My wife had a 1979 Monza, but with the 5.0 liter V-8. One of the fastest (and most dangerous) cars I have ever driven. It could burn rubber in all gears (3-speed automatic), and would go faster than you would want to drive it. Never felt quite right at high speeds...
It was also THE worst car in snow and ice... It would start sliding when you put it in gear at an idle, just getting out of the drive way, no matter how many bags of kitty litter you put in the back. Needless to say, it never got out of the driveway in bad weather.
You could also only take it once to a shop for a tuneup. You had to loosen two engine mounts, and jack the engine up to change all the spark plugs. When you paid the bill, they would kindly tell you to never darken their door again...
Funny story! You had a V8? Lot of engine for that car. I had a 1980 Pontiac Sunbird two door - no hatchback. It was the Pontiac version of the Monza - from the front, the grill made it look like a mini Trans-Am. Had an “Iron Duke” 2.5 liter 4-cylindar engine.
I heard the stories about the larger engines having to be removed to get to those back plugs, but never had it confirmed by anyone who had one. Anyway - an automatic with a 5.0? I’ll bet that’s why it was sliding in the snow at idle - so much power on such a light car in the snow ain’t good...
Anyway, I had a 4 speed manual with my 2.5, and the ground clearance was so tall it acted like a Jeep. I drove home through one of the worst snows in Memphis history (don’t laugh, it was 16”) and jumped curbs and drove over stuff like nobody’s business. I should have kept that car.