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Cheap Project: 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

For the person on the hunt for an inexpensive 1980s project car, this 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS could be a car worth a serious look. It runs and drives, but has a few minor issues that will need to be addressed. If it is a car that ticks the boxes for you, you will find it located in Blairstown, New Jersey, and listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN price of $1,800, and with 101 people currently watching the listing, it appears to be a car that has generated its fair share of interest since being listed for sale.

The photos that the owner supplies of the Monte Carlo aren’t the best, but they do seem to show a fairly clean and complete car with no major issues. The White paint is looking a bit on the tired side, but there’s nothing there that couldn’t be fixed with a repaint. The car is fitted with a T-Top, and the owner claims that this is in good condition, with no signs of any leaks. One little bonus is that while the wheels fitted to the car look to be in good condition, there is a spare set of aluminum wheels that will be included in the sale.

What should be under the hood is the high-output 305ci V8, producing 180hp. This has gone by the boards, and in its place is a 350ci V8. This is backed by a 4-speed 200-4R automatic transmission. It isn’t clear whether the new engine has provided a noticeable improvement in performance, but the owner says that the car starts, runs, and drives quite well. There is a leaking power steering hose that will need attending to, but that is the only mechanical issue that he mentions. Included with the Monte Carlo is a spare rear end, fitted with disc brakes.

When I first looked at the only interior photo, I thought that the dark cavern that you see here was upholstered in Black, but the listing states that it is actually trimmed in Burgundy. The owner admits that the car will need some interior work, and I can see the headliner hanging down, which tends to confirm this. It isn’t clear what it will need beyond a headliner, so a personal inspection is going to be required to establish this. As far as creature comforts are concerned, the Monte Carlo is fitted with power windows, power seats, and power locks.

The owner of this 1987 Monte Carlo SS gives potential buyers the impression that with the power steering issue addressed, the car could be driven as it currently stands. One of the things that makes the Monte Carlo interesting is that contemporary reports from 1987 lavished praise on the handling traits of the SS, rather than its engine performance. These have remained largely ignored by enthusiasts, and it is still possible to buy a nice example today for under $15,000. Having said that, values have been climbing reasonably steadily over the past couple of years, so that’s a situation that could be set to change fairly soon. This Monte Carlo looks like the sort of project car where the majority of the work could be tackled in a home workshop, or the buyer might just decide to follow the owner’s suggestion of driving it as it is.

Comments

  1. Avatar Jeff

    Gone in sixty seconds!

    Like 3
    • Avatar Lynn Dockey Member

      What no factory installed 350?

      Like 1
  2. Avatar rpol35

    The A/C compressor is missing.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Juan Motie.

      The A.C compressor is missing. Words of wisdom from rpo135. ZESH!!! Thanks none of us would have noticed.

      Like 0
  3. Avatar poseur Member

    Seriously…..? An $1800 buy it now?!
    Ridiculous.
    Glad I didn’t see it before it sold or I’d be spending another $1000 getting it transported.

    Like 7
  4. Avatar PRA4SNW

    Money well spent!

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Chris M.

    A cripplingly boring design with monumentally flaccid performance. Pass everytime.

    Like 1
  6. Avatar mark houseman

    I hope the buyer read the seller’s ebay feedback……I wouldn’t touch anything this gay sells…..

    Like 1
  7. Avatar Troy s

    Pretty sure the no smog 350 will out perform the 305 HO, a whole bunch.
    That would make it interesting, passing a smog test would be loads of fun too. Only the Buick GN and turbo charged T-Types were worthy performers in this platform which makes them valuable.

    Like 0

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