Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS
Overview
ManufacturerChevrolet (General Motors)
Production1969–1987
1994–2008
Model years1970–1988
1995–2008
Body and chassis
ClassPersonal luxury car
Body style2-door coupé
LayoutFR layout (1970–1987)[1]
FF layout (1995–2008)

The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a two-door coupe that was manufactured and marketed by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. Deriving its name from the city in Monaco, the Monte Carlo was marketed as the first personal luxury car of the Chevrolet brand. Introduced for the 1970 model year, the model line was produced across six generations through the 2008 model year, with a hiatus from 1989 to 1994. The Monte Carlo was a closely aligned variant of the Pontiac Grand Prix through its entire production.

From 1970 until 1972, the Monte Carlo rode on the unique "A-Special" platform with the Grand Prix, shifting to the standard A-body intermediate chassis for 1973–1977. For 1978, the model line underwent extensive downsizing but was still considered a midsized coupe. The rear-wheel drive A-body platform underpinning this generation of Monte Carlo was redesignated as the G-body when GM's front-wheel drive A-body cars were introduced for 1982. After an abbreviated 1988 model year, the Monte Carlo was replaced by the two-door Chevrolet Lumina.

For the 1995 model year, the Monte Carlo was revived, replacing the two-door Lumina. Sharing the front-wheel drive W-platform with the two-door Grand Prix, the Monte Carlo was again slotted above the Camaro as the largest Chevrolet coupe. Following the discontinuation of the four-door Lumina in 2000, the Chevrolet Impala became the four-door equivalent of the Monte Carlo. After the 2002 model year, the Grand Prix coupe was discontinued, leaving the Monte Carlo as the largest two-door coupe produced by an American auto manufacturer.

In response to declining sales of the model line, Chevrolet discontinued the Monte Carlo after the 2008 model year.[2] During much of its production, the Monte Carlo represented the Chevrolet brand in stock car racing. During the 1980s, the Monte Carlo SS was introduced, featuring aerodynamically-enhanced styling; as part of its revival, the Monte Carlo again represented Chevrolet in stock car racing from 1995 through its discontinuation.

  1. ^ "1970 Chevrolet (USA) Monte Carlo 1gen Coupe full range specs".
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).