Background on the Car: When John Gardiner bought his 1975 Monza in 1978, he had no idea the car would become a decades-long performance project. His original plan was to road race it in B Production at Laguna Seca, and that goal dictated much of the car’s early transformation.
One of the most significant additions was an extensive rollcage, designed not only for safety but also to tie the chassis together and add structural rigidity. John upgraded the suspension with more robust front end components and fitted C2 Corvette brakes at all four corners. Out back, a narrowed 12-bolt rearend with Positraction puts the power to the pavement.
Underhood is a street-friendly 406ci small-block Chevy, backed by a Doug Nash close-ratio five-speed. Most of the mechanical work was completed in the early ’80s, but John wasn’t finished. He fabricated steel fender flares and built fiberglass nose and tail sections, even retaining the molds today.
John painted the Monza himself in his garage in 1990, with a fresh coat applied in 2015. The result is a car that blends road-race inspiration with old-school hot-rodding ingenuity.
And that may be the best part of this Monza. While Chevrolet built roughly 750,000 Monzas between 1975 and 1980, you rarely see one at a car show, let alone one with this kind of history and hardware; very few even know what it is. John’s Monza takes the road less traveled, carrying a story that is every bit as interesting as the car itself. It is a blast to drive and elicits much attention whenever he goes.
Name: John Gardiner
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 1975 Chevrolet Monza
Engine: 406ci small-block Chevy
Transmission: Doug Nash close-ratio five-speed
Chassis and Suspension: Narrowed 12-bolt with 3.31 positraction, C2 Corvette brakes all around
Wheels & Tires: 17-inch American mags; tires are Yokohamas as big as I can fit in the wheelwells, 215/40-17 and 275/40-17
Interior: Upholstery by Mike Gallager, dashboard by owner
Body and Paint: Paint was done by owner and Jim Teshera, front nose and rear urethane bumper covers were custom designed and redone in fiberglass by owner. Taillights are Z28 Camaro. Fender flares were done in steel in the early ’80s.
