1979 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.
1979 Monte Carlo
Being an all-new car the previous year, 1979 Monte Carlos saw only minor changes. The grille, parking lights and taillights received minor detail changes. This would be the last year a manual transmission was offered.
AVAILABLE MODELS:
1979 Monte Carlo
- Body Style
- 2 Door Sport Coupe 6-Passenger
- Engine Option
- 200 cubic inch V6, 94hp (base in 49-state only)
- 305 cubic inch V8-2bbl, 155hp (California only)
- 305 cubic inch V8-4bbl, 160hp
- 267 cubic inch V8-2bbl, 125hp
- 231 cubic inch L6-2bbl, 115hp (base in California)
1979 Monte Carlo VIN Decoder:
First Character: Division of General Motors
Second Character: Series Designation *
Third and Fourth Characters: Body Style/Model
- 37 ~ 2-door Sport Coupe, Formal Roof
Fifth Character: Engine
- A ~ 231 L6-2bbl
- M ~ 200 V6-2bbl
- J ~ 267 V6-2bbl
- H ~ 305 V8-4bbl
Sixth Character: Year of Production
Seventh Character: Final Assembly Plant
- B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
- D ~ Doraville, Georgia
- K ~ Leeds, Missouri
- R ~ Arlington, Texas
- Z ~ Fremont, California
- 1 ~ Oshawa, Canada
Eighth through Thirteenth Characters: Sequential Production Number
Starting numbers varied depending on which plant the car was built in.
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