Most Expensive One Left? 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
When Barn Finds tipster Rocco B. spotted this 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and sent it our way, he posed the question of whether or not this car might be the most expensively priced one left, and with an asking price of $29,500 my spidey sense thought affirmative, plus with Chevy turning out nearly 360,000 during this one year alone I figured there would be lots of recent sales data online to confirm or deny if this is a competitive amount. That’s really not the case, as no running 78s are for sale or have recently sold on eBay that I could spot, nor are very many currently available elsewhere, so perhaps the seller is hoping to find a buyer who’s been on the hunt for this specific model. If that’s you, the car is in Mission Viejo, California, and can be found here on Craigslist, so you and the owner will have to negotiate if the nearly thirty-grand price tag sounds optimistic.
Granted, this one’s nice, particularly if you’re a fan of the downsized variety that began with this year’s model when the car lost its beloved Colonnade styling. The seller mentions that only one owner has called it theirs and that the Chevy is in very good shape, which seems evident from looking at the photos. The car is also said to have always been garaged, and if that’s still the original paint outside I’d have to agree that the finish has certainly held up well over the years.
Equally as well preserved is the interior, but the dashboard condition remains a mystery as it’s covered, so we don’t know if that material is up there for protection or if it’s hiding something. Both the seats are still presenting nicely although they look sort of entry-level, and the carpeting, instrument panel, and at least the passenger side door panel all appear to be in fine shape.
Standard under the hood for ’78 was a 231 cubic-inch V6 with the 305 being the only optional V8 available, and even it produced less than 150 horsepower. But the good news here is two-fold, as not only is this one equipped with the latter but it’s also been driven just 58k miles, so if the drivetrain has been maintained properly there may be some good motoring left before anything’s gonna need major attention.
Let’s get back to the cost. I found a couple of reference sources for some 1978 Monte Carlo pricing information, one being J.D. Power which lists a low retail of $2,650 and the high end at $10,650, with the average price showing at $6,550. Classic.com also has some helpful numbers, with what looks like a nice green example selling last November for $7,800, although there are 2 others both sold by Gateway Classic Cars that each fetched $21,000, nearly double the best J.D. estimate. But this one is priced almost a third higher than even the Gateway cars, and I must ask our readers, is this Monte Carlo worth $29,500?
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Comments
Ok…. Ill start…. this is one nice Monte. But, it looks like the base level vinyl seats, not even crushed velour. As for the paint, I know for a fact two things, one is, GM was still using lacquer during this period I know this because my Dad always patched up his own cars and trucks and he only used lacquer because he could blend the paint.
Second, this does not look like lacquer to me, too much of a mirror shine. When these were new when I was a kid I remember GM silver and the light silver blue paint ( I had a 77 Delta88 that color) would fade very quickly and turn dull and also come off the panels exposing the primer. Now dont get me wrong, I think this is an expensive high quality repaint, but I just dont buy it being original. Unless to quote the Great Carnack played by Johnny Carson with Ed Mcmahon announcing, it was Hermetically Sealed in a Mayonnaise Jar on Funk and Wagnals porch all its life.
I agree on the paint. My dad had this same car brand new in 1978. Within a couple of years the silver turned to a flat grey and started flaking off exposing the primer. This car is way too shiny to be original paint.
Yep. I bought a black 78 that started flaking by 85 and looked like crap big time in 10 years. The dealer told me that 78 had paint problems…
$29,500?
Uh, no.
Sorry. Yep 3rd thing I forgot to add. Wayyyyy no to the price
This looks like a former rental car
AND NO LOW-BALLERS…
Always love the dude that sets his price 2 to 3 times what actual value should be and doesn’t want to be bothered with realistic offers.
YES DEAR, I am trying to sell that car but I’m not getting Any interest. I REALLY don’t know why???
Beast of luck to him. 🤣🤣🤣
Best of Luck, but Beast of luck could probably be appropriate also. Lol
For $30k you can buy a nice ’71 Monte SS 454. Why would I want this 2 door taxicab
No way. Have you seen the prices on First Gen SS’s and Customs with the 454?
For 30K you might find one that’s a decent driver.
There is an 81 Olds wagon in silver on fast finds. This is what I was talking about with the silver from GM
Our ’78 Nova has the same thing happen. My dad had to have the car repainted within a few years.
Nice car but I think the owner has been watching too much Barrett-Jackson.
