I think the 70-72 Monte is a good looking car. It's amazing how much more affordable they are in today's market compared to a similarly equipped Chevelle of the same vintage.

WOW what a difference!!

Probably because the Monte Carlo was never classified as a muscle car - including the SS 454 which BTW was not available with a 4 speed, TH Auto only. There was nothing really special about the LS5 454/360 HP. In fact the previous year (1969) the "low performance" 427 made 390 HP. And Chevy copied the Nova SS by only offering white sidewall tires at a time when the whole industry was offering RWL tires on their muscle cars.

Same with the Pontiac SJ Grand Prix. These were personal luxury cars on a budget that also offered an option that would make it seem like it was a muscle car when in fact it wasn't. Remember the zenith of the Muscle Car Era was 1970.

You look at those two photos I posted in Post #10. AFAIK the B & W photo is a "what if" photo . . . what if Chevy offered the wheels and tires from the Z28/Chevelle SS on their 1971 Monte Carlo SS454. And whoever was in charge of setting up the marketing for the MC decided that if you want that look - go buy a 1971 Chevelle SS. This is a personal luxury car that we have elected to offer an SS option simply because we are Chevrolet and we do sell Super Sports and the Impala SS, the very first Chevrolet car to have the SS moniker, was put out of production at the end of 1969 model year.

LOL - but someone liked the photo itself so much that they "massaged" it by removing the Z28/Chevelle SS wheels and tires and put on the Rally wheels with the G70x15 WSW tires and that photo went into the 1971 Monte Carlo Brochure.

Also changed the side mirror.

Changed the steering wheel and added the hood emblem too!

I was waiting to see if anyone would notice the other items changed.. Theres a couple more though..

The SS454 emblem on the lower front fender is different and the B & W car has what looks like a dual pinstripe running along the top of the fenders and door.

Rear tail panel looks to have extra chrome also,,

A '70 Chevelle SS454 LS5 / TH400 must not be a muscle car either. the 1970 Monte SS454 had the same Engine, Transmission, rear axle, chassis, brakes, dash instrumentation, seats, shifter, console, available color choices, etc, and weighted about the same (within a few hundered pounds). There wouldn't be much difference on a 1/4 mile time slip.

Not sure I understand that logic? '64-67 GTOs didn't have stripes or RWL tires either, but they are still considered a "muscle car". If the very basic definition of a "muscle car" is "big engine in an intermediate chassis", the Monte Carlo qualifies.

Heh - you are definitely welcome to your opinion. Mine says the Monte Carlo SS454 is not a muscle car.

https://s13.postimg.org/5btlzk0iv/777.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/bgz2gxysp/image.jpg