Vehicle Description
The great thing about the rear-wheel-drive Monte Carlos is that
there's room for big horsepower under the hood, plenty of luxury
inside, and a classic look that never seems to go out of style.
This 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS has upgrades throughout,
resulting in a car that finally delivers on the promises made by
the aggressive look.
Repainted in Candy Apple Red in 2014, this Monte Carlo always looks
ready to head out for a night on the town. This one is special,
having been upgraded and restored along the way in recent years, it
now carries a custom look that doesn't forget the spirit of the
final year run of this body style. Correct SS decals and stripes
were installed during the repaint, and there's no way to miss the
stance on this car as it sits on those 22-inch wheels. It looks
like a show-off just sitting still. For a car that's been driven
and enjoyed, the finish is quite nice, with just a few signs of
being polished but nothing major. A little ducktail spoiler out
back adds just a bit of aggression, certainly an appropriate amount
for the semi-formal Monte Carlo, and the T-tops invite open-air
cruises. All the decals look great with no signs of peeling or
delamination and the blacked-out trim pieces are still in excellent
condition.
The bright red interior was redone in 2007 and is a refreshing
change from the usual gray you find in these cars, and it works
extremely well with the Candy paint. They fought the urge to go too
custom inside, opting instead to work hard to keep it looking as
OEM as possible, from the vinyl seats to the matching door panels
to the new carpets on the floor. A few crisp, black accents dress
up the dash board and leather-wrapped steering wheel, and with the
SS you got a full array of nice-looking analog gauges. Seeing as
it's a Monte Carlo, it also includes things like power windows and
locks, A/C, a center console, cruise control, a tilt steering
column, and remote mirrors. The stereo was upgraded to a flip-out
Pioneer AM/FM/CD head unit that powers the boom in the trunk, and
cool embroidered SS floor mats are a nice touch. The back seat
looks almost entirely unused yet is spacious enough for adults and
the trunk is nicely finished with the afore mentioned stereo
system.
These cars came with wheezing 305s but this one now sports a GM
crate 350 V8 that was installed in 2013 and makes a big difference
in the car's personality. Up top there's an aluminum bowtie
manifold with a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, so it snaps to
attention when you prod the throttle, and with those fresh extra 45
cubic inches on hand, torque is impressive. It's also neatly
finished with a chrome air cleaner and alternator, plus an HEI
system that undoubtedly helps with reliability. Underneath, you get
a new 7004R 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission (also
installed in 2013), throaty dual mufflers, and amazingly solid
floors and suspension, thanks to a lifetime of low ownership in the
southern US. Someone has really been looking after this car! The
power front disc brakes stop the car with ease, while the power
steering allows two finger driving in a relaxed position,
white-knuckles not needed. And by now you've noticed those 22-inch
5-spoke wheels with 265/30/22 rubber at all four corners, giving
this SS the perfect custom stance.
Nicely built, reasonably priced, and fun to drive, this Monte Carlo
gets everything right. All you have to do is call today!