Vintage air

[Chris Bryant]

Will installing vintage air hurt the value of these cars?

[72 Monte Carlo]

It might only to the purist's that only want everything to be exactly how it was from the factory. 

But for most of us who need and want AC, it would be a much needed benefit.

[cbolt]

[MCfan]

Hi, Chris,

I agree with Doug but having a non-AC Monte in Florida is pretty much a 4-70 proposition ( all windows down and 70 mph).  Installing aftermarket AC was one of the first projects (of many) that I did after buying my non-AC '70 which had all of the basics I wanted (402, M20, 3.31 Posi, buckets and console).

I carefully compared the Vintage Air and the Classic Auto Air offerings and chose the Classic system (listed for the '70 Chevelle but shipped with longer hoses for a Monte). At that time (2010) they were virtually identical in price but I really liked the way the Classic system left both of the bottom Astro Vents open and usable with the stock manual actuator.  I also liked the way they used the stock control panel and cable actuated deflectors.  However, I understand that even Classic has gone to all digital controls with their own non-stock control panel so that my no longer be a consideration.

The attached photos will give you an idea of how the Classic system looks installed.  I have more photos if you are interested.  Good luck whichever way you decide to go.

 

[Rob Peters]

57 minutes ago, 72 Monte Carlo said:

It might only to the purist's that only want everything to be exactly how it was from the factory. 

But for most of us who need and want AC, it would be a much needed benefit.

I agree, the majority of people are not purist's.  This is evident when we look at that register with us at our Eastern, Western and Mini-meets.  The largest majority of our members end up in the Modified class and Street class.  Usually 20% to 25% registering in the Stock class.  For the most part, my Monte is totally stock and I am pretty much a totally factory stock type of person so a car with an aftermarket air conditioning unit would not float my boat.  So for me an aftermarket system to me would affect the value of a car to me........

That said, since I would usually only go for a car with factory air so as far as a car with aftermarket air, it would not be a car that would interest me so in that case it wouldn't matter on the value set by the seller since I more than likely would not go to look at it.  Not dissing someone who would install aftermarket anything because I enjoy  seeing them all.

rob

[Dtret]

I am considered a purest, at least I’ve been told that. If my car was a non-ac car and I wanted it, it would be installed. If they are correctly installed I don’t think it would hurt the value at all, might help it actually. 

[cbolt]

  At the end of the day it all depends on who is placing the value on it. 

[Jared Richey]

It'll increase the value even on a #s  matching type of car 

Which it cost like $2k now and if installing figure another 2000 or more to install on a car that is put together. Best time is during a teardown 

[Tonka Man]

Others can probably speak to this better than I can, but I would say the first gen Monte's are really not worth big money.  It is sad to say really because they especially beautiful cars that deserve more love in the car market.  I watch them on BaT and other web-sites and it seems most of them sell in the $20,000 to $25,000 range for good driver quality cars that are complete and have nice paint.  An SS car may get into the $30,000 to $40,000 range.  Numbers matching cars with Vintage Air will not affect the value for these cars up or down IMO unless someone wants an AC car and they live in a hot climate.  Then they may be willing to pay a little extra but it isn't more than a few thousand dollars.

If we were talking about the same generation Chevelles, GTOs, Cudas, Chargers, Road Runners etc... then this may be a concern.  Purists would want no AC or stock AC and the comparable cars with or without Vintage Air would likely be different values.  I can't speak to the difference in value this would create for these cars, but it would be much greater price point and value.

On the flip side, with the lower price value in the market, it means more people like you and I can afford them from an original price point and restoration price point.  Instead of paying $30,000 for shell, we can pick one up for as low as $1,500 (I know because I bought a complete car last year for that price and another shell for $2,500).  I've got about $11,000 into that $1,500 car and that includes the original price.  I've replaced tires, gas tank, brakes, several other parts and paid for and installed a rebuilt 350 engine and Turbo 350 transmission.  It is a nice driver that is completely fresh from stem to stern mechanically (except the original AC system which I haven't tackled yet).  I'll probably have another $10,000 by the time I finish interior, new vinyl top and new paint.  That puts it right in that price value point I was talking about.

I would be really interested to see what other members say that have a better pulse on the market for first gens.  Am I about right in my assessment?

[Kenc106]

Do it…. You only live once, here’s my 67 camaro , I built my own controller.

 

 

[Jared Richey]

On 4/23/2025 at 7:37 PM, Tonka Man said:

Others can probably speak to this better than I can, but I would say the first gen Monte's are really not worth big money.  It is sad to say really because they especially beautiful cars that deserve more love in the car market.  I watch them on BaT and other web-sites and it seems most of them sell in the $20,000 to $25,000 range for good driver quality cars that are complete and have nice paint.  An SS car may get into the $30,000 to $40,000 range.  Numbers matching cars with Vintage Air will not affect the value for these cars up or down IMO unless someone wants an AC car and they live in a hot climate.  Then they may be willing to pay a little extra but it isn't more than a few thousand dollars.

If we were talking about the same generation Chevelles, GTOs, Cudas, Chargers, Road Runners etc... then this may be a concern.  Purists would want no AC or stock AC and the comparable cars with or without Vintage Air would likely be different values.  I can't speak to the difference in value this would create for these cars, but it would be much greater price point and value.

On the flip side, with the lower price value in the market, it means more people like you and I can afford them from an original price point and restoration price point.  Instead of paying $30,000 for shell, we can pick one up for as low as $1,500 (I know because I bought a complete car last year for that price and another shell for $2,500).  I've got about $11,000 into that $1,500 car and that includes the original price.  I've replaced tires, gas tank, brakes, several other parts and paid for and installed a rebuilt 350 engine and Turbo 350 transmission.  It is a nice driver that is completely fresh from stem to stern mechanically (except the original AC system which I haven't tackled yet).  I'll probably have another $10,000 by the time I finish interior, new vinyl top and new paint.  That puts it right in that price value point I was talking about.

I would be really interested to see what other members say that have a better pulse on the market for first gens.  Am I about right in my assessment?

SS are 60k and up. I sold one for 55k and it later sold for 68k at mecum non #s matching. But it was beautiful 

The quality of the car matters. Good colors bucket seats, AC cars are 30-35k. Small block 

20k cars paint is ok not great and usually a bench seat.

You still can buy a junker cheap which helps a ton. I only paid 3k for the SS I built.

One thing I've noticed is these cars haven't taken the hit in a soft market after the Free Fraud $$$$ Extravaganza in 2021 and 2022.