Alameda Street Sighting - 1975 Chevrolet Monza V8

There are some cars I photograph more extensively than others, and it frequently depends on the environment or how good an example of that model the vehicle is. Sometimes both factors apply, in the case of this orange Chevy Monza in dappled late afternoon shade. Parked on a quiet residential street in Alameda, this Monza is not really what one would expect to find. But given that the same block contained a 1973 Cadillac hearse, a late '70s Trans Am, a VW Thing and another Monza, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.

Most Monzas are relatively tame economy cars, though a V8 engine was available. In 1975 the car could be had with a 2.3 liter four or a 4.3 liter V8, though California cars came with a low-output 5.7 liter V8 instead for emissions reasons. This car has dispensed with stock power in favor of a 6.0 liter V8 probably out of a Chevy truck or perhaps a late-model Pontiac GTO, tucked under a hood that bears a large scoop that would look more at home on a drag car. The engine swap suggests the car is a first-year model, because 1975 is smog-exempt. The paint job is of course custom and was likely applied with rattle cans in the street with minimal masking or disassembly. The whole package doesn't look like much, but when the car drove past me while I was returning from photographing the '61 T-Bird a few blocks away, it sounded pretty wild. I bet it's a handful.