Chevrolet brought back the Monte Carlo SS in 1983 – 12 years after the last edition was available. The last time around, a 454 cubic inch V8 was offered, while a souped-up 305 would have to suffice a decade later. The seller’s car comes with a 454, but it’s in pieces and not in the car. And, the condition of the vehicle is described as “fair” with only two exterior photos. But the price is low: $3,000 here on craigslist where the car is for sale in Steep Falls, Maine. Our thanks to Mitchell G. for this Chevy tip!
The 1983-88 Monte Carlo SS models were intended to compete with the Buick turbocharged Regals of the same era (such as the Grand National). The Buicks used a V6 while the naturally aspirated Monte’s stuck with V8 power. The Chevies got the F41 suspension handling package and handily outsold the Buicks – and out-performed them in NASCAR, too, winning the Cup championship three times between 1984 and 1987. The street version of the SS was rated at 180 hp and the aerodynamics of the Chevrolet proved to be an advantage.
We’re told this Monte Carlo SS runs but does not stop, hence the likely reason for the wheels being on rollers. The seller says there is some rust and dents, but the photos do nothing to show that or the condition of the interior. If the 305 is still under the hood, it may have been idle for a time given the layer of rust on the stock air cleaner cover. The broken odometer is said to read two million miles, but surely that’s just the seller getting carried away.
This car should be one of more than 41,000 assembled in 1986. The seller is throwing in a 1970s-era 454 V8 that has some mods, but it appears to be in pieces and not in the car. We assume the seller was intending to finish the motor and put it in the Chevy, but that’s just a guess. But you may be getting a lot of stuff for cheap wheels money by 2024 standards.
The engine it SHOULD of had from factory…
Sure, if you want to turn a resonably balanced car into a front heavy Neanderthal that just goes from street light to street light while burning tires and scaring young children. If you want power, there is plenty to be had from a well built small block. As far as the engine it should have had from the factory, it never would have passed Federal emissions testing, nor CAFE standards. I myself find breathable air delightful, so I never grumbled about the government interventions. Lets add in that by 1987, the insurance companies would have never allowed such a beast. Finally, by 1987, most young people in the market for a new car, never grew up in the muscle car days and didn’t have the urge for it, GM would have lost money on that deal bubba. The 305 by that time was a pretty fine mill. Sure, maybe GM could have coughed out a 350, but big blocks? If there had been a legal way to meet government standards and make a profit, they would have done it, but as they didn’t I guess the choices they made were correct.
I think you wanted to make it sound like a bad thing, but you made the big block sound awesome
then you would of been happy with a 70 307 mailbu over a LS7 SS following that line of thought…not me
Funny, I grumble at most government intervention. Believe me, they are not here to help the average American citizen any more.
Unlike back in the day, young & older children are all INside these days, looking at their phones or playing video games.
The 1969 all aluminum big block 427 ZL1 motor was same weight as an all iron small block.
Had one of these with a 350 crate motor, that is all it needed to go fast !!
I would put a big block in it in a heart beat. I have a big block in a 1980 camaro and I love it. Not so heavy when that weight transfers.
why waste the big block. how much is rust really on this ss especially underneath in the back 1/2 of the frame? l/s swap would be better. put the b/b in a Chevelle.
the LS is a good point