Plastic, Polyurethane... and Iron

"PhiLOL" (philol) 06/25/2015 at 11:55 • Filed to: The Daily Turismo, Daily Turismo, Blog, Blogs, NPOCP, Chevrolet Monza, Survivor, 302, Rare

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This 1977 Chevrolet Monza Mirage has it all. Including rust.

Named after an Italian town and originally intended to bear a Wankel rotary by NSU, a German company, the Chevrolet Monza isn’t the American car you expect to see in an Evel Knievel jumpsuit. Yet here it is adorned in stickers and polyurethane aero bits comprising the rare (and very American-themed) Mirage appearance package. Built during a time when it wasn’t in vogue to sport the typically American formula of “big engine in front, big smokey burnout in the back,” celebrating the Monza Mirage today is paradoxically patriotic. Find this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for sale in Oconomowoc, WI for $1,900 via craigslist.

About 4,097 Monza Mirages were sold in 1977, all with the 305 V8 mated to GM’s TH350 three-speed auto. In fuel-crisis form, it sends about 140 wheezing horses to the rear wheels. Resist the urge to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in there - more power is just a matter of carbs, compression, and exhaust.

With 51,552 miles, this is likely the freshest 38-year-old non-Corvette Chevy of any kind. Of course, “original” doesn’t imply “good condition.” There’s plenty of rust and surface corrosion that wasn’t originally on there in 1977. But the interior looks fantastic, and it’s said to run if you first pour fuel down the carburetor.

“Is that a rare performance model of the last of GM’s rear-drive compact cars? No, it’s just a Mirage.” Jokes aside, this is probably the cheapest way to own an IMSA-celebrated American fastback. As it sits, there’s just enough grunt to move around without getting you into much trouble, saving those white vinyl seats from getting soiled. And it has an 8-track player.

See another loud and proud special edition Yankee for cheap? Post it below.

PhiLOL actually likes the tuna here, but abhors structural rust. Save the manuals.

Originally posted as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

blacktruck18 > PhiLOL 06/25/2015 at 12:01

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I would like to see someone take one of these, or a Vega, and drop in a turbo Ecotec and Hoon with great MPG’s.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > PhiLOL 06/25/2015 at 12:13

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I wouldn’t make an LS swap, but rework a 283 with an aftermarket EFI.

That’s actually a pretty neat car. $500, maybe?

KnowsAboutCars > PhiLOL 06/25/2015 at 12:14

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Nice to see I wasn’t the only opponaut who spotted this. What comes to other cheap malaise specials on CL I spotted this not too long ago. I want to Cosworth YB swap it.

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > PhiLOL 06/25/2015 at 12:20

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Oh man, so much want. I will have a Monza Mirage in my life someday.

PhiLOL > KnowsAboutCars 06/25/2015 at 13:09

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Nice! Did you see this one ?

KnowsAboutCars > PhiLOL 06/25/2015 at 13:13

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I did now. I’ve actually wanted to build something slightly similar myself from a Vega woodie.

sdwarf36 > PhiLOL 06/26/2015 at 00:20

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The very first car I ever drove was a V-8 Vega panel wagon. Fat tires-4.56’s -4 speed-with a very built 350.

sdwarf36 > PhiLOL 06/26/2015 at 00:23

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I would so Grumpy that thing.

gizmokc > PhiLOL 07/13/2015 at 02:23

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My first car was a 79 Buick Skyhawk, I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for that body style.

Hunter3203 > PhiLOL 07/13/2015 at 10:23

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Cars in general sucked when I was growing up. Even the Ferraris of the day could be beat by today’s minivans. Truly a sad state of affairs. But hotrodding was still alive and well. I always thought the Monza could use some Buick 3.8 V-6 power. Much lighter than the many V-8 swaps that were done.