1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Restomod

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 has upgrades throughout, resulting in a car that finally delivers on the promises made by the aggressive look.

Dressed in basic black, the Monte Carlo always looks ready to head out for a night on the town. This one is special, having been upgraded along the way with a cowl induction hood and a full set of the usual SS body cladding. A few gold accents look right, as if they were borrowed from the Pontiac guys, and there's no way to miss the stance on this car. It looks fast just sitting still. For a black car, 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 all the proper SS decals are in place. In fact, 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 tan interior is a refreshing change from the usual gray or red you find in these cars, and it works extremely well with the black paint. It has surely been reupholstered at some point, but they worked hard to keep it looking as OEM as possible, from the pleated inserts on the seats to the matching door panels to the new carpets on the floor. A few racy red 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 is upgraded to a Sony AM/FM/CD head unit 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 mouse fur mats and a full-sized spare tire assembly.

These cars came with wheezing 305s but this one now sports a built 350 cubic inch V8 that makes a big difference in the car's personality. Up top there's an Edelbrock intake manifold with a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, so it snaps to attention when you prod the throttle, and with those extra 45 cubic inches on hand, torque is impressive. There's probably an upgraded cam inside because the idle has a bit of a lope to it and the long-tube headers certainly bolster the fat torque curve. It's also neatly finished with Edelbrock dress-up parts and plenty of shiny bits, plus a serpentine belt drive setup that undoubtedly helps with reliability. Underneath, you get a 2004R 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission, an X-pipe with Flowmaster mufflers, and amazingly clean floors and suspension. Someone has really been looking after this car! The front disc brakes are upgraded with vented and cross-drilled rotors plus bright red calipers that look racy, and those classic Billet Specialties 5-spoke wheels with staggered 215/60/15 front and 275/60/15 rear BFGoodrich rubber give it the perfect stance.

Nicely built, reasonably priced, and fun to drive, this Monte Carlo gets everything right. All you have to do is call today!