Chevrolet re-introduced the Monza Spyder option's package name previously used in the Corvair Monza of the late '60's. The Spyder option was first available in 1976 on Monza Coupe and Sport Hatchback's and was essentially a performance related package with minimal appearance items. 1977 saw the Spyder package expanded to include a seperate and extensive appearance package to go with the Equipment package. This Spyder Appearance package was to remain available till the end of the 1979 model year. In 1980, Chevrolet would combine both the Equipment and Appearance Packages into one Spyder Option Package which included new, bolder appearance Spyder decals. Below is a detailed descrition of the Spyder Options year-by-year.
1976
The 'Spyder' name is introduced for the Chevrolet Monza. This package included performance equipment and some small appearance items to identify the Spyder option on the car. The Monza Spyder Equipment package was available on all 2+2 Sport Hatchback's and Monza Towne Coupe's (with 'Sport Equipment' package) with 5-speed manual and Turbo Hydra-matic automatic transmissions. Below are examples of the "SPYDER" identification emblems on the '76 Spyder.
<< Front Facia emblem (rear lock cover is exactly the same)
- found on all Monza Spyder's - '76-'80
Spyder Equipment
- 2-barrel, Dura-Built 2.3 litre engine
- Floor console unit
- Large front/rear stabilizer bars
- Special shock absorbers
- Steel-belted radial ply blackwall tires
- Wheel opening mouldings (chrome)
- Day-night inside mirror
- Sport Steering Wheel (2-spoke wheel)
- Special instrumentation and 'stitched' instrument panel pad with added wood-grain vinyl accents
(standard on 2+2)
- Distinctive "Spyder" identification (script fender emblems, steering wheel horn button insert and
Spyder front facia and rear-lock cover)
1977-79
Chevrolet made extensive changes to the Spyder package including seperate Equipment and Appearance packages with seperate RPO codes found on your build sheet. The Spyder Equipment Package was call Z01 while the Spyder Appearance Package was designated Z02. The Spyder packages were available for only the Monza 2+2 Sport Hatchback's. Spyder decal colours were determined by the body colour of the Monza ordered (see attached chart for 1977 Spyder decal colour options). There were 4 colour combinations for 1977. I'm unsure of colour combos for 1978, still searching. For 79, there were 6 combos, which included a green and a blue colour scheme. The pics below show the Spyder hood decal on different colour Monza's (note, the blue Spyder decal on the far right was not an option but it looks sharp so I've included it, it was made specifically for Dave Knickle's blue '80 Spyder see 'Spyder pics' page for a shot of his Monza Spyder)
Body Side Spyder Lettering and Stripes Rear Spoiler Decal
Z01 - Spyder Equipment
- BR70-13C Steel-belted radial ply blackwall tires
- Sport suspension
- Sport Steering Wheel (2-spoke wheel)
- Centre Console
- Inside day/night rearview mirror
- Spyder identification
- Wheel opening mouldings (available if the Z02 - Spyder Appearance Package was not ordered)
- Dual tailpipe system and white lettered tires were available in 1979
Z02 - Spyder Appearance
- Black highlights on front, side and rear of body (headlight openings, parking light openings,
windshield, rear window and side window moldings, body sill, door and centre pillar louvers,
rear end panel - bright window moldings with black exterior)
- Black or gold rear accents (taillight blackouts and rear end panel decals)
- Body colour front air dam and rear spoiler
- Spyder emblems (front facia, rear lock cover and sport steering wheel horn button insert)
- Body side stripes with Spyder lettering in red, white or gold depending on body colour
- Black painted Rally II wheels with trim rings and centre caps
- Black sport mirors
- Special hood decal and rear spoiler decal
1980
For the 1980 model year, Chevrolet combined the Spyder Equipment and Appearance packages into one Spyder Equipment package with an RPO code of Z29 and included newly re-designed bold Spyder decals and a new front air dam that blends into the front fender wheel openings. Spyder decal colour choices (five) were based primarily upon the interior colour specified rather than the body colour as in previous years (see attached chart). Below are the 5 Spyder decal colour choices as well as 3 pages detailing the Z29 Spyder Equipment Package. .
Z29 - Spyder Equipment Package
- BR70-13C steel-belted radial ply blackwall tires (with option for raised white lettering)
- Sport suspension
- Blackfront and rear bumper rub strips
- Black headlights frames
- Black windshield, belt, side and rear window moldings (not available with black exterior)
- Black painted body sill (also not available with black exterior)
- Black door and centre pillar louvers
- Black painted taillight frames
- Body colour front air dam and rear spoiler
- Spyder emblems on front facia, rear lock cover and sport steering wheel horn button insert)
- Black sport mirrors (LH remote, RH manual)
- Rear Spoiler and body stripes with Spyder lettering outlined in accent body colour
- Spyder hood decal
- Black painted Rally II wheels with bright trim rings and centre caps
