When it comes to the Monte Carlo, plenty of owners think they have solid gold sitting in the garage. And while a decent SS car may bring $10,000 or slightly more, the true stunners – the ones that go for big money – are cars like this with time-capsule mileage and desirable configuration options. This is perhaps as good as it gets for a collector-grade Monte Carlo as it’s an Aero Coupe with just over 3,000 original miles in the most recognizable of the factory color schemes, black with red striping. Find it here on eBay with bids to $21,800 and the reserve unmet.
The Aero Coupe does have the right pedigree for a collector muscle car. It’s a homologation model, it’s got legit NASCAR ties, and was built in very limited quantities. In general, it seems most owners of these rare Monte Carlos kept them in excellent condition. It’s fairly rare that you find a ratty one. But tracking down an Aero Coupe with such low miles is hardly an easy car to locate these days, and then finding an owner who is willing to part with said car is another matter altogether. Still, I’m surprised to see such a specimen on eBay, as it seems like a model practically built for the auction circuit.
Along with the red decal stripe and badging, a maroon interior is the other must-have detail in a Monte Carlo from this generation. Now, I also found this to be a somewhat disappointing interior given the exclusivity of the model. Chevrolet didn’t do much to distinguish the Monte Carlo inside, even when it was one of its most limited models with a loose racing pedigree. The trajectory of this model generation may have been completely different if GM had treated it like an actual muscle car and not just a boulevard cruiser. Then again, we saw how threatened the Corvette was by the Grand National.
The engine bay is spotless, just like the rest of the car. The seller notes the only non-original detail is the wheels and tires, with the original rubber and wheels being swapped off with a replacement set. However, you can only take one set! This seems awfully cheap to me given the price this car is likely to sell for, but I suppose if you’re the winner, you can find a way to kick in a few extra bucks for the original set. The Monte Carlo SS Aero Coupe is an 80s icon that made it possible to put a little NASCAR in your life for a reasonable price. What do you think this low-mileage Aero Coupe should sell for?
Beautiful Montè. A proper 350 w some decent hp is deserved in all of these handsome Monte Carlos.
I’d prefer a ratty one, so I wouldn’t feel bad giving this car what it deserves…about 400 hp with handling and brakes to match. But like you said, the Aero Coupes are almost all in very good condition. I definitely have building a “regular” SS on my bucket list.
I owned an 86, it was definitely a cruiser, but not fast in any way. I had a neighbor that had an aero coupe, he drove it into the ground and I’d be willing to bet it’s in a junk yard or worse today. I loved the room and comfort, but yes 400 hp would have been a whole lot more fun !
These G-Body’s were sweet as a nut when they hit dealer lots….I remember them vividly.
Keep it all original and preserve it…..this is a real unicorn.
This is a killer Monte, keep it that way.
I always loved these and the Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 cousin even more due its forgotten rarity and ugly duckling status.
Always thought it was a shame these weren’t properly production-engineered with a hatchback instead of the ridiculously small trunk openings (Pontiac’s even more so than Chevy, because the rear windows are different and non-interchangeable!)
GM never invested in properly engineering these to be hatchbacks because their sole reason for existing was to homologate the more aerodynamic fastback shape for NASCAR, so they never intended to make even one more car than necessary to meet that bare-minimum production quantity requirement.
The IROC’S had 240 hp lighter vehicles than the Monte Carlo SS.The SS would have been awesome with 350 horspower.Now 2023 horsepower is King…….Dodge Hell Cat…….only IF……..
collector-grade Monte Carlo? Somebody ordered the jumbo shrimp!
As a guy that lived through the 80s, my favorite car quote about it goes like this: My favorite part about car culture in the eighties was that anyone who took it seriously drove something from the sixties.
I’m sure it has sentimental value for folks of a certain age, but objectively, it’s a really terrible car.
How is it terrible? Let me guess, because it doesn’t have 400 horsepower.
I grew up in the 80s too bud. I have to disagree. My stepdad has a 65 impala SS in superb condition, a 68 camaro in good condition, and prefered to drive the 86 monte SS around to show off. I was fortunate as a young man to find another 86 SS in rough shape for $1k and build it out with my son. I was unfortunate enough to have to sell it. Im still in the market for another. It is still one of my favorite cars ever produced. Perspective is a beautifully sentimental concept.
All it needed was an engine
It’s amazing these were built at all. The end of the line was right around the corner. If not for a few gear heads on the GM payroll, it never have been. Same up the road a bit in Flint with Buick.
These were the death throws for RWD. Everyone knew that FWD was coming and the fun would end with those coming appliances.
Needs a number 3 on it somewhere.
The Monte Carlo deserved the 5.7 TPI engine out of the IROC. Would have been a blast with the 3.73 rear!
Own an 87 SS since new with 105,000 miles on her and just did a $20k on body resto. Still turns heads and gets complements as well as stories about wishing they kept there’s. Surprised at the price as I have been offered $25k for mine.
The price premium over a regular SS here is due to it being the Aero Coupe limited edition with the slanted glass bubble rear window. GM only made just enough of these to homologate the more aerodynamic fastback shape for NASCAR.
It was a wonderful car for its time. You really cannot compare this SS Aerocoupe to the 60’s muscle or the horsepower of the cars today where a Honda Civic would crush it. It was a cruiser for the 80’s, was rare and looked cool. Fantastic example.
I owned an every option 1988 SS, Claret Metallic over burgundy. Coat more than $18,000 new. Sold it in 1993 for $9,300 to a local cop. He still owns it. One of my dumber moves. Always loved taking it to Carlisle with the t tops out and Aerosmith blasting on the radio. Never cared for the Aerocouoe even though I was a huge Earnhardt fan.
I had a 1983 with blue/gray with white/blue int. Had the white headrest with the blue SS embroidered on it. Yes it had a dog 305 H,O, but somebody ran me into the wall on I-285 in Ga and totaled it.