The 1980’s were not known for fast muscle cars that could compare to the prior decade with the exception of the Buick Grand National and GNX. However, there were still a lot of neat cars and, as the decade concluded, power and performance improved. Chevrolet introduced the second generation of the Monte Carlo SS from 1983 to 1988. For those of us who were in our teens and twenties during that time, this car brings back some great memories. This example is located in Augusta, Georgia. It is listed here on eBay and has been bid to $27,600 with 31 hours left in the auction. You make think that is above market but after looking at the improvements that have been made to the drivetrain and the condition of the car, it may be worth it.
A glance under the hood reveals that the 305 cubic inch V8 engine has been replaced by a high performance 355 cubic inch V8 small block. There is not a lot of information on the engine build itself but it does have a Holley double pumper carburetor, Hooker headers and MSD ignition. The aluminum overflow flow tank for the radiator also looks cool on the passenger side of the engine compartment.
The interior looks immaculate in the pictures and the car appears to be loaded with power windows, tilt, cruise control and air conditioning. Power is transferred to the rear gears via a 700R 4 speed automatic transmission. Aftermarket gauges to monitor engine performance have been added to the console. Over 16,000 Monte Carlo SS models were produced in 1988 out of a total production of 33,174 Monte Carlos.
The factory aluminum wheels look great. I am not a big fan of Mastercraft tires but to each his own. The paint looks shiny and the Monte Carlo is equipped with T-Tops. Aftermarket dual exhaust have been added and the seller states the vehicle is rust free. The ad states that the car has 30k miles the title check via eBay shows a positive report with 8 owners over the cars lifetime. Apparently, nice examples of the Monte Carlo SS (even modified ones) are gaining traction and increasing in price.
Master craft tires are made by Cooper Tire. A less expensive tire but I’ve gotten good service out of them.
This Monte is set up the way Chevy ought to have built them. Wanted one a long time, but they have gotten out of range like everything else nowadays. Somebody is going to get a nice cruiser.
Cheap junk…if you want your car to look like you just left the K-Mart Auto Service bay, put Cooper (or any of the other names that are the same tire with a different name…Mastercraft, Futura, etc.) Cobras on your car, lol.
Only thing cheaper and crappier are Primewell or the other Chinese crap.
When I was a Chevrolet service manager we had a bunch of new Monte Carlo SS’s on our lot, I went down and picked up my new 86 Grand National. My general manager wasn’t too happy with me. I explained if I could’ve bought a new SS with a tune port 350 I would’ve, but wasn’t interested in a 305 MC SS.
You made the right choice! And this one will still get it’s doors blown off by a stock intercooled Buick 👍🏻
Or any 5.0 foxbody from 85′ up 🏁
so right art!! that 5.7tpi would have put these over the top. might have even gotten this old mopar guy to to go bowtie. these were actually nice rides. the next door neighbor had one i got to exercise now and again, plus i had abunch rolling through the shop back then.
this one is done up real nice
Do you not realize that the description indicates this is a 355 and would in fact be a 5.7?
yes but a home built 5.7 not the tpi unit that chevrolet commanded could only go in vettes and camaros. and my comment refferd to as they were built in agreement with art’s comment
A no no’s car. No numbers matching plastic disposable car. And in my opinion was bid up over 3x it’s actual value. This is just a used car with a nice motor. Maybe 8k 10 would be max
You wish a lot on these comments. You have your wish in one hand and sh** in the other. If you want one you better pay up…..if you just wish shut up.
I would NEVER want a plastic gutless disco car. And yes there’s lots of people obviously overpaying for literal JUNK on here.
I bought one new in 86. Same color, t-tops, buckets, console. The comments about plastic disposable car may be slightly harsh. I drove mine 250,000 miles, never had a problem with the 305 (maybe because it didn’t have enough power to blow itself up), and sold it for $8800 less than I paid for it. Of course, by then, it needed paint and the plastic in the interior was in sad shape.
Correct Bill, as is the secret to all the underpowered Toyotas ive owned. To weak to break anything equals stellar reliability 🙌
Think it was the “CAFE” MPG requirements that kept these from having a 350, same with the Caprice except for Law Enforcement. Really sucked in 1989 when if I wanted a Chevy with a 350 and a Stick Shift I could choose from a Vette or a Truck (I chose the Truck, or more accurately my bank account chose) 4 years later I finally got the Camaro
I didn’t like the 305. Had an 87 white with red accents and t-tops. Mine was a regular just like this I hated the Euro coupe ones
No one liked a 305.
i have an 87 El Camino with the 305 4v. that piece of crap has never been faster than 115 mph! It has seldom gotten less than 23 mpg! as far as reliability.. forget it! it only has 747k miles on the original.. untouched engine! What a hunk of junk. I only use it now as my daily driver and to pull my 16′ flatbad trailer to haul my mowers and construction materials around. But you guys are correct.. the 305 sucks balls..
