This 1977 Chevrolet Monza is a Cure for the Everyday Hot Rod
For many enthusiasts, it doesn’t matter how many cars you own or how nice they are, there’s almost always one that seems just a bit more significant than the others. Shaking it off and moving on is just not an option. That was the case for West Virginia’s Bill Crawford and his affinity for Chevrolet’s short-lived Monza. With a vision, determination, and some fabrication skills, Crawford’s 1977 Monza Spyder has become a modern hot rod that’s unlike any other.
“In 1974, my friend Bob Gardner and I built a Mustang II drag car for NHRA Pro Stock, which we ran from 1975 to 1979,” Bill began. “Both of us were really Chevy guys. We thought that the Monzas that Bob Ingles, Frank Iaconio, and Grumpy Jenkins had were really neat looking cars. Now, some 30-plus years later, you don’t see many of them around.
1977 Chevrolet Monza Front View
1977 Chevrolet Monza Rear Side View
“Since I love building cars you don’t often see,” he continued, “I thought the Monza would be a great fit as a project car. After looking awhile, I found one in Connecticut that had some good parts. Next came a trip to North Carolina where I found an actual Spyder, which was in decent shape with a few dents, rusted quarters, front fenders, and doors. Later on, I found another one in Chicago with good doors, quarters, and fenders, but no floor—and this one included the back part of another car. If I were to do this over again, I’d probably try to find a better car to start with because it took three and a half cars to build this one. It’s unbelievable how much rust is in these vehicles.”
Built off the Vega platform as a sporty hatchback (at first), the original H-body would go on to serve as the platform for the Buick Skyhawk, Oldsmobile Starfire, and Pontiac Sunbird. Although short-lived, these cars were pretty versatile as subcompact cars, as they were at one time or another sold as hatchbacks, notchbacks, station wagons, and even sedan deliveries with 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines.
