Chevy Monte Carlo

The Fourth Generation Monte Carlo

Posted on 25. Sep, 2009 by admin.

The Monte Carlo’s body style took on a new look in 1981, which was the first year of the fourth generation. Other Chevrolet cars took on similar visual overhauls, including the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, the Buick Regal, and the Pontiac Grand prix. The profile was much sleeker than it had been in previous years, and it would sport newer, vertical tail lights as it had in the 1970-1977 models. Available engines were pretty much carried over from the previous year, with the standard being the 229 Chevrolet built V6 with an option for a 267 V8, a 305 V8, and a 170 hp turbo charged 231 V6. Monte Carlo built about 3,000 of these turbos in 1981… Significantly fewer compared to the previous year.

1982 pretty much saw only mild changes in the Monte Carlo. All of the engines were carried over from the previous year, with the exception of the turbo charged 231 V6. This was discontinued when the Monte Carlo Turbo was discontinued. However, there were new options in the form of a 260 V6 and an Oldsmobile built 350 V8. These were both diesel engines. In this year, cars that had previously been considered A bodies were now classified as G bodies. Also, the black Monte Carlo was not offered this year. Another thing that was not offered for the first time in Monte Carlo history was a sporty interior option, complete with the Strato bucket seats. Only the standard benches were offered in 1982.

1983 saw the return of the SS model, which had not been built since 1971. This was the model that became very popular with Nascar teams, mostly because of its sleek and aerodynamic front end. 1983 offered, on its SS model, the L-69, which was a 305 cubic inch V8. This is a very treasured year for collectors, and is one of the most sought after Monte Carlos in existence.

The following year, 1884, saw the SS as a huge hit with buyers, both those from the general public and those who bought for Nascar. The Monte Carlo SS was winning on the racetrack, but it was also giving the public a little bit of the power that they had been craving since the emissions regulations back in the 1970s. This year, the Strato buckets came back as an extra cost option, and it was also the last year that you could get the 350 diesel in the Monte Carlo. There were only 168 of these even manufactured that year! But, 112,730 sport coupes were sold this year. 1984 also saw over 24,000 models ship with the SS option, the engine in which had a 5 horsepower boost from the engine shipped in the SS in 1983!

1985 saw the return of the T-top, as well as a few other cosmetic firsts. The SS model Monte Carlo was offered in black, silver, and maroon in addition to the white, and you could get pin-striping and other options as well. However, even though more new colors would emerge for the SS, the medium blue color was dropped, which would help to make this color a very sought after one by collectors in later years. The 229 V6 and the 350 V8 diesel engines disappeared for good in 1985, and were replaced by a 262 V6 that was fuel injected. Also, the V8s were outfitted with quadrajet carburetors which were computer controlled.

1986 saw four different body styles for the Monte Carlo. There was the basic sport coupe, the luxury sport model, the Super sport, and new to this year was the Aerocoupe. The Aerocoupe was more of a modified super sport body. Modifications included a rear window that was more sloped and a shorter trunk lid with a flatter spoiler. Only about 200 Aerocoupes were sold to the public in 1986.

1987 saw the elimination of the Sport coupe entirely, leaving only the SS, the LS, and the Aerocoupe to continue the legacy. There were some cosmetic modifications to the SS as well, including a smoother bumper on the back… and the Luxury Sport was outfitted for the first time with tail lamps.

1988 saw the last year of the fourth generation Monte Carlo. Appearances and mechanical components remained very similar to the 1987 models, though the Aerocoupe did not return as plans had been outlined by Chevrolet to introduce… and race… the Lumina. The last Monte Carlo with a G-body was produced on the 12th of December in 1987. It was a silver SS coupe.

Continue Reading