One of the few things we actually like about the Fast and Furious movie franchise is the Chevy Monte Carlo that was featured in the otherwise horrific Tokyo Drift film. Sean Boswell’s Monte is part primer, part beater, and part NASCAR evil wrapped up into an absolutely menacing machine that is thin on comfort and built to absolutely kill whatever crosses it’s path. It was, in the film, supposed to pack a 632ci Bill Mitchell mill, and at least one of the film cars was actually packing a 700 horsepower Bill Mitchell “Hardcore” 572ci block in real life. All go and no show, the Monte Carlo might be the most badass machine to wear yellow primer as a paint color ever.

Unfortunately, movie cars and movie car budgets are far out of the range of the Rough Start budget. But that doesn’t mean that the concept can’t be achieved. Take this 1971 Monte we found out in California. It’s just as rough as the F&F Monte Carlo, but you are getting a full interior car and a 454 under the hood that is in questionable, non-operable condition. It’s actually pretty loaded, being an air-conditioning car with power windows and a tilt wheel, so we’d suggest just cleaning up what’s there and moving straight on to the underhood. With luck, the 454 just needs some minor work to get things going and if it’s a dead player…well, it’s a 1970s Chevrolet. The options to make this luxury A-body move out are just about endless.

All go and no show, but with some creature comforts inside to make the drive just a little bit nicer…it’s a project starter, but for $2,800 it’s not a bad start!

Craigslist Link: 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo