Garage Find: 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

Beneath the boxes, bags, and egg crates sits an all-original 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS with a mere 80,000 miles on the ticker.  Sadly, this is one of those cases where the original owner got sick and could no longer drive his Super Sport, so it was stowed away in a garage for eight years and didn’t emerge until recently.  This one’s not perfect, but it is still wearing the original paint and has never been involved in any mishaps, plus the seller tells us the Chevy is still running and driving excellently.

After leaving the garage, the new owner promptly changed all the fluids, and after some driving the 305 was determined to be in healthy condition.  At some point, an aftermarket air cleaner was added, but it shouldn’t be hard to find a factory component should the next owner want to put it back to stock.  We get to view a video of the Monte Carlo starting up followed by a couple of engine revs, and the V8 does indeed have a strong sound, with no unusual knocks or strange noises coming from the bay.  Next comes a short test drive, with the transmission seeming to shift properly, just as the seller states.

With the white paint nearing the four-decade mark, it’s beginning to show some age, as are the striped decals.  There are also a few areas with some rust, but not all that many, and what is present is said to be just at the surface level only.  This one seems still good enough to enjoy as a driver for a while unless the next owner just can’t wait to make a few minor body repairs and then spray on a shiny new finish.  Fortunately, the stripes remain in production, such as those available from Phoenix Graphics.  Another fun feature found here is the T-Tops, which are said to be in excellent shape and non-leaking.

The interior appears to be near the same crossroads as the outside, at a point that’s probably acceptable as-is until you’re ready to take it to a higher level.  There’s some general wear present plus a few cracks in the dash, but nothing so severe that it would cause most owners insomnia until it’s dealt with.  This 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS is located in Clermont, Florida, and can be seen here on eBay, where 31 bids have taken the price up to $7,100 already.  To me, this one feels like a decent fair-weather cruiser that I wouldn’t be in a big hurry to restore, but others may see things differently.  What are your thoughts?