1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

Description

Low-mile cars are a special breed that's sometimes hard to find, buy when you do, it sure is sweet. While some cars have low miles because nobody wanted to drive them, the real keepers are the ones that despite how amazing they are to drive, someone was able to resist the temptation all these years. That's why this 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS is a great choice. It shows just 27,193 original miles, but thanks to regular exercise and a very recent tune-up, it's as healthy as it was 25 years ago.

White with a tan interior is a rather rare combination for the ever-popular SS, and gives this one a lighter feel than some of its siblings. The styling has withstood the test of time and still looks great today, and the subtle aero add-ons that made the SS stand out hit the sweet spot between elegant and sporty. The white paint gives it a crisp, purposeful look and highlights the blacked-out grille and other details, and provides a great background for the subtle SS badging and stripes that encircle the bodywork. The original paint is in great condition and shows few signs of age, and even the urethane bumpers that were unique to this model look very nice. The modest chin spoiler hasn't been scraped and shredded on steep driveway aprons, and out back the deck lid mounted spoiler does a pretty good NASCAR impression above the handsome Monte Carlo taillights. And this car is so clean and original that it even still carries the original dealership's decal on the trunk. Someone obviously cared about keeping it in tip-top, like-new condition.

The tan vinyl interior is a very pleasant change from the factory gray or burgundy cloth, and makes it bright and airy inside. A center console suggests that Chevy was serious about upgrading the SS's image over the garden-variety Monte Carlo, and the sporty black dashboard with red pin striping certainly makes a bold statement that actually looks quite good. Clearly marked instruments include a proper tachometer, and like most of its siblings, this top-of-the-line Chevy is loaded with equipment including A/C, power windows and locks (with remote), and a tilt steering column. The original digital AM/FM stereo radio is in the dash, and those of you driving in the '80s will be instantly familiar with its stacked knob design. Newer monogrammed floor mats protect the original carpets and those bucket seats show almost zero wear, quite impressive for a car this age. The trunk is outfitted as new, complete right down to the space-saver spare.

The engine you want in your SS is the 5.0-liter V8 with a Rochester 4-barrel carburetor. Tracing its roots back to the first small-block Chevy, it makes great torque and wonderful V8 sounds, delivering a true muscle car experience. It's also smooth and reliable, and thanks to a recent tune-up that includes belts, hoses, plugs, a new heater core, and a bunch of other stuff, it's ready to cruise immediately. The A/C was upgraded to R134a refrigerant, but it's nice to see that the other stuff was left as the factory intended, right down to the stock air cleaner, and it's all remarkably clean. Underneath, the chassis shows off its low-mileage status and even the exhaust system appears to be the original, right down to the catalytic converter. All Monte Carlos were equipped with automatic transmissions, so this one's easy to drive, and the factory alloy wheels look unmarked and carry fresh Michelin radials all around.

You simply will not find a more unusual ('88s were limited production), cleaner, better maintained Monte SS than this. Call today!