Barn Find V6: 1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Chevy launched the Monte Carlo in 1970 as its entry into the growing personal luxury car market that Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick were already enjoying. At first, it shared the platform used by the Grand Prix which was downsized later when all of GM’s intermediate-sized cars went on a diet. This car was a barn find whose farmer’s father bought it new. The seller rescued it from the dust and hay just as you see it now, with no work or cleaning done to the auto. This Chevy is available in Holland, New York, and here on eBay where it can be had for $2,900 or best offer. Thanks again for a great tip, Larry D!
The fourth generation of the Monte Carlo would run from 1981-88 and be the last incarnation of the car with rear-wheel-drive. The Monte Carlo was a big winner in NASCAR in the 1970s, but the downsized/restyled Monty’s of 1981-82 found less success and eventually would be replaced by the Lumina. The street cars only received minor updates for 1983 and the standard engine continued to be the Chevy 229 cubic-inch V6, which seems to be the motor in the seller’s car. The SS returned to the Monte Carlo that year after a 12-year absence. Sales would tick up slightly in ’83 with more than 96,000 Monty’s rolling off the assembly line.
We wish the seller would have provided photos of the car when he found it rather than all of them being taken while on the back of a trailer. We’re told the Chevy is 99% complete and original (what’s the other 1%?). The odometer reading is under 42,000 miles which could be accurate depending on how long the car has been off the road. Supposedly it was a running vehicle when parked.
The seller advises that the frame is okay, but not great (in other words, it’s going to need some work). At a minimum, there is some rust by the transmission cross member that is repairable. The quarter panels and fenders may also be a little suspicious. Cleaning the car up would help identify what is cancer and what’s just dirt and grime. The interior may be okay once you remove some of the junk and detail it.
Though not operable, the seller checked the oil and coolant and both are full and the right colors. The V6 is paired with an automatic transmission and the factory air conditioning components are still present. Once the flat tires are aired up, the car should roll, at least well enough to be transferred to another trailer. The title is said to be clean and transferrable from the farmer whose father originally owned the Chevy. Is this a car you would attempt to restore or instead harvest it for parts for another project? The small engine was never a great performer in a car this size, with the SS being a bit more desirable.
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Comments
I had one back in the day, almost identical. I liked my 229 cubic inch 6 banger.
Mine was the same 2 tone blue as this. I had it repainted, the day I got it out of the shop it snowed. I was young & stupid, which will explain the rest of this story lol.
I was doing a donut at the end of my street, a little too close to a neighbors Maverick. Swung right into the Maverick & the bumper of the maverick caved in my rear quarter panel. Maverick was unscathed. I was really passed at myself lol.
We had a maroon ’81 with the 229 also when I was a teenager. The motor was just gutless, but the car had a great velour interior and the optional tach and gauge package. The paint was just nice enough that it shined up with some elbow grease. Dad was proud of that one…
At 16, I had an El Camino with the same drivetrain and even after swapping to a 3.42 axle from a Monte SS, it was still slow! But a lot of fun in winter. A sheriff once kicked me out of an empty parking lot for doing donuts in the snow. I told him I was trying to teach my self “car control” and he just shook his head….the good old days LOL.
I’m not sure what to make of that dipstick.
That aftmkt steering wheel, & even the factory racing mirrors seem out of place on any personal luxury car, IMO.
I had an 82 Buick Regal wagon with the same paint scheme and interior. The “racing mirrors ” were standard.
If the vehicle history report shows a DMV mileage of 69,025 back in 1989, how can it now have 41,900 today? The only answer is that the odometer has been around the clock at least one time. Assuming the 41,900 reading was not the result of a manual rollback, this car has a minimum of 141,900 miles on it.
I couldn’t agree more, it is over the hill on the odometer. But it is in such rough shape that it needs one of everything, so at this point let ‘er rip lol. Miles just don’t matter in this condition.
Pennsylvania farms in the 80’s always seemed to have a like new Buick, Olds, Pontiac, or similar Chevy weekend “church” car in a side building collecting dust.
I had a 81 Monte. First car I ordered from the factory. Checked every box, except the V8. Had same V6 this one had. I loved that car, power roof, luxury interior, aluminum wheels and 2 tone, black and light teal. Wish I hadn’t totaled it, but lived to tell the story.
I had a black, 1980 Turbo Monte Carlo with red interior. Turbo sounded neat until it didn’t. Never a great performer because of the turbo lag. Turbo went kaput and traded it in. A friend’s kid bought it, rebuilt the turbo, and introduced it to a bridge abutment. Fortunately no one was hurt except the Monte Carlo. End of story. It was a looker though.
I’m still a little too optimistic with project cars but this is a hard NO at that kinda price. And the frame condition doesn’t sound too great anyway. This is still sub $1000 fodder at charity auctions. The kind of junk that would be ok if it wasn’t junk. I’d say some youth ran this thing till the end. I bet the tapes in that stereo are some pretty terrible ‘90s corporate rock.
imo that price is way too optimistic….this is a $1,000-1500.00 car at best.
Had one like this, but 2-tone gray. 229 V6 was seriously underpowered (115 hp?). Everything that could go wrong with it, did. Wipers, A/C, power windows, power locks, horn, electric choke. Failed emissions every year. After 2 years, I decided to cut my losses and sell. Easily the worst car I’ve ever owned.