I’m thinking that price is a typo and the seller meant $2,950… my best friend’s mom bought one of these brand new. It had bucket seats, a console and was spec’ed out much nicer than this one. Hers had the 305.
Figure $8,000-$12,000 is a fairly realistic price. Even though early 3rd generation Monte Carlo’s don’t have much of a following, it has low mileage and looks to be in really nice condition. Someone could be the perfect car for someone looking for a presentable turn key car to take to local shows that doesn’t need work or break the bank. Try finding any half way desirable car from this era in similar condition for $3,000, it’s not likely to happen, even for someone putting in a lot of effort to find something.
Steve R
You are absolutely correct on the price range. Six months ago I sold my 1980 that was in very much the same condition, but it had the 229 V6. I had it repainted in 2011 and believe me it looked far better than the factory paint did from new. I put the car up for $8000 and found a buyer who offered $7000. I felt we both got a good deal and he became the new owner. Given that this one has the 305 and about 30,000 less miles on it than mine, I’d say $9-12k would be about right.
My Mother bought a 1978 Monte Carlo brand new. Baby blue with matching baby blue mouse fur interior, with split bench seat and V-8. First car that she owned with a/c. I think it cost less than $8,000. This seller is really dreaming.
Usually Montes of this vintage are turned into either low riders or donks,it’s nice to see that this one has avoided that fate.
Overpriced for what it is but a nice car nonetheless.
I remember these things when they first came out, A blonde chick had a blue one that she cruised St Joe avenue in. Even she could not make that car look good
Take $10,000 off the price and it would still be too much to ask, let alone pay.
Nobody is that nostalgic about the late 70s.
Some of us are. But not for this Monte…
Sometimes you get lucky, maybe. A friend just sold a house outside of Boston – 1 1/2 hours into the first open house someone offered $100k over asking. The buyer had lost out on four houses and was determined. If you _need_ a 1978 Monte Carlo, maybe you will pay this price just to get the car, as there are few others on the market. I am waiting for the bottom to fall out of this market and own something nice for what one would have paid back in the early 80’s.
My 79 Pontiac in silver looked like hell after just 3 years despite frequent hand washing and waxing plus a car cover when left outside. GM refused to do anything about it. Later my Chevy Celebrity also had defective paint but GM authorized the dealer to repaint. The Chevy dealer’s body shop did a fantastic job and the car looked much better than when brand new and whatever paint process they used held up very well in the Florida sun. I’m guessing this car received the same quality repaint which is why it looks so good 45 years later.
I would guess the reason for the low mileage would be that whoever drove it immediately hated the crummy V-6
Did you read the story? This car has the 305 cubic inch V-8. For this kind of money, you can buy a very nice 1983-1988 Monte Carlo SS.
Very nice car in beautiful condition but I have to agree. Vinyl bench seating, column mounted shift very basic with some nice upgraded options. $10-15k at best; ask is waaay high.
30,000.00……as the line goes from one of the greatest car movies ever……”That price is to F×&#/@& high” KABOOM!!! You also get the 29.95 fuzzy dash cover that hides the San Andreas fault line at no additional cost. This must be why many are afraid of the legalization of Marijuana.
I loved that movie, got it on DVD somewhere
Nice Monte Carlo, yes.
Almost 30K, no.
The owner’s wife probably told him to sell it:
“I have it advertised, but no one seems to want it.”
Pretty little car but someone is sniffing glue. Darn near $30k? That’s nutty. There’s a million other cars out there to buy before ever considering a 59,000 mile 305 Monte of this vintage.
No low ballers…..in the great words of a flipper without a 401k….
A face only a mother could love. Just a boring design.
My military girl friend had one of these.l remember how good it rode it’s simplicity and how reliable it was.I liked her car but I never imagined it would bring anything like 30K some day????
This might look better with a less slanted nose, like the Cutlass coupe.
Odd that Chevy did not offer Olds’ “fastback” version, & there was no Buick variant at all!! – even as a formal roof coupe for ’78.
Could you get a tachometer instead of the big clock with the gauge package? Maybe not with v6s?
Incredibly, there were FOUR V6s available for this car in ’78. & a 267 V8 almost the same cubes as the largest v6.
Impressive loss of 700 lbs in weight & yet more room inside, compared to the prev gen.
Sport mirrors & sport wheels clash with a lux car with a hood ornament.
I have seen these with t-tops, but never with a vinyl roof.
These probably look best in black, as does the Merc Monarch with the circular headlites..