While racing is said to improve the breed, NASCAR competitors and manufacturers have always found themselves in a unique situation. With drivetrain configurations effectively set in stone, manufacturers needed to think laterally to find the next unfair advantage. The answer was to delve into the black art of aerodynamics, and the result of this thinking was cars like this 1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe. This particular example is a gem because not only is it basically original and unmolested, but it has a genuine and documented 14,500 miles on the clock. The time has come for it to find a new home, so the owner has listed it for sale here at Hemmings. The SS is located in Concord, North Carolina, and the owner has set the sale price at $28,500 OBO. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Boot for spotting the Aerocoupe for us.

The owner only supplies two exterior photos of the Monte Carlo, so he doesn’t give us a lot with which to work. The Aerocoupe wears Code 19U Lamp Black, and it creates a positive first impression. The paint generally looks to be in good order, with none of the paint adhesion problems that could plague this model. That isn’t to say that it is perfect because it appears that the nose could be wearing a good assortment of chips and marks. If it weren’t for the owner’s documentation that verifies the odometer reading, I would question that claim. There are far more chips than I would expect on a car with under 15,000 miles on the clock, so maybe the owner has simply been following too close behind the vehicle in front. It is also possible that they aren’t chips, but merely bugs and insects that have laid down their lives on the front of this classic. The panels appear to be straight, and there’s no evidence of any rust. The Aerocoupe rolls on its original 15″ x 7″ alloy wheels. These are also free from any issues and are wrapped in a set of Goodyear Eagle GT tires. The glass appears to be in good order, although the owner doesn’t provide a shot of the back window, which is one of the Aerocoupe’s most distinctive features. Manufacturers needed to explore aerodynamic efficiency and downforce in NASCAR in the 1980s, but the governing body would have thrown a fit if they had produced another special in the same vein as Plymouth’s Superbird or Dodge’s Daytona. Ford had stolen a march on GM with their latest Thunderbird, and an answer was needed. The key was to smooth the flow of air down the car’s back to the rear spoiler. Chevrolet’s fitted to the Aerocoupe achieved that goal, but it didn’t grab the attention of the power-brokers at NASCAR. It made the car cut through the air more cleanly and improved the airflow to the rear spoiler without adding a ton of drag.

This Chevy’s interior is exceptionally tidy, with no issues or problems worth noting. There is no evidence of upholstery wear or damage, and I would probably rate it as one of the tidiest in an Aerocoupe that I have seen for some time. It appears that the only non-standard item is the radio. The owner has swapped it out for a similar unit that features a cord to connect a phone or MP3 player. He has also upgraded the speakers for a crisper listening experience. Owners received their share of luxury equipment in a car like this, including air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a leather-wrapped Comfortilt wheel, and a comprehensive array of gauges.

The owner supplies no engine photos in the listing, but we know the mechanical configuration of this car. It comes equipped with the 305ci HO V8 that produced 180hp. This motor is backed by a 4-speed TH-200-4R transmission, while the vehicle is made to feel more sure-footed by the inclusion of F41 suspension. Performance figures were acceptable in a 1980s contact, with the journey down the ¼ mile taking 16.7 seconds. The Monte Carlo is a numbers-matching car that comes with an enormous collection of documentation. Among this is the paperwork that confirms that this classic has a genuine 14,500 miles on the clock. The owner says that the vehicle runs and drives like new, which is hardly surprising in a low-mileage survivor that has been treated with care and respect. It isn’t just the styling that has a touch of NASCAR about it because Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet has maintained this Aerocoupe. When it comes to NASCAR, that name belonged to one of the greats that was taken too soon.

Chevrolet produced 6.052 examples of the 1987 SS Aerocoupe, but they aren’t a vehicle that has grabbed the attention of enthusiasts until recently. Values have begun to climb, but it has been a slow process. They can be found for under $10,000, but pristine examples regularly sell for more than $30,000. If the marks on the front of this car are merely squashed bugs, its overall condition and low mileage would well justify the asking price. Values are climbing, so now would seem like a good time to park one in your garage. There’s no guarantee that these increases will continue, this could be a sound long-term investment if they do.