1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Landau

Automotive engineers rack their brains for ways to make getting into and out of a vehicle as painless and easy as possible.  In the modern era, we frequently see such features: automatic retracting running boards and electronic upward-tilting steering wheels.   But the innovation around ingress and egress has been going on for a long time; consider the swing-away steering wheel on the 1964 Ford Thunderbird.  Here's another solution that worked to solve the same problem:  swiveling bucket seats.  From 1973 through 1977, select General Motors models had front bucket seats that could swivel 90 degrees to allow for ease of entry and exit.   “Indeed a very rare and desirable swivel bucket seats and even with factory center floor console and automatic shifter,” 

This classy Monte is a solid cruiser that's benefitted from careful use only on an as needed basis, and as a result has a mere 74,956 original miles logged.  An unrestored original car with all the right boxes checked and presented very nicely, you simply won't find more muscle and luxury for the money!  Get ready to turn the key in a car that has been fully serviced and is ready to go and show...just let those swivel bucket seats suck you in.

Exterior
Silver Taupe Metallic, code 64B bathes this car with the consignor stated factory paint.  A few faults, particularly on the hood, where something has thinned and removed the paint and we note some road rash and surface rust behind both the front and rear tires.  Body colored neoprene fillers reside between the bumpers and the body in the 5mph crash buffer and remain intact.  This car sports sleek lines with single headlights in the round flanking a narrow horizontal slight V shaped egg crate grille and fairly shiny bumper below.   Just some beginnings of tarnishing is noted on this front bumper, but you've got to get close to see it.   A wonderful feature is a crease in the side panels beginning on the front quarter where it begins its swoop downward, eventually dying into the mid door.  It picks up again on the rear quarts and ends up on the back of the car with the angled in the corner tail lights, large trunk lid, and another shiny bumper below.  On top we see an black vinyl covered Landau top which has the vertical “italicized” glass on either side for the rear passengers to watch the world go by.  Trimmings and surrounds are all excellent including the lower rocker trimming which clads this car all around, and shows splendidly.  15-inch turbine style wheels in Silver Taupe and natural aluminum finish are shod in 215/75R15 thin white stripe radials from the 7th week of 2022.  1973 never looked so good.

Interior
Stressing originality cannot be done enough for this example, with a swing of the doors we see a mixture of  black molded plastic/vinyl with stitched tuck and roll uppers, a vinyl door pull and a large armrest with a supple vinyl topper for your elbows.   Some power window and lock toggles are on the doors as well as the mirror joystick, door actuator lever, and the necessary ash receptacle, although looking at this original interior it was never smoked in.  Slipping inside I use the swivel front bucket option, and viola! I'm in with little to no effort.  I now sit on a sleek black vinyl bucket with some stitched and buttoned tuck and roll inserts and smooth bolstered high back buckets.  The chairs, including a matching original back bench, all float in a sea of black carpeting which shows no stains or fading.  Grabbing on to the original wheel I peer into a square panel which is covered with burl appliqué and this panel houses 2 round instruments and a few warning lights and turn signal lights.  A black vinyl padded dash covers the passenger side, and faux burl veneer and back fronts the dash from centerline to driver's door.  An aftermarket AM/FM/8 Track stereo, some gauges, including the speedometer and fuel gauge reside within the burl while the supporting pods reside in the black plastic and encompass warning lights and the clock.  We note the addition of an aftermarket cruise control unit along with an added delay wiper actuator.  A standard GM Monte Carlo steering wheel fronts the dash.  Another ash receptacle with a built in lighter and glove box is on the passenger's side of the dash, very original.  Above is a tight black headliner in perfect condition with a working central round courtesy light.  A shout out to the trunk with factory stickers on the inner lid, and original spare and jack with pristine lining throughout.  Looks nearly untouched.

Drivetrain
A lift of the hood and we get our first view of the lightly patinaed and surface rusted engine.  Within these clean confines is the original 350ci V8, (casting number 3970010 if you are checking), and on top under the factory spit shined black air cleaner covering is a single 2-barrel carburetor.  On the back is a TH350 numbers matching 3-speed automatic transmission.  The rear axle weighs in as a 10 bolt variety with 2.73 gears.  

Undercarriage
Up on the lift is a well preserved undercarriage with a surface rusted frame.  Some surface rust also appears on the usual suspects like the springs, driveshaft and rear undercarriage supports, but all unremarkable as to structural stability.  We note some light seepage and dripping from the oil pan and independent coil springs for the front suspension and a 4 link with coil springs for the rear.  Power disc braking is in front, and power drums for the back.

Drive-Ability
I love test driving these lower mileage large Detroit iron cars, and this one left me with a smile on my face.  I slipped through the swivel seat and grabbed the wheel and turned the key, and I was off like a prom dress to the test track.  Here it performed flawlessly, with no creaks, complaints, and great acceleration.  Braking was bias free on the panic stop and steering was a breeze with no slop whatsoever.  All functions were working just fab save for the AC blowing warm, the clock not keeping time and the passenger's power window only going up from the passenger's door control.  That aside, this car is just right for my driving position …baby bear, and frankly for the slightly portly build that I carry around, the swivel buckets are a godsend.

An incredible honest find, nearly all original with some minor maintenance performed, and no need for any restoration because doing so would actually devalue this car.  A great early 1970's color scheme, swivel seat option, and a smooth running car ripe for the collector picking.  It will be difficult to match a find like this, and then if you do the owner must be willing to part with it!

1H57H3B458238

1-Chevrolet
H-Monte Carlo
57-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
H-350ci V8 2bbl
3-1973
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
458238-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG

ST 73 AH57-1973 Monte Carlo 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BDY B144301-Baltimore Body #
TR 708 AN7-Black Vinyl Swivel Buckets
PNT 64B-Silver Taupe Metallic, Black Top
11D-4th Week November
CB1-Landau Roof

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.  This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.