CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO : WHY IT WAS SO POPULAR

In the late 1960s, the era of Detroit Big Three luxury coupes was in full swing. Chevrolet introduced the Monte Carlo in September 1969, a stylish two-door meant to compete with Ford’s Thunderbird. Though the Chevrolet Monte Carlo drove into the automotive sunset in 2007, the model soldiered on through six generations and 30 model years, a noteworthy achievement worth recognizing on the car’s golden anniversary. The Monte Carlo wasn’t GM’s first attempt at a personal luxury coupe. Oldsmobile’s Toronado debuted in 1966, and Pontiac’s own Thunderbird-fighter, the Grand Prix, arrived for the 1969 1962 model year. Chevrolet did what it could to distance the Monte Carlo from the offerings of other GM divisions, but both the Monte Carlo and the Grand Prix shared a 116-inch wheelbase A-body platform. The Chevrolet excelled in value, launching at a base price of $3,123, enough to undercut the Thunderbird by $1,838 and the Pontiac by $862. THIS IS THE STORY OF THE CHEVY