who drove it as her personal transportation between 1970 and 1975.
“For years it sat in the showroom of the dealership display until it was moved to the heated and cooled facility of the sons’ home,” the seller writes. This vehicle was previously on display in the dealer owner’s private collection, and the recent eBay listing was the first time it was offered to the public.
Outside, this 1970 Chevy Monte Carlo looks fantastic, with a vinyl top and rich gold paint. The cabin is draped in tan upholstery and mounts a set of bucket seats, while a horseshoe shifter is found in the center console. Air conditioning, a working radio, and an 8-track player highlight the cabin features (the owner says the 8-track was originally provided by Chevrolet for demonstration purposes).
Under the hood, things are a little more rough around the edges, but still decently well-preserved. Motivation is sourced from a 350 cubic-inch V8 engine, which connects to a TH350 transmission. The owner states that the water pump, belts, battery, and tires are the only components that aren’t original.
“I can assure you this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a true piece of American automotive history,” the seller writes.
Although this 1970 Chevy Monte Carlo failed to meet reserve, we’re excited to see if it pops up on the collector scene again. Let us know your appraisal in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Monte Carlo news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Source: eBay
Comments
Worst possible color combo, dirty white walls and those god awful skirts. Just not a car to go nuts over even though there are no miles.
$39,800 wouldn’t do it? Really?
I think the seller is delusional. If it had a 454, or some other low-production-number powertrain option, it might be worth more than, say, $25K, but…………
And while I agree that “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” my own eye doesn’t see much beauty there.
Agree, $39,800 must be all the money. There is a price of $48,500 shown on one set of photos. Besides the color combination, it’s not exactly a “loaded” car either, which is a bit surprising considering the story of the car. It has the base 350 (2bbl.-250hp), no power windows,locks or seat, no wheel or wheel cover upgrade, etc…
Many forget or are unaware that there was a Monte Carlo SS454 (LS5 360hp) available in 1970, one of those with 6K might do $40K?
It’s not worth anything unless some wiero like those cars
A few easy fixes would transform it from bland to beautiful. A set of Rally wheels with some white letter radial T/A’s and replace the skirts with a correct pair of wheel opening moldings to match the fronts. Just imagine how different it would look with these minor changes.
The owner may well be buried in that car!
Fugly, dirty & no appeal!
Only good part of the car was the engine bay, You could of put a V-16 in it, with room left over!
1970 I was 20 years old when this came out and the Monte wasn’t attractive then nor is it any better but Chevy sold a ton of them. I remember seeing this gold color quite often and fender shirts were quite common on higher trim levels such as the Chevy SS models. Back then it was a cool feature. It wasn’t until the 1976 model with the addition of dual vertical headlight design with a taller grill did it get to look good.
The 1970-72 monte carlo’s were good looking car’s when dressed correctly. There were more non fender skirt cars built for a reason, no one like them with fender skirts. The 1970 wheel cover was also ugly, many more were built with rally wheels. The gold color and tan interior was not popular either. This car is butt ugly and bland, there are so many good looking 1970-72 monte’s out there and seeing this one is like looking at a rotten apple.
I had one of these, same style vinyl roof and hubcaps and skirts…..but was tan/black top and black inside. had a 400/265 under hood. What a great car in retrospect….I sold it for $800 in 1976. Agree gold is ugly.
Nice car not a great color. I still own my 1970 Monte Carlo that I bought on May 5, 1974. Monte is parked in my garage right now due to the crazy heat. It is Misty Tourquoise with a black vinyl top and black interior. My Monte Carlo served me through 4 years of college in the snow belt section of Oswego, New York and I decided to keep it when I got my first teaching job after purchasing my Grandfather’s Pontiac LeMans in 1978.
After a cosmetic restoration by me and a restoration shop 20 years ago Monte still starts and runs after all of these years. This year it is time for an engine and transmission check to make sure I get even more years of driving.
Placed side by side, this was a preview of the ’71 Cadillac Eldorado (a very disappointing car, coming after the lean and mean, razor-edged ’67 – ’70 Eldo), and yes, the color combination is a problem, but as for the fender skirts – I always liked ’em.
I’m not about to comment on the price or what they want for it. However, as a car I’ve always loved that style. I was quite young when one of my brothers came home with one like this in a different color. One of my favorite other than the 76/77 era Pontiac Gran Prix’s. Those may have been my favorite of all.
The car is 3 different colors. Fenders doors and side wheel skirts deck lid and bumper misaligned. Looks to have had collision in front and rear. I’m a Monty Carlo nut and a auto body and paint for 40+ years.
Well Joe, than you should remember back in those days the assembly line painted the noses separate from the rest of the car (GM) anyway. That would include the skirts,…. doors and fenders on the metallic colors didnt match worth a damn. Chevy, olds, buick, pontiac, cadillac all the same thing. This car also has a non factory stripe. The important thing is the car realistically should have all its born with paint.
Without a 6 digit odometer one gets the feeling you are being lied to so its safe to say it has 106,000 on the clock. With the body panel gaps and different shades of gold paint Id say its been worked over a time or two to try to hide the extra 100k miles. I feel like Im looking at a $2500 car at best. Good luck trying to sell it for that outrageous amount.
^^^^ THIS
Once that $99.00 Earl Scheib paint job gets media-blasted off, I’d bet that car is loaded with mud.
Ummmm…this isn’t an SS 454 so…no and them ugly ass skirts hahah, the option box you don’t check off.
If the correct owner does not lower their expectation of the True value of it; they might as well keep it in the family. because the pictures prove that the up-keep don’t improve it’s value at all!! If the nada or KBB is north of $2k; they’ll be lucky!! Because the way it sit’s; $1K at best!!!
Nice Car. But not 40k nice. Agree with most that posted about color. Yes skirts are ugly, but worth money just because of the option. My first car at 14 was a 70 MC. Drove it on every back road and occasional trips into town. Tucson. I will always have an affinity for the MC. 40k no. 20? Possible
Eh, low mileage or not, it’s a 50 year old (i.e. obsolete as hell) gas guzzling American poop-box.
And it’s ugly.
My first car was a 74 monte carlo, burgundy with burgundy interior, white Landau top, loved that car
This is what people want to see regarding Monte Carlo’s. Pasting a pic doesnt work..sorry.