This may not be popular, but I think of the last Monte Carlo being the 1988 model as seen here. After that, the iconic Monte Carlo shape or design was gone, given way to the 1990s melted-bar-of-soap era. This 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo can be found posted here on craigslist in Smyrna, Tennessee, and the seller is asking $13,500 or best offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Barney for the tip!
We’ve seen 15 1988 Monte Carlos here on Barn Finds, one similar to this just a couple of days ago here by our own Russ Davis. That was a nice t-top model, and this car doesn’t have that desirable option. How else are you supposed to hang out of the open t-tops yelling at the top of your lungs while driving around if it doesn’t even have t-tops? Not that any Monte Carlo owners would do such a thing, I don’t know what I was thinking. That car is up to $16,100 with two days left on the auction. If t-tops are worth an extra $3,000, that’s the one you want.
The fourth-generation Monte Carlo was made from 1980 for the 1981 model year, until 1987 for the 1988 model year. There was never a four-door sedan version, or even a factory convertible, but I just made one of each for kicks and giggles, as no Monte Carlo SS owner has ever said. This car looks great to me overall, but the seller acknowledges that it needs some work to be a “show car.” There were reportedly 16,204 Super Sport versions of the 1988 Monte Carlo made.
The interior looks nice, and I don’t think of a Monte Carlo as a car with rear seat passengers, but I’m sure a few of you have been back there (hey, remember, this is a family show!), and this one looks perfect. The classic tan 1980s velour is nice, but a red interior would have taken this one over the top. Chevrolet’s interior design team must have spent months at the General Motors design retreat center in the Bahamas to come up with color names. This car is called “white.”
The seller gets a gold star for including an engine photo! This is Chevy’s 305-cu.in. OHV V8 with 180 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, and it’s sent through a four-speed automatic (no manual was available) to the rear wheels. The seller says it runs and drives, but the AC doesn’t work, and it may need a paint job. Hagerty is at $8,900 for a #4 fair-condition example: what’s your offer on this one?
Always liked these beautiful cars too SG… too bad we didn’t get a taste of the 1984 Mexican version. From an article on that model..👇
In Mexico, in 1984, and only 1984, you could have purchased an SS with an LM1 350 V8 and a 4 barrel Rochester Quadrajet hooked up to a 4 speed manual gearbox. Not only that, but the Saginaw transmission also came equipped with a Hurst shifter. Other variations from the American version included the elimination of the SS rear spoiler, different side graphics, checkerboard style wheels, different mirrors, special steering wheel, no center console, only power locks, only manual windows, and the interior was styled using Pontiac Grand Prix parts rebranded with the SS logo. 🇲🇽 👍🏁
Stan, it would be totally worth the trip to go South of the Border to find one of those. 350 4 barrel 4 speed? I could imagine that Monte Carlo actually keeping up with a Buick GN.
Believe it said 265hp/350lb-ft Dave so it would’ve been a drivers race.
‘given way to the 1990s melted-bar-of-soap era’. So accurate,. . .and yet, so hilarious.
gone already. priced fairly. clean it up and there is money to be made for sure especially with those miles
If only they’d kept the pics up for people to look at and admire. Oh well. I hope whoever bought the Monte enjoys the car.
Tan interior is rare. I had an 88, dark Claret over matching bucket seat interior. Mine had every option. Bought it in 1991 with 29,900 miles for $5,600 at a drug forfieture auction. Spent 2 days detailing it. Seats out, etc. Drove it til 1993, sold it for $9,300. The buyer, a police officer, still has it.
It probably was not the car you sold, but that car wasn’t sold to a SJPD airport officer was it? I started work at SJC loading planes for Alaska Airlines in 1995 and one of the airport officers had a dark garnet ’88, though I can’t remember if it was tan or burgundy interior in it.
I also owned an ’87 with a tan interior, over black. The car had already been repainted by 1996 when I got it and the striping was never put back on. Polished IROC wheels, no stripes or emblems and everyone used to ask, “what kinda car is that.” I got so many compliments in that car…and met a fair share of hotties driving it. A forensic team would’ve had a field day studying that front bench. I still vividly recall a certain young brunette that was riding with me on 880 by Oakland when she happened to pop her head up after, well, we’ll keep it family friendly, and a car load of younger guys to the left of us saw her and their facial expression was priceless. She was a little embarrassed though. Weird how some events just stick in your mind like a picture.
Happy Thanksgiving fellow BF’ers, and staff.