First Gen Monte Carlo Convertibles
 

We had a few comments about first Gen Monte Carlo convertibles in the other thread, and happened to come across this article about them yesterday and thought I'd share.

https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/unic...4gNtLsAf3evUPg

Unicorn: The 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Convertible
Posted on November 1, 2022 by MCG

Chevrolet never produced a Monte Carlo convertible in 1970, but somehow, we can still find a number of them around.

From the moment of its introduction on September 18,1969, the Monte Carlo was a solid hit for the Chevrolet division. Despite a labor strike at General Motors that halted production for 67 days, the new personal-luxury four-seater racked up sales of more than 130,000 in the first year. Much of that success was no doubt due to the generous variety of choices available to Monte Carlo buyers: several different exterior looks; a range of small-block and big-block V8s; even an SS model. But oddly, perhaps, there was just one body style, a formal-roofed coupe. No convertible.

Still, you can find a surprising number of Monte Carlo convertibles around the collector car scene. Now where did those come from? They’ve been constructed after the fact by enterprising shops and skilled DIY-ers, aided by the friendly interchangeability in GM vehicle platforms. The Monte Carlo, technically designated a G-body, is actually a variant of the A-body—Chevelle, Olds Cutlass, Pontiac Tempest, Buick Skylark—all of which were available as convertibles. And they share the same black metal, windshield, and other critical points. A talented body technician can gather up a Monte Carlo coupe and an A-body donor car and put together a Monte convertible that looks for all the world like a factory production job. And who knows how many of these hybrids have been constructed.

Snip

A friend of mine built this SS454 convertible in the mid 80's grafting all the Monte panels onto a GM a body convertible and reworking the quarter panels, recovering the rear seat and side panels with Monte Carlo upholstery. It sported a real LS6 engine and Turbo 400 and have a steel working cowl hood. Pretty neat car for its time.

That Monte Carlo came out looking great.

Definitely cool as a convert. I saw a number of them In the Twin City area back then.

What is really interesting is the posting of a convert on the accessory brochure ??? Was GM considering offering a conversion thru that channel ??? It would have been a monumental over the counter package.

Interesting. The photo of the Red convert was built by Bruce Haar from Bloomington, MN.

And I probably saw it around, but I'm not familiar with Bruce. I lived in the north metro area for 67 years. Bloomington was like a trip to Iowa back then.

Spent a lot of Friday and Saturday summer nights cruising the St. Paul loop from '68-'78...:headbang:

Did he extend the wheelbase on the A-body donor car or shorten the Monte Carlo's front clip??

I do not recall exactly how he did it but I know he used a convertible frame and the Monte front frame section. There were no body modifications from stock other than the hood and quarters being modified.

My thought would be cutting off the roof. Installing the top rack.. windshield frame and 1/4 windows. I have never seen a MC convertible conversion in person.. only pictures. A guy might need the A-body tub structure to make it turn out right.

I should have clarified better, Bruce used an A body convertible donor and grafted all the Monte sheet metal to it so he made use of the windshield frame and all the other convertible structural items.

That is sharp work!

Mitch, Guessing you were at the Car Craft Nats in St Paul in the '70's where University Ave West of Snelling was blocked off for burn outs etc??

Somewhere I have a decal "I Cruised St Paul in '77" - Bill W

:grin: I ain't sayin' nuttin'.

I "heard" it was right in front of the strip mall, next to Montgomery Wards.




THAT was a crazy fun experience. By then, I had the race built LS6 in the '70 Chevelle. When I came up to the burnout spot, I told the guy with the water bottle I didn't need any to get the tires spinning. I had perfected the heel/toe method of a standing burnout with the brake pedal and proceeded to make some smoke. Insanely dangerous in hindsight, with thousands of people crowding the cars, but who thought of that when we were having fun ?

We have seriously hijacked this thread Mitch...

You may remember the silver Camaro, cover October '77 Car Craft. I built the blown 427 and 400 Turbo for my friend's ex-ProStocker turned street machine. A University Ave burnout favorite! License plate "PRO"

This was built in the Seattle area, I saw it in the late 90s/early 2000s, it was briefly for sale at a consignment dealership I worked at. I was told the builder used a Cutlass Supreme convertible donor for the windshield and top mechanism, etc. They make great convertibles, better looking than convertible Chevelles in 70-72, IMO.