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.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by 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.

I always thought a Monza with a Buick GNX motor would be a killer street car.

[Bret Kepner]

Originally Posted by MYRONARL1119

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 Midwest as I would think that would have been rather limited.

I actually saw one, Myron; it was running in the Production classes at Bonneville in '87 or so and almost couldn't get through tech because of lack of documentation. I believe the model was referred to as the "Black Widow", (in deference to the Monza [/i]Spyder[/i] option). Apparently, the same name was bestowed on a limited performance model of the Corvair Monza Spyder so it was (apparently) a generational thing. Maybe Gould can shed some light on that.

Ironically, smallblock Monzas became one of the more common cars on the salt; there are still a bunch of them running there, too.

[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.

[mtkawboy]

Monza fastbacks are one of the best aero bodies you can run at Bonneville in the classic production classes. That 327/325 combo was like the 327/350 deal only with a q-jet carb on it. Paul Berg , I/S racer, ran one in a 68 Nova at Miami.

[Paul Ceasrine]

The ODD-BALL Match Race,1967 AMC Marlin 343/280HP vs. 1966 Avanti II (w/Chev. L-75; 327/300HP),,Thought the Avanti had an AMC power-plant, but it came through with a Corvette,L-75 code, 327/300 Carter-carbed engine)..The Avanti's weight break was between 10.00 - 10.50....Watch out you E/S Z-28 Camaro's,,,Has anyone calculated the weight break for the 67' Marlin,, had to weigh in at about #3450 or so.
And the Marlin was the pre-sursor for that other man-made-marvel,,, the red-white-blue "Rebel Machine" 390/340HP...
Paul,,next up 'The American"

[Greg Reimer 7376]

Originally Posted by 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.

That engine had more beans than most people realized.It had 11.00 to 1 compression forged pistons, a larger journal steel crank,the #151 camshaft, 2.02 intakes with 1.600 exhausts,and was the 350 horse long block with the #803 intake and quadrajet. That car today would run E or F with a 4 speed. I don't know of any out there currently being raced, but it would be neat to see again.