Some people call the 1980's the decade that forgot taste. The decade brought several cringe-worthy trends, like the band WASP, lawn darts, and hair poofed up with cans upon cans of hairspray. It's easy to make fun of the 80s in hindsight. Still, people who lived through it find something especially nostalgic about 1980's cars, and the fourth generation Chevy Monte Carlo SS is one of the most recognizable American cars from this time.
Want to re-live your glory years in a screaming V8 muscle car? Or maybe you enjoy the aesthetic. Either way, there are listings all over the internet for this generation Monte Carlo SS at reasonable prices, but, there are some things to know before you break out the checkbook for this used car.
Let's take a look at the things you need to know before buying a classic Monte Carlo SS.
Watch Out For Fakes
It's one of the most classic tricks in the book for unscrupulous car sellers. Buy a lower-end model of a GM muscle car, slap on an aftermarket SS badge, and up-sell it for twice or three times what the car is worth. Believe it or not, there was a time when these kinds of shifty dealings were all too common. Some were even brazen enough to fit a V6 Monte Carlo with a fake super sports badge.
These types of things can still happen today, but in 2020, we have the tools to fight back. It's always important to locate the VIN number of any Monte Carlo you might be looking for. Specialty websites exist for the express purpose of identifying the specific make, model, and production year of all sorts of different cars. Once the VIN is known, these websites will be able to say for certain whether the prospective seller is deliberately trying to rip you off. If you see a conflict between the seller's description of the vehicle and what the data from the VIN number says, walk away immediately. We can't stress enough how important this step in the buying process is. It could save you a lot of grief.
Make Sure It's All Original
The fourth-generation Monte Carlo came with a wide array of different engines, ranging from turbo Buick V6s from the Grand National to a 350 ci turbo-diesel option. It's important to know that the SS model only came with the 5.7-liter 305 V8. The Monte Carlo, especially from the 1980s, is one of those cars people love to modify and even swap the engine for something like an LS. If you're looking for a Monte Carlo SS in as original condition as possible, asking the seller to pop open the hood will go a long way in aiding your search. If the hood opens and there's a V6 or a Deisel sitting inside, probably best to look elsewhere.
Make Sure It Isn't Falling Apart
It's not the fault of the car itself, but it's important to understand that at the end of the day, the fourth-gen Monte Carlo is still a General Motors product from the 1980s. That said, expect the car you purchase to come with a few mechanical quirks. Early GM fuel injection systems are known for failing over time, especially on early fuel injected 5.7 v8s. The interiors are also known to deteriorate rapidly if not exquisitely maintained. It's also important to factor in that these Monte Carlos are approaching 40 years old now, and finding replacement parts isn't as much of a slam dunk as it used to be. It's still possible to fix them in your home garage, but be prepared to wait a while for parts to arrive if you plan on doing more than just changing the oil.
Do You Actually Want A Thunderbird?
The Monte Carlo SS is an icon of its time, make no mistake. That didn't stop its competitor, the Ford Thunderbird, from constantly causing nightmares for GM executives. Like the Monte Carlo, the T-Bird had a major redesign in the early 80s, becoming more streamlined and refined. The Aerobird, as it came to be nicknamed, was based on the Fox-body platform, the same as the 80s Mustang, and came with a range of four, six, and eight-cylinder engines. Stylistic tastes are subjective, of course, but lots of people prefer the sleeker T-Bird to the boxy Monte Carlo. These two cars duked it out at NASCAR tracks across America throughout the mid to late 80s, and today, the debate about which 80s muscle car is better still rages just as hot as it did almost four decades ago.
Be Smart, Don't Get Scammed
Whichever car you decide to buy, the tips and tricks listed here apply to any make and model of automobile. When buying any used car, it's always vitally important not to get emotionally attached before you sign the check. There are still plenty of people out there who think they can pull a fast one on uninformed prospective car buyers. Nowadays, we have the tools to help you find the car you really want to buy.
Sources: Hagerty, montecarloforum.com