How do you know HOW rare your model is exactly?

[jgbuzzin]

I've looked around a bit, maybe they've hidden all the info I'm looking for? I just purchased a '77 Monza, notch-back. It has 10 hole aluminum wheels, equipped with 305v8 from the factory. The car appears to have the original EVERYTHING, outside of radio, and speakers in the front door pannels, and has a pinch less than 75k on the dash. I would like to know if this is one worth keeping as original as possible, or if it falls on the not so rare side. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing i just ripped apart a nice little car they only made a few of. I bought the car because I've always liked them, never did I think I would stumble across one that I could actually afford in this much of an original state. I found the VIN breakdown, but kinda looking for the production numbers, how many were made with what options, and so on. Also, would it be a sin to under-coat or p.o.r.-15 it on the underneath, to protect it?

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[cjbiagi]

This subject was just pretty much thoroughly discussed and as far as what to do with it there is no simple answer. Well, maybe there is, just do what you want. There are purists and there are those that prefer a modified approach. Personally I fall into the latter category. I don't think there is ever going to be much real collector value to these cars. Most of these cars are approaching 35 years old or so. If they don't have collector value by now I doubt they ever will. Look at most other collector cars, Camaro's, Chevelles, Cuda's, etc., they weren't anywhere near this old before their value skyrocketed. So, if you want to keep it stock because that's what you want to do then do it. If you are doing it to maintain it's value I doubt it will make much difference. Rare does not always equal demand.

[jgbuzzin]

Rare does not always equal demand.

thats a great way to put it for sure! yes, i read for quite some time about the should i cut it and should i replace this with a not original part...
I bought the car because i liked it, guess I'll drive it and we will see what happens.

[cjbiagi]

It's a very sharp looking car so whatever you do with it will only improve it. The path you take is just a personal choice. What I meant was you are not going to decrease the value of it by modifying it. So go where your heart takes you.

[jgbuzzin]

I was trying to delete the double + pics, but i couldnt find the option to delete or edit. i had 1 of each angle that i planned on posting, including the great condition under side.

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[stage169]

Sorry for the late post but I do have some numbers for you. Correct me if I get some options wrong.

1977 There were 34,133 Towne Coupes made.

2,714 were made with the Sport Front End Apperance
1,202 had the Black Vinyl Roof Cover.
442 were made with Black Leather Buckets.


1977 Total Monza's made is 73,348

2,380 were made with the digital clock. (this is from total Monza's built)
1,768 were made with Aluminum Wheels.
24,681 were made with the 305 V8
18,392 were made with Confortilt Steering Wheel

Numbers are the only way I know on how rare a car is. If there were records for combinations like the V8 and Aluminum wheels on a Towne Coupe maybe the numbers would drop but one thing for sure adding your Leather seats drops the options made with number. Without records you could never say for sure but its possible your car could be one of 200 or less made with those options. Like everyone has said its up to you. Brian

[Sunula66]

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" there. Having said that, If you drop 5 Grand more into it? will you get it back if you decide to move it?does it matter if you are going to drive it for a while? Everything has a value and even a less desirable model of car. Just remember, there is always someone interested in it, just advertising it successfully is key. If that Monza sold in Canada you are able to buy the "build" sheet as I did. Mine is one of 358 models sold in 80 and has a breakdown of the components. H-Body's are the "little orphan" as Richard and I described them, yet whenever I show up at a car show or the Dairy Queen, it gets immediate attention. " Oh yea! I remember those" is the normal reaction, but in another 5-10 years, they can't help but be worth a little bling! Then it will be," sh_t wished I'd kept mine now" Looks like a nice one you have there and enjoy it no matter what you do to it!!! George J. Zappora is a vintage specialist at G.M. in Oshawa,Ont.Canada. You can reach him at George.zapora@cc.gmcanada.com Good luck, Ron ... His toll free 888-467-6853 or outside Canada, [905]440-7636or[905]440-7618 or fax [905]440-7644 If your car was built in the U.S.ofA. and later sold to a Canadian dealership via G.M. direct sales you will probably be able to obtain the build sheet. If the vehicle owners down the road moved to the States and re registered the car elsewhere this doesn't matter as it was originally registered in Canada first by G.M. Check your V.I.N. with George on the phone or by fax, there was a cost incurred by me of about 52.00 bucks or there abouts. Hope this helps everyone!

