1977 Monte Carlo, Lost and Found Again
This is a feel-good story about a 1977 Monte Carlo.
Remember your first car, that freedom of not only transportation but also expression? It was special to all of us even though we had to give it up for various reasons, school, family, crashed it, or maybe just wanted to move on to something else. Whatever the case, we seldom get the opportunity to ever own it again.
Oh to have Chris Reynolds’ luck! Not only did he get his first car back, the exact same car we may add, but it was given to him by the guy he sold it too nearly 20 years earlier. The gentlemen passed away and left it to Chris in his will, although not in the same shape as he sold it. His 1977 Monte Carlo was pretty much a basket case at that point, so Chris did what any person would do when their first love came back to them but needed some attention. He did a full frame-off restoration. No easy feat with a large-and-in-charge Monty.
First thing was to get the frame back in shape with blasting and powder coating. Once it was cleaned up and solid Chris added some Global West control arms and RideTech coil overs to make it ride and handle like it should. Fat Man fabrications cut down the rear end housing 3” to make way for deep lip 20” Foose wheels to match the 18s up front.
With the foundation and suspension updated to Pro-Touring specs, it was time to get the body and sheet metal up to par with everything else. Bryant’s Classic Paint handled getting the body straight enough to lay down that deep black color, laser straight stem to stern. Under the hood sits a nice, dependable Edelbrock Crate 350 all decked out with polished and plated accessories.
Like most projects it was already out of hand by this point, so Chris figured he might as well make the interior as nice as the rest of the car. JnG Creations stepped up to the plate, covering everything inside with soft black leather along with custom door panels and armrests, even finishing out the trunk to the same level as the interior. Some white face Auto Meter gauges and a B&M shifter help give the muscle-bound Monty a competition feel while Vintage Air keeps the heat from the black on black combo at bay. This car gets driven so air conditioning in steamy North Carolina is an essential item.
Chris’s major mods meld together nicely forming the best 1977 Monte Carlo anyone could ever desire. Have you seen a better-looking one? Didn’t think so. If only Chris’s younger self could have seen the potential in this Monte Carlo the first time he owned it!
