The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was a big player in the 1970s personal luxury car world.
They were built around a bulletproof platform and a very common power train, so the Monte Carlos had a solid reputation for reliability and style.
Jerry Sutherland
This 1976 Monte Carlo has been on the road since it left the dealer floor at a Saskatchewan, Canada dealership and its future says more of the same is coming. It currently has 128,000 miles on the clock, but this Monte Carlo is still a very functional car.
Eagan Cairns is the proud latest owner of the Monte Carlo, and he has a definite game plan for his 70s-era personal luxury car. The last owner had it since ’82 and he was confident enough to drive it everywhere over that period of time .
He comes from a Chevy family, so Eagan admits he “loves all things Chevy”, and that made this Monte Carlo a great fit.
This is a factory two-barrel, 350 small-block car with a TH350 automatic so Eagan noted its performance doesn’t set the world on fire. He’s looking at options like a four-barrel carburetor swap or upgrading to another engine, but at this point he’s happy to fire up his Monte Carlo for its daily runs.
The brakes needed some attention and Eegan looked after that, but the only other thing he’s done are regular oil changes. That’s the beauty behind buying an old car that sees regular duty—the maintenance is done to keep it on the road.
The other factor is the Chevy brand. Eegan explained how, “You can go to any auto wrecker and find a million small-block Chevy parts”. That’s a huge asset in the old car hobby because rare parts usually mean massive prices.
Eegan’s car shows its years because the paint is weathered after decades in the sun. Fortunately, there is very little rust on his Monte Carlo, so Eegan doesn’t worry about major bodywork. In fact, he’s looking forward to more weathering in the paint because Eegan is a huge fan of natural patina.
The interior shows less wear than the exterior, so Eegan is happy about that, but he may upgrade in the future. The only serious issue is the dash pad, but the interior is low on his list for the car—although he would like to find some swivel front seats.
Eegan added his own touch with a license plate spoiler on the trunk—he said it’s functional too. He kept the factory wheels, but the front ones are smaller than the front in true 70s custom style.
He said the Monte Carlo “drives perfectly” and Eegan puts on the miles to prove it. Eegan doesn’t want a show car—he wants something he can pound down a gravel road with no fear or park anywhere with no fear.
Eegan said people love his car because of how it looks, and he likes to see kids take interest in it. They’re the next generation and he hopes his Monte Carlo draws them into the world of old iron.
At this point he’s living the dream because he has a car that doesn’t ask much and delivers more than a new car as a daily driver.
That’s all you can ask of any car.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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