In the mid-1980s, General Motors’ G-Body platform (Chevy Monte Carlo and Pontiac Grand Prix) was being used in NASCAR racing. Well, sort of. The basic body shape was being used. There were few similarities beyond that, but I digress. The body shape had some aerodynamic deficiencies that kept the G-Body cars from being as slippery as Ford’s Thunderbird. In order to bring a lower coefficient of drag to the Monte and GP, in 1986 GM created the Monte Carlo SS Aero Coupe and Grand Prix 2+2. The rear window had a twenty-five degree slope, the trunk lid was much smaller with a flatter spoiler, and the nose was more aerodynamic.
The first year of Chevy Monte Carlo SS Aero Coupe production totaled just 200 units, as that was the minimum number for NASCAR homologation. Performance was less than stellar, with zero to 60 mph taking a sloth-like 9.4 seconds, with the quarter mile crawling by in 16.6 ticks at 82 miles per hour (both those times were lightning-fast compared to the tortoise of a 1984 Camaro I drove in high school, but again, I digress). In 1987, production output grew to 6,052. That number is not huge by modern production standards, and makes the surviving Aero Coupes quite collectible.
Our feature car is a 1987 Chevy Monte Carlo SS Aero Coupe that has covered just over 18,000 miles from new. It is well equipped with power steering, power brakes with front discs, tilt wheel, power windows, dual remote sport mirrors, factory tach, factory AM/FM/cassette stereo, air conditioning, intermittent wipers, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, and aftermarket tinted glass. The original paint presents quite well, with excellent gloss. The “SS” stripe package is still in good nick, with no chips or scratches noted. All four factory wheels are in good shape and free from road rash.
The deep red velour interior shows little wear, and no signs of fading. Door pulls and door arm rests, so often the first things to wear out on these G-Body cars, are as new. Under the hood, the 305 High Output Small Block appears clean, correct, and freshly detailed.
This highly original and exceptionally well-kept Chevy Monte Carlo SS Aero Coupe is available from Classic Car Liquidators for $29,999.
Note: I am aware there is much more to the NASCAR story. Volumes could be written, but I am confined to the space given here.
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Comments
“With zero to 60 mph taking a sloth-like 9.4 seconds, with the quarter mile crawling by in 16.6 ticks at 82 miles per hour”
Not sure where you got these numbers Bret, but my first new car was an 87 SS, .373 posi, hollowed cat through factory exhaust, and larger metering rods in the Quadrajet…
It ran 14.70’s and 80’s all day…
So, your modified car was anecdotally faster than this?
Truly massive front overhang compared to contemporary silhouettes.
Modified?
Hardly…
I was barely 20, and back then, short of putting a cam and headers on it, there wasn’t much you could do to them other than nitrous, and the emerging technology wasn’t promising at the time, plus, that wasn’t what I wanted to do with a brand new car
Understanding the new computer controlled fuel delivery and timing complicated things, but we figured enough out to drop it into the high 14’s…
I enjoyed racing the fox body mustangs (street or drag strip) because you never knew who was going to win…
It ran 15.20’s-30’s stock, and I don’t care what Hot Rod, or anyone said, I saw many Z28’S and my SS run way faster times than “advertised”
I’m just wondering why Brett’s numbers don’t match my firsthand experience?
I owned a 87 SS Aero Coupe…..it was a dog….ran it at Indpls Raceway Park…it ran 15.70s or .80s at 87 mph…..wish I had it now, would make a great LS swap
Too bad this car did not share the GN engine.
This car will bed a future Superbird but at a lower price. It was made and designed to race. This will help make it of value going forward with so few clean examples left.
The red interiors just did not hold up well.
I had a friend that had an aero coupe. He died from a medical condition in the late 80s. His widow wouldn’t part with his car. She left it in the yard where he had parked it. For 20 some years I watched that car slowly rot away. I respect her wanting to keep it but I know my buddy would have wanted some one to enjoy it as much as he did. Some junk guy came along and gave her $100 for it and hauled it in for scrap
A close friend’s father has an ’87 Aero Coupe, a ’70 Chevelle SS (True LS6/4 Speed) and a ’68 Firebird (400ci/4 Speed). It is a nice collection. IMHO, the slanted back window was more for function than it was for “good looks”, but they are quite rare to see at car shows.
Although not Aerocoupes, my 84 and 86 SS’s were still fun to drive and I wish I had either one to this day.
Good looking car.
Damn, I had one and paid 18K for it in 1987 and lost it in 1991 in a divorce. Believe she traded it for a Cavalier the next year to add insult to injury. That is okay as it appears to have been worth it and the Lord works in…
Just another underpowered lump. That low output small block didn’t even have fuel injection, pathetic!!
Not many cars were “fast” in that era. Yes GM should have at least put in a 350 but outside the Vette, the Grand National, and pony cars speed was rare. Even the 454 SS truck was slow.
If you are going to speak out-of-school, at least you did it with conviction….
How many American cars were fuel injected in the mid 80s?
How many cars (period) were “fast” in the mid 80s?
What was considered “fast” in the mid 80s would be blown away by base model pickup trucks nowadays.
If you wish to talk down you should climb a little higher up on your high horse.
I had a ’77 Caprice, 2 door, slanted back window with a 305 and a 700 transmission. I swapped for a crate 350 and a thm350, night and day difference. It was a rocket.
Those Aero Coupes had ONE purpose: to win NASCAR races.
Not to go fast on the street – A lousy 305 boat-anchor for an engine was GMs biggest mistake. I understand the technology limitations and fuel-efficiency/emissions restrictions placed upon the automakers were overwhelming, but when a magazine’s writers/mechanics can sawp the cam tune the carb, install headers/exhaust system and optimize the timing and still make more power AND lower emissions AND inrease fuel mileage in those late 70s to mid/late 80s engines, something is wrong.
It also wasn’t to make those cars look good…….🤮
The 87 Monte Carlo SS actually had the same horsepower as the 87 Camero Z28. They rated it lower due to the Mustang GT at the time had 215 HP. GM didn’t want a luxury sport SS to have the same horse power as their Z28 to rival the Ford GT Mustang and that my friends is straight from a GM man that worked there during 80’s a close friend of mine…
Let say a brother in law. It was all in the tuning of the ecm ZZ4. The Z could launch better then the SS no doubt but in the 1/4 mile it was just as good as the Z28. The IROC-Z well thats a different story!
My 87 MC SS ran 16.1 at 85mph bone stock. After hollowing out the cat and chipping it it ran 15.5 at 90mph. Not bad in the 80s but I couldn’t catch a Mustang GT… but my car was bigger and heavier.. And looked better.
Don’t know why they didn’t put the TPI on the MC too.
I know where a few are right now from $3,500 to $6,000.. ive seen a cutlass, a grand prix and a 77 chevy caprice. All aerocoupes pretty cheap.. nobody much cares about all that old school horsepower anymore. The only value is the body. Hell you can buy a car now from the factory with more horsepower than these things had after you put $2k in the engine. Big lunky money eating engines. If I had this car I’d strip the engine out and just do an LS swap, a few upgrades and tune it & blow the paint off any other just like it..
the cars were fun and still are t tops are priceless
1986 was years they want nascar races. There I 1 in the family that ran at Daytona speedway with a placque
I owned a 87 SS Aero Coupe…..it was a dog….ran it at Indpls Raceway Park…it ran 15.70s or .80s at 87 mph…..wish I had it now, would make a great LS swap
I have a 1987 Aerocoupe built in October 1986……..# 108342 on VIN. How early of a 1987 is this ……?