Well Saved: 1975 Chevrolet Monza California Edition

The Chevrolet Monza (not to be confused with the Opel Monza or the Chevy Corvair Monza)  was released in the 1975 model year as GM's plus sized subcompact (how's that for a contradiction in terms) offering on the H-platform shared with the Vega/Astra/Sunbird/Skyhawk/Starfire.  It was GM's answer to new sporty-ish compact offerings from Ford like the Mustang II, Capri and Dodge's Galant based Colt.  The Monza was actually quite a strong seller, with almost 750,000 examples of the H-body sold in the first 6 years of production but few remain on the streets today, much less in this sorta condition.  Yowza! Find this 1975 Chevrolet Monza California Edition offered for $7500 in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Coffee Brake: A Musical Interlude

Well East coast cars are hip
I really dig those wheels they wear
And the Southern trucks with the way they don't start
They sit on blocks when I'm down there

1971 MGB GT offered for $7995 in Capitola, CA.

Coffee Brake: CA SB-1239 Moves Smog Exempt Cutoff Year from 1975 to 1980

Coffee Brake on a Thursday -- what sort of madness is this? We've got a good reason for the interruption of our normally schedule nonsense -- and bring good news for the Californians in the audience.  The CA Senate Transportation and Housing Committee passed (by 6-5 vote) SB-1239, which is a bill that will move the smog exemption cutoff year from 1975 to 1980. Meaning that 1980 model year cars will now be the newest to be exempt.  The bill was introduced earlier this year by Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado) who released a statement saying:   “Collector cars and trucks are a unique and important part of California history and need to be preserved.  Extending the exemption to 1981 is a common-sense way to encourage that these vehicles remain on display for all to see, drive and enjoy.”

Coffee Brake: Order A California Legacy License Plate

Last year, the California DMV announced that legislation introduced the California Legacy License Plate program offering vehicle owners the opportunity to purchase replicas of California license plates similar to those issued in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.  This was great news, however, there was a slight catch, in order for the program to be implemented, at least one of the three styles must receive 7,500 orders before January 1, 2015. Only the plate or plates that reach 7,500 orders before January 1, 2015 will be implemented.  As it stands today, only the black plate (1960s) will be released and the other two plate types will not meet the minimum order quantity unless folks start buying them.  That means you!!  More information here on the CA DMV website.