I may be in the minority, but the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aeroback is one of my favorite eighties cars, simply based on its outward appearance and the design of that wind-cheating rear window. Performance of the street cars isn’t anything to get overly excited about, but the concept here in 1986 was homologation, a fancy term for getting enough of them on the public roads to make the design eligible for NASCAR racing. That number was 200 for the first year of production in ’86, with some 6,052 produced for the final 1987 model. This Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe here on Craigslist is a less rare 1987 offering, but it’s a low-mileage example and has only been owned by one family. This Super Sport is in Danbury, Connecticut, and we’d like to thank Tony Primo for finding it and sending in the tip! With an asking price of $42,000, this one’s not cheap, and I’m curious to hear if our readers think this one’s worth the cost.
I’ve mentioned it before, but I chased one of these Aerobacks many years ago that was owned by a lady who managed my local bank, and drove it only on nice days. Hers was also white and equipped with the uncommon T-Top option, which the car being offered here features as well, which is bound to add some value. With my relentless pleading, she never would consider selling, and I sometimes wonder what happened to that car. The seller here mentions that this Chevy was purchased new by his late father, and that it hasn’t been registered since 1994. However, it’s been stored inside and said to have been continually maintained during the last 30 years. Looking through the photos, there isn’t much to find fault with here regarding the exterior, which still seems to be in top-notch condition.
The factory 305 engine under the hood is a bit underwhelming by today’s standards, producing only 180 horsepower. However, by period norms, it wasn’t all that bad, and fortunately, this V8 only has a total of 26,334 miles of use. No manual transmission was available, so buyers were forced to go with an automatic. With such limited use, there’s probably a lot of life left for the next owner to enjoy, plus a few spare parts that have been collected over the years also come with the sale.
The red interior seems as well-preserved as the exterior, and includes some nice options such as power windows, door locks, cruise control, and a tilt steering column. If I still had the same kind of room now as in the past, I’d probably have to pursue this 1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe, as it’s almost identical to the one I fell in love with nearly 20 years ago. The price is possibly a bit on the high end, but with the low miles, single-family ownership, condition, and those fun T-Tops, perhaps this beautiful Chevy is worth every penny. What do you think?
20,000 if you’re lucky!
This has got to be in the top 3, or 2 cleanest Monte SS aero coupes we’ve seen here on Barnfinds. Just look at that interior!!! Looks at that engine bay!!! I thoroughly believe in driving our older cars. And I’m not saying this shouldn’t be driven, but……. I think this needs to be continued to be carefully preserved. And enjoyed. I agree with Mike, the 305 in these were really not all that bad. For the time they came out, they were very good performers.
And they’d have no trouble keeping up with today’s traffic too The eagle eyed Tony Primo sure found a beauty here. This is s great write up too Mike, thank you.
Thanks for the kind words Big D.
The 3:73 rear gear and the 200R4 first gear ratio of 2.74 give it a fighting chance. I had an 87, and it performed pretty decent considering what it had to work with.
Forget performance, just look at it! As a wise man once said, “It’s better to look good than to feel good…” I like this, just not sure I’d spend $42k on an 87 Monte Carlo. I’d be the coolest Dad at elementary carpool, though…
I had an every option 88. The 305 sounded awesome on high idle. Never should have sold that car. In early 90s I bought thousands of dollars in NOS parts from Reedman Chevrolet knowing these cars would be worth money. Sold them all to Mike’s Montes. Great find Tony Primo.
I want to thank you for the NOS sun visors.. NOS grab handles.. and a few other items in this exact color for my 5th gen El Camino. It has needed a few things from Mikes to help it last for 748k miles.. and still going!
Freedman Chevrolet! I grew up in Langhorne, PA and went to HS with Herb Reedman!
This was one of the most unique production cars of the time. I think Pontiac had a similar version with a tapered long back window. The price is steep but I imagine over time it will appreciate. There are so few, this looks like a beauty
have you priced the rear window for either the Monte or the Gran Prix? If you can find one they are over $1000. Mike’s Monte had a used one for $999.
A friend just sold an NOS rear window for the Pontiac 2+2 at Iola this summer. Still in the box, and it went for $1500, if I recall correctly. But good luck finding another one!
Pontiac’s version was called the Grand Prix 2+2, and had a different rear window that extended back even further with more of a rounded bubble shape vs. the sharper hotwire-bent rear window corners of the Aerocoupe seen here.
No. Not worth every penny then or now. Pontiac had an aero also. I drove GM’s midsize in 87 whilst shopping for new car,. The monte seemed “solid” but no thrills when hitting the go pedal, A slug.Same for pontiac. Now the WE-4 Buick at the time was all it should have been. I kept the Buick for 7 years then sold it for 8K,. Have never bought a black car since.lol
This is a clean one!
Interesting, but ugly. I thought they were ugly back in the ’80’s when they were new and my opinion has not changed. Stupid looking spoiler, the “aero” glass is proportionately out of synch with the rest of the body, and the grille appears to be frowning while trying to smile.
yeah, the price is stiff and i doubt it will sell on c/l. this is very clean and well preserved. they made between 4 and 5k of these.86 is real rare 1 only released to dealers in the south. this too needs an in-person auction to possibly pull the # the seller is looking for. i bought some stuff from mikes montes at Carlise years ago. he is not a nice guy to deal with IMO. i feel very he is very snotty. unfortunately, he has the pats if you want them. i have used dixie monte carlo parts before as well. not too bad to deal with
Always loved the 80’s Monte SS’s. Last good looking ones in my opinion but much prefer the standard formal roof as opposed to the aero back glass. Never cared for t-tops either. It really is in beautiful looking original condition but can’t say much about the price as I’m not too knowledgeable on what the market is for these. Seems pretty steep but I guess it depends on how bad someone would want it.
I ordered a 1987 Monte SS non aero coupe (because my wife would’nt let me get a 70 GTO Judge “because it will never get driven”) I sold the car in 1997 with 1,900 mi. never in rain or sun. Sure wished I would have bought the Judge!