1977 Chevrolet IMSA Monza
Built utilizing a very rare Chevrolet over-the- counter IMSA body panel kit.
- 1978 SPECIFICATIONS -
BODY
1977 Chevrolet Monza - Painted Monza White
A full genuine Chevrolet fiberglass IMSA body panel kit, which included:
A one-piece nose kit
A plastic front air dam
A hood scoop
Two widened front fenders that added eight inches to the width of the froont of the car
Two massive rear fender flares, which widened the rear of the car over eighteen inches
A large wrap-around rear spoiler
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ENGINE
A Chevrolet LT-1 350 with 370 horsepower
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TRANSMISSION
An authentic Muncie M-22 'rock crusher' 4-speed
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FRONT SUSPENSION
Factory control arms with upgraded sway bar and shocks
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REAR SUSPENSION
Coil springs and air bags with upgraded sway bar and shocks
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REAR AXLE
The rear axle was a 3.73-ratio 12-bolt from a low-mileage 1969 Camaro.
WHEELS
The rear wheels were massive (for 1977) 15" x 10" American Racing 200S
The front wheels were 14" x 8" American Racing 200S
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TIRES
BFGoodrich Radial T/As
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BODY
1977 Chevrolet Monza - Painted Monza White
A full genuine Chevrolet fiberglass IMSA body panel kit, which included:
A one-piece nose kit
A plastic front air dam
A hood scoop
Two widened front fenders that added eight inches to the width of the froont of the car
Two massive rear fender flares, which widened the rear of the car over eighteen inches
A large wrap-around rear spoiler
​
ENGINE
A Chevrolet LT-1 350 with 370 horsepower
​
TRANSMISSION
An authentic Muncie M-22 'rock crusher' 4-speed
​
- 2008 - UPGRADED SPECIFICATIONS -
BODY
1977 Chevrolet Monza - Painted BMW Metallic Silver with BMW Metallic Black Stripes
A full genuine Chevrolet fiberglass IMSA body panel kit, which included:
A one-piece nose kit
A plastic front air dam
A hood scoop
Two widened front fenders that added eight inches to the width of the froont of the car
Two massive rear fender flares, which widened the rear of the car over eighteen inches
A large wrap-around rear spoiler
​
ENGINE
A Chevrolet Blueprinted 383 Stroker - with aluminum heads and 436 horsepower
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TRANSMISSION
An authentic Muncie M-22 'rock crusher' 4-speed
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FRONT SUSPENSION
Tubular control arms with RideTech coil-over shocks and upgraded sway bar
2" Dropped Spindle
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REAR SUSPENSION
RideTech coil-over shocks with upgraded sway bar
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REAR AXLE
The rear axle was a 3.73-ratio 12-bolt from a low-mileage 1969 Camaro.
The drum brakes were upgraded to Corvette disc brakes
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WHEELS
Rear - 17" x 12.5" x 6.3" Backspacing Weld Black Star Competition
Front - 17" x 8.5" x 3.3" Backspacing Weld Blac Star Competition
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TIRES
Rear - 335/35ZR17 Michelin Pilot Sport Radials
Front - 225/45ZR17 Michelin Pilot Sport Radials
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- PHOTO GALLERY -
- FACTS AND HISTORY -
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The idea behind the project was to build a fairly radical (for 1977) Street Machine utilizing as many genuine Chevrolet over-the-counter parts as possible.
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Starting with a brand new 1977 Monza as the basis for the project had its advantages. No rusty parts, no dirt and no question about the history of the car.
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The new parts purchased from Chevrolet included:
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A brand new Monza - ordered with a 305 engine, fully optioned and the air conditioning deleted
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An IMSA body kit, which came with:
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A one-piece nose kit
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A plastic front air dam
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A hood scoop
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Two widened front fenders that added eight inches to the width of the front of the car
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Two massive rear fender flares, which widened the car over eighteen inches
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A large wrap-around rear spoiler
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The Monza won First Place in its class at the '1978 Washington DC World of Wheels' Car Show
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The Monza was the 'Cover Car' for the August 1978 'CARS MAGAZINE'.
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The article was titled 'MAXIMUM MONZA.'
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The Monza was also the 'Cover Car' for the 'CARS MAGAZINE YEARBOOK'.
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In 1983, the car was striped from the nose to the spoiler and from the front fenders all the way to the rear with the same 1978 Cadillac Chrystal Blue Firemist paint color that was used on the Nova.
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In 1984 I sold it to a Chevrolet Dealer.
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The car was then sold to an attorney who had it painted bright green and cut a hole in the hood for a blower scoop... Horrible!
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It was then sold to a guy that filled in the blower scoop hole and painted the entire car a BMW metallic silver.
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One day, out of the blue, he called me and introduced himself as the current owner of the Monza and stated that he was selling it - and wanted me to have the first right of refusal.
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At first I said no, then I got thinking about it and bought it back. (After all, it was like my first born child.)
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I thought the silver looked great, but I added some front to rear stripes in a BMW metallic black to finish it off.
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I then changed the suspension as well as the wheels and tires.
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I dropped the car about four inches to get away from the 4 X 4 look and to add to the racing theme of the car.
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The new specifications are directly under the original specifications.
- MAGAZINES -
