Monte Carlo Cars The Second generation 1973 Part 3

Monte Carlo Cars The Second generation 1973 Part 3

Picture Of Monte Carlo Cars

The interior of the 1973 Monte Carlo Cars featured an all-new, wraparound cockpit-style instrument panel, similar to that found in some contemporary Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles and Buicks, in which gauges and various instruments were centered within easy reach of the driver. The simulated burl elm trim was retained. A split bench seat was standard, but "Strato Bucket" seats of a new design were optional, along with a floor console featuring an equally-new shifter with knob and button similar to Pontiac's Rally Sports Shifter replacing the Buick-like horseshoe shifter of previous years, and storage compartment. The bucket seats were of a one-piece high-back design with built-in headrests, and could swivel some 90 degrees to permit the driver and front passenger easier entry and exit. Cloth and vinyl trims were offered with both the bench and bucket seats.

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Monte Carlo Cars The Second generation 1973 Part 2

Monte Carlo Cars The Second generation 1973 Part 2

Picture Of Monte Carlo Cars

The separate body-on-frame construction carried over for 1973, as was the basic all-coil suspension.

Picture Of Monte Carlo Cars

For improved ride and handling, the 1973 Monte Carlo Cars featured a number of innovations (for a large American car) such as standard radial-ply tires, Pliacell shock absorbers, high-caster steering, and front and rear anti-roll bars (previously offered only with the SS package). The standard Monte Carlo Cars with manual transmission, retained "traditional" steering and bias-ply tires, but the radial-tuned system was included when the automatic transmission was ordered, earning the Monte Carlo S label.

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A new model for 1973 was the Monte Carlo Landau, which was basically an "S" with a rear quarter Landau vinyl roof, Turbine II wheels and driver and passenger-side sport mirrors.

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Monte Carlo Cars The Second generation 1973 Part 1

Monte Carlo Cars The Second generation 1973 Part 1

Picture Of Monte Carlo Cars

A redesigned Monte Carlo Cars was introduced alongside other GM intermediates. Like other GM mid-size cars, the 1973 Monte Carlo Cars was no longer a hardtop, but a pillared coupe with rear side opera windows and frameless door glass. Prominent styling features included dual headlights flanking an egg-crate grille with a Monte Carlo Cars emblem in front and vertical taillights above the bumper. The front bumper was a large federally mandated 5 mph (8 km/h) bumper that was among the required 1973 federal safety standards for all passenger cars sold in the U.S. with the 5 mph (8 km/h) requirement extended to rear bumpers on 1974 models. Also new was a double-shell roof for improved noise reduction and rollover protection along with the flush-mounted pull-up exterior door handles first introduced on the 1970 1/2 Camaro and 1971 full-sized Chevrolets and Vegas.

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Monte Carlo Cars The First generation 1972 The End Part

Monte Carlo Cars The First generation 1972 The End Part

Picture Of Monte Carlo Cars

Interior trim was relatively unchanged from 1971 other than the availability of all-vinyl upholstery with the standard bench seat in addition to the optional Strato bucket seats. Cloth interiors were also offered with both bench and bucket seats.

Picture Of Monte Carlo Cars

Monte Carlo Cars was a very popular seller during the 1972 model year as production increased significantly to 180,819 to set a new record in the final year for the first-generation G-body. Monte Carlo and other Chevrolet models were promoted as part of a new ad campaign in which Chevys in print and broadcast ads were featured at various tourist attractions and sites around the United States under the tagline "Chevrolet: Building a Better Way To See The USA."

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Monte Carlo Cars The First generation 1972 Part 2

Monte Carlo Cars The First generation 1972 Part 2

Picture Of Monte Carlo Cars

In California, which had emissions standards more stringent than federal law, the 4-barrel carbureted 350 was the standard and only available engine. Also, the only transmission offered in California was the Turbo Hydramatic.

Picture Of Monte Carlo Cars

For 1972, the four-speed manual transmission was discontinued from the option list as a line in the Monte Carlo Cars brochure describing its market position as a personal luxury car stated "Sorry, no four-on-the-floor." The standard three-speed manual and optional two-speed Powerglide automatic transmissions were offered only with the base 350 CID two-barrel engine, with the three-speed Turbo Hydramatic also available with this engine and a mandatory option with each of the optional engines.

Picture Of Monte Carlo Cars

Mechanically, the most significant change was that variable-ratio power steering became standard equipment for the first time.

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Monte Carlo Cars The First generation 1972 Part 1

Monte Carlo Cars The First generation 1972 Part 1

Picture Of Monte Carlo Cars

A Cadillac-like egg-crate grille similar to the 1971 Chevrolet Caprice and a metal rear trim molding highlighted the changes to the 1972 Monte Carlo Cars, the final year for the first generation design. The SS was dropped, but a new Monte Carlo Custom option appeared as a one-year only, offering that included a special suspension and other items previously included with the SS option. Unlike the departed SS package, it was available with any engine on the roster.

Picture Of Monte Carlo Cars

The engines were largely unchanged, but an industry-wide switch to SAE net hp numbers led to a reduction in the rated power of all Chevrolet engines. Chevrolet did not list gross horsepower figures for 1972. Compared to 1971 figures, only the 402 and 454 had a decrease in power. The new ratings for the Monte Carlo were.

• 350 CID (5.7L), two-barrel: 165 hp
• 350 CID (5.7L), four-barrel: 175 hp
• 402 CID (6.6L), four-barrel: 240 hp
• 454 CID (7.4L), four-barrel: 270 hp

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