[vegastre]

I totally disagree with just about everything mentioned. These cars will eventually be collector cars and be worth no telling what. These cars are a historical record and not many left in original condition. For that fact not many left period because all H-bodys regardless of options made were major crusher material for junk yards and trying to go off production numbers helps but doesn’t define the rarity.

The difficulty you seek here are a bunch of enthusiast who have seen everything under the sun and get beat down by watching Berret-Jackson on ESPN and see Corvettes going for astronomical figures because there are so many plastic pig lovers out there compared to the relative small cult of H-body drivers and that is key. Car collecting goes in cycles like everything.

My point if I have one, the last original h-body will be worth a small fortune and who’s to say that’s not it? No one predicts the future and take it from some one who has cut up a lot of H-bodys and sent them to their death I wish I would have saved just one because all original H-body’s add up to something special nowdays.

[Allen]

Hi, Allen here. I am new to the site, and thought I would chime in here. I agree with vegastre. I think that these cars, kept in original condition will have increasing value. And this may be especially true of the 1977 Astre w/ the 151 Iron Duke. I am fortunate enough to own one of these Hatchbacks, and it is a real gem. Certainly not a quick car, but runs great @ 70 mph and gets 30 mpg. I don't know how many were made, but I will never sell mine. I also have a 1976 Notchback Astre, one of 18,400 built. Although it has the 140 Vega engine with 4 speed. The car runs great but with 62,000 miles it is starting to use some oil. Still a great car and no inner fender rust! As a project, I have disssembled a ratty 76 vega Hatchback in order to restore function to a 76 Kammback. Wish me luck.
Best to all,
Allen.

[HI WINDING MONZA]

Allen ,if thats a light yellow 76 Notch you have there, then I have its close twin here.
Mine is missing the drivetrain. ( auto trans though)

Doug in Az

[Sunula66]

I was just "back-reading" some of these older posts and realized that we (the H-body" crowd) has gotten another year older and a lot wiser about the increase in membership and input on this site! One of the posts here was sort of contradictory and I think they meant that they would "agree" not "disagree" that the "little-orphan" is gaining in popularity.
Anyway, has anyone else utilized the "link" that I posted here about obtaining their build sheets through George Z. at G.M. in Oshawa? Remember that your car has to be originally sold in the Canadian market though. If you did, I'd like to know what you found out that may be of help for the Vega and Astre folks. There was a misprint that I found out about some years ago, a meer type-o that caused a lot of contraversy at the time and when I confronted George on it he immediately corrected this for me explaining that input of info on these vehicles can sometimes be misread. It only took a summer student doing this that caused the commotion. Just be sure that you always keep as much info on your particular piece such as pic.s and any prior info re; previous owners, where and when the vehicle came about and so on. The more history you know and research on the car will help establish a value as well!
The "misprint:" ..apparently, a summer student working at the G.M. archives "vintage-dept." had misread my info and misprinted a build location of my own Pontiac Sunbird! He read Pontiac Formula and assumed he was transfering info about a Firebird Formula. The ending result was that my build sheet showed that my vehicle was built in Lakewood Georgia! instead of Llordstown Ohio!
I have both buildsheets and on occasion show this to H-body people for a really great reaction and good laugh!

[mastiff]

It looks to be a clean car. so no I wouldn't cut it up. But I would do bolt on upgrades and if you had the room keep the original parts just in case you decide you wanted to put it back to stock original. Good luck you have a good start going either way.

[Nocash]

Check out the NADA prices on their websiite, these cars are cheap! Mod away!

[cjbiagi]

H bodies are approaching 40 years old. If they have not increased in value by now I hardly think they will in the future, at least not as much as we'd like. Cars gain in value because as people who were young when the cars were new couldn't afford them then and when they got a bit older and had some extra cash they would try and find the cars that they always wanted. That means that people that were young when H bodies were new are now pretty much at that point, so now would be the time that their value would be increasing and I don't really see that happening. I suppose any old car that gets older will have some value if kept in nice condition but I am not holding my breath waiting for H body values to go up. It's hard to pinpoint why some cars are so popular and others are not, but that's just the way it is.

[marco_1978_spyder]

I think it's hard to pinpoint value itself with H bodies...

There's no standard values, as with other makes and models...

But the right model, Say for example a totally mint original survivor V8 spyder model, with all the best options....found buy the right buyer with deep pockets...

Presto instant value...

There's still the last sprinkle of these cars left...when every things really dried up, I'd say the last remaining, rare sport model, all-original survivors will find the right deep pocket buyers / collectors.