1971 Monte Carlo
Personalized Luxury was the concept behind the all-new 1970 Monte Carlo. GM’s success with Buick’s Riviera, Oldsmobile’s Toronado, and Pontiac’s Grand Prix meant it was only a matter of time before Chevrolet also entered the field, and Chevy did in a big way. Based on the GM A-body platform, the engineers and designers created the “A-body Special” chassis which extended the wheelbase ahead of the firewall from a standard Chevelle or LeMans. This created a longer hood to proportion the Monte Carlo more elegantly. The chassis was later named “G-body” denoting the 4-inch longer wheelbase from a standard Chevelle 2-door. 1970-72 Monte Carlos are similar, featuring only minor trim and detail differences. Completely redesigned in 1973, this more baroque, “neo-classic” Monte received only minor trim and interior changes through 1977. The 1978 Monte Carlo was downsized along with its sister A-body Chevys, trimming 800-pounds and 15-inches from its 1973-77 incarnations. It retained this basic styling through 1980. In 1981 the fourth-generation Monte Carlo was introduced, refining and enlarging the earlier model’s styling. It remained the same through 1988, with an added Aerocoupe model featuring a fastback rear window to better compete in NASCAR, appearing in 1984. This body style soldiered-on through 1988, which was the last year for the Monte Carlo until the model was revised in 1994.
1971 Monte Carlo
Changes from 1970 were mostly minor, with changed details to the front end, taillights, and interior appointments. An 8-track tape player and 4-spoke steering wheel were new options. The 400 2-bbl option was dropped. Only 1919 SS 454 Monte Carlos were produced. Total production was 128,600, a lower-than-expected number due to a labor strike in September 1970 lasting 67 days. 12 Monte Carlos were shipped to Australia and converted to right-hand drive.
AVAILABLE MODELS:
1971 Monte Carlo
- Engine Options
- 350-2bbl cubic inch V8, 245hp (base)
- 350-4bbl cubic inch V8, 270hp
- 400-4bbl cubic inch big block V8, 300hp
- 454 cubic inch big block V8, 365hp (available as “SS”)
1971 Monte Carlo VIN Decoder:
First Character: Division of General Motors
Second and Third Characters: Series Designation *
Fourth and Fifth Characters: Body Style/Model
- 57 ~ 2-door hardtop coupe
Sixth Character: Year of Production
Seventh Character: Final Assembly Plant
- R ~ Arlington, Texas
- A ~ Atlanta, Georgia
- B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
- F ~ Flint, Michigan
- G ~ Framingham, MA
- K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
- L ~ Van Nuys, California
- Z ~ Fremont, California
- 1 ~ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Eighth through Thirteenth Characters: Sequential Production Number
The sequential starting number for the 1971 Monte Carlo was 100001 (except 500001 for Canadian production)
It should be noted that the Monte Carlo and Chevelle were built on the same assembly lines at Baltimore, Flint, and Los Angeles (Van Nuys) and sequencing numbers would be the same range. This means that if the Monte Carlo shown with the inspector was sequence number 123456, the Chevelle next in line would be sequence number 123457.
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