1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

-305ci V8
-Automatic Transmission
-91k Miles
-White Over Red Interior

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 145 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“Monte Carlo. Personal. Original. Affordable.” – 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo magazine advertisement

The advertisement referenced above was one of a series of Monte Carlo ads notable for their simplicity: just a “hero photo” of the car and very little copy. Other examples included “Any number of cars can make you feel good. Monte Carlo will make you feel proud” and “Good taste speaks for itself. 1976 Monte Carlo by Chevrolet. Your next look should be at its very affordable price” and “When a car makes you feel good about its looks, that's styling. When a car makes you feel good about yourself, that's character.” Originally inspired by the Pontiac Grand Prix's success, the Monte Carlo was to be a mega-success for Chevrolet with annual sales in 1976 approaching 400,000 cars. “Affordable personal luxury” was a compelling claim.

Offered here is a 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in white over dark red. Showing 91,918 miles, the car has traveled fewer than 2,100 miles per-year on average since new. As important, it has been maintained in pristine condition, a tribute to owner pride and dedication, and a perfect example of Seventies “personal luxury at a Chevrolet price.”

The exterior white paint has been superbly cared-for; the finish is evenly glossy and free of damage. The formal roofline with its opera windows shows particularly well with no vinyl top to interrupt the classic lines. The model's gently arched fender design, stacked quad-headlight arrangement, and separate front grille—all “personal luxury” design cues—also show very well in white. (To best assess the quality of the paint and trim finishes, be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) Chrome trim on these cars was restrained and tasteful. Here, the bumpers, grille, headlight trim, body side moldings, and window surrounds all retain excellent shine with minimal patina, and absolutely no damage. Cabin glass and lighting lenses are crystal clear with no cracks. All factory badging—including the Chevrolet coat-of-arms emblem in the front grille and on the sailplanes, script “Monte Carlo” badges on the hood and front fenders, and a similar badge with “from Chevrolet” added on the rear valance—is in place and properly located. Stock steel wheels with “Chevrolet Motor Division” hubcaps and chrome trim rings are mounted with outline-white-letter “Widetrack Radial” tires.

The car's interior color theme is dark-red. Textured fabric seat upholstery (with red vinyl trim) in this color remains in excellent condition with little sign of wear and no damage at all. Its vertically pleated design with upholstery buttons (all of which are present) is true to the luxury promise. Door trim echoes the seat upholstery design and color with added luxe touches including chrome trim bits, pull handle, and a script Monte Carlo emblem. Well-maintained dark-red carpeting covers the cabin floors. The stock Chevrolet-branded steering wheel features woodgrain trim (showing some delamination) and frames a square-design dashboard layout, also trimmed in woodgrain (with even control and radio knobs similarly wearing woodgrain applique). The shift lever for the automatic transmission is mounted on the steering column. Slide-levers control air conditioning and heating, and the factory Delco® AM-FM stereo radio remains mounted. All hard and soft surfaces in the cabin retain their near-original look and feel.

Under the hood, the 305-cubic-inch V8 is at the center of a stock engine bay. Surfaces are clean and components—including air conditioning—are all properly in place. There are no apparent modifications from stock. The engine still wears its “Chevrolet orange” engine—block paint. Viewed from below, the chassis is straight and complete with no evidence of damage. Expected surface rust is present on untreated metal.

The car's identification and build tags remain as mounted at the factory.

While the more than 145 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '76 Monte Carlo in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

In many ways, Monte Carlo's “affordable personal luxury” is as satisfying today as it was four decades ago. That's especially true when, as here, it's been so carefully cared for through the years. As the advertising copy put it: "That makes you feel good about yourself."