This info is not correct. No Monte Carlo’s were produced in 1988. The last date of production was December 12 1987. GM sold left over Monte Carlos as 1988 models so they could race in NASCAR. In 1989 the new more aerodynamic Lumina was raced. 16,204 Monte Carlo SS produced in 1987 were sold as 1988 models.
Hope it doesn’t have the weak stock rearend…
The best one of these made was probably the 1984 model that was sold in mexico only.A factory 350 with a 4spd manual,somewhat of a unicorn.The prices for these have been a little steep and some sellers must have bumped their heads.And this one probably doesn’t have the cam for a double pumper,it just looks cool.someone will buy it…theres a sucker born every minute.
Years back guy around the block had a 84 with a factory 4speed and 350. She ran! Him and his wife were going through a divorce and she burned the garage down along with that sweet Monte!
I don’t think i ever seen 1 of these w/o a/c, let alone a GN as such.
An inexpensive potent 350 or 383 & true dual exh are just waiting 2b installed in any of these where there is no inspection.
Could 1 get THIS gen Monte SS with blackwall tires, or even wheel covers &/or whitewalls? Maybe not.
Author, you are sadly mistaken about the ’80’s…because by late 1983/1984, the Mustang GT/LX 5.0 stick cars were running just as well, and were more reliable and economical, than most muscle cars from the late ’60’s-early ’70’s. By the late ’80’s these cars would run 13’s with very minor tuning. Quicker than most of the best from ’69-’70.
Also tire technology has come a long ways from polyglass tires offered on musclecars back then,getting the 1/4 miles they did on these tires was impressive and a good cheater slick or street radial would improve on those,much like if you were to put vintage polyglass tires on a 80s foxbody mustang with stick or auto and it would run slower through the quarter
I am not disputing the mileage but I would be careful to recognize that there have been eight previous owners and seems a bit far fetched that all eight owners were like minded “keep the mileage down” types. I have a friend that is in and out of cars weekly, some high dollar cars and I asked him about mileage on a recent 69 Chevelle he acquired, and he basically said it did not matter, that mileage meant nothing to him. I asked him why and he said that when he runs a car thru (he is a licensed dealer), he can put whatever he wants on the title for mileage. He went on to say he had sold one not too long ago and the owner came back disputing the mileage that was on the title which he had put in as it read on the odometer. Turns out the car had changed hands thru a dealer years ago and it was noted as being much lower. The car was thought to have about 40k miles on it per the sellers title however there was prior ownership that had the mileage closer to 100k years ago. Dealers have the ability to put whatever they want on the title when they process a car and it is way too easy for them to make a change that then becomes part of the cars history. This is a nice car, just pointing out that workarounds have been found that may create a false narrative that over time becomes fact. Nice Monte though.
I have an 86 that I bought in 88 and put an 87 grand national drivetrain in, l ended up with the best of both worlds.
No good the engine has been modified, and that spells TROUBLE
Not always. Evidence of your claim? Perhaps the owner was dissatified with the 304, not an uncommon complaint. That 305 was only making 180 hp. Pretty weak for a car weighing more than a ton and a half. People swap out engines all the time even when nothing is functionally wrong with the old engine. Those 305s were weak performers in these cars and almost nobody in their right minds will fault a previous owner for ditching it.
This is a thirty five year old car so it’s not unusual to exchange hands so many times. I own a 1988 BMW and I am that car’s fifth owner.
Another car that begged for an L98 350. It was sacrilege to put a 305 in a car labeled SS.
I owned a near perfect Dark Claret 1988 Monte SS with every option, cost more than $18,000 new. I got it for $5,500 in 1991 at a drug forfeiture auction. Detailed it for two days, all fluid flushes, drove it sparingly to keep miles below 40,000, then decided to sell it. I got $9,300 for it in 1993. The guy that bought it, still has it.
I wish I had more money than SENSE……very nice car, about twice what it is worth though…..
SOLD for $28,200.
Weren’t the 88’s Aerocoupes?
Aerocoupes were made in 86 ( only 200 ) and as many as they could sell in 87.
These cars were such a disappointment. Good platform for mods though.