I had a Triumph Spitfire & a Chevy Monza. The Monza was just a Vega made to look more sporty, but later they did put a V8 in one.
Emission requirements took a toll on performance & those 5 mph bumpers were ugly.
And to change the plugs on the V8 Monza you had to take a motor mount loose and raise the engine. This was not a vehicle built for basic maintenance.
If I recall the V8 Monza had to have the engine pulled to replace some of the spark plugs.
I had a 79 Monza. It was the biggest POS ever made by Detroit. Something was ALWAYS breaking. I was happy when it caught fire and was totaled by insurance.
I had the Monza Spider with the standard transmission. Lots of clutch problems, but a sporty little car I used as a teen to commute. My date car was a red 1970 Formula. Loved that car. My heart sank a little when Pontiac closed shop. I’ve had a Tempest, two firebirds, and rented Fieros for weekend debauchery in Milwaukee when I was attending FC “A” school while stationed at Great Mistakes.
I had one of those ‘77 Monzas with the 305 V8.
I bought a MGB (new) and a few years later, after I sold the MGB, came *this* close to buying a gorgous dark red Triumph TR-6 with a thin red line tires...but remembered the constant problems of the MGB