Oddball Muscle Cars

[MYRONARL1119]

You guys may not classify them as muscle, but for what they were-they weren't half bad. 1975 2 + 2 Chevy Monza 262 v8 4 speed. Same combo as now being run as a pass national record holder from Canada. I had a 1975 4 speed model that wasn't all that fast e.t. wise, but with the 2.....rear end felt like it could have run nascar top end. Also had a 1977 2 + 2 305 v8 auto/ a/c that my wife drove and they also were a good street light warrior. The all time sleeper factory V8 Monza was to Calif 1975 model. The 262 would not pass Calif smog test, so they used a factory 350 into Calif that would. Never saw one in the Mid west as I would think that would have been rather limited.

[MYRONARL1119]

Bret, My personal best oddball muscle in addition to early monza was actually a repo that I bought at a bank repo auction in the summer of 1968.. They had this pretty plain looking 1968 Chevelle Malibu 2 door hardtop. I popped the hood and saw that it was a 327 v8, so I ran it up to 2200, and that bought it. Upon closer inspection, and noticing that it seemed like it wanted to fish tail rather badly-we found that some one had stuck old recaps on it and probably replaced to correct air cleaner. Turned out that is was a kind of rare to that year to be a 327 what they called a 325 horse in the Chevelle. Had bench seat, 4 speed, no power steering,no power brakes. Turned out it had a 3.73 posi rear end. I painted black in the grille, between the 2 chrome strips on the rear, and under the side chrome. It would out run most street run of the mill SS Chevelles, but then every one just figured that it was probably a 375 hp 396 instead of a small block. Drove it in Ohio until the rear quarters rusted, and water started coming in around the rear window...Should have put ip up, and fixed later. Wished I had kept it now.