What is it worth? Low mile Monte SS

[Otto J]

If I had the spare cash i would grab it for 15k if its that mint.
Go buy it Mike and drop it off,I will convert it into a factory turbo
car for you.

 

[SS/GN]

Oh that's not true! They are consistant, a consistant money pit!:biggrin:

Now thats funny,I don;t care who you are thats funny right their.I got my kids into JR dragster racing and told my wife it will be cheaper than my toys.It appears i have the ability to find expensive money sucking hobbiesHowever my Grampa told me health is wealth so I guess I am rich

Kevin

 

[Pronto]

Buy it, drop a turboed 5.3 in it and let them scratch their heads...
I've seen my share of boringly slow MCSSs but every once in a while a really quick one shows up at the track and gets my attention. Of course you could just cruise all over the place with it in such good condition and just enjoy it for what it is.

 

[Otto J]

of course you would end up with that guy stopping you to say
"hey nice Grand National"!

 

[supercrackerbox]

I always find the GN/SS rivalry amusing. I'd love to join an SS board, post the same question, and see how differently the discussion goes.

Personally, I love the appearance of the SS. The lines of the rear quarters just always appealed to me I guess. Sure the nose is a bit . . . blunt, but isn't that how the Regals got the "Brick" nickname? Incredible aerodynamics for NASCAR in '82, but completely outshined just a year later with the release of the SS and the new Thunderbird (another car I'm quite fond of). Sure the 305 is arguably the worst V8 GM ever released, but the meaning of the term bolt-on can be a matter of opinion. I have plenty of friends who would consider a big block to be a weekend bolt-on (in?) operation. As for the 7.5 rear, I've always wondered why the SS got that but the 442 got the 8.5. That 307 must have been a real fire-breather.

And I especially love the Aerocoupes. Really, I guess I just really like all the American cars of the '80s.

But then again, I own two FWD bastardizations of the greatest names in Mopar history, and a FWD Shelby to boot, so what do I know?

 

[TURBO 6]

Moved to the lounge since there is no actual car posted for sale.

 

[TURBOGTA1]

GN BRETT,
I cant find a mint good mile 86-87 GN for $15k.
And to be honest with you,
My last 500 mile wild goose chase was to Ohio for a 10k mile GN for $20k that Ray Charles could have told you that both quarters were changed, one was pieced together.
This guy was a motor head with a 9 second Buick, (he had to know this) wasted my time.
Other words, I cant find a mint 87 hard top for $12-$15k.


Otto,
I would say screw the Buick power plant change,
and put an LS-3 with a 67 Turbo.
Whatcha think

Thanks to all for the input.
Thats why I love this board.
Mike

 

[klrv6]

Walk up to the owner and say 'Hey, nice Grand National'.

If it is mint, I don't think 15-20K is that bad.

 

[alwayscode390]

With the market right now, there is NO way it could fetch MSRP of that time. GN's and TTA's arent touching that territory yet ... so why should a Monte SS?

I think $15k sounds fair ---

 

[tyrod32]

I'm aware of what years the colors were available and to me the Blue SS was the only one I cared for really which is why I own a blue T. 27O or U or something paint code. I forget.

Cars body looks the same either way. Other then the TH-350 I would choose the 83 because of the blue interior not available on newer models.

I don't see your comparison with the TR tho. A Regal yes. But with a few thousand dollars it will run in the 11's. Monte SS cant make that claim so thats apples to oranges as far as I am concerned. No Moonroofs available either. Kinda partial to those. The Monte was slow junk and not any type of muscle car imo which means it's not worth much more then any other low mile car back in the 80's. A GN was light years ahead in technology and no comparison.

Having the ability to go fast for cheap doesn't always affect a cars collectability. I've always thought monte's looked better but i don't collect much, i would rather drive the wheels off of it. Therefore i'm a turbo buick guy.

 

[TURBOGTA1]

With the market right now, there is NO way it could fetch MSRP of that time. GN's and TTA's arent touching that territory yet ... so why should a Monte SS?

They are not?????
Show me an 86-87 Turbo Regal/GN with even 10,000 miles (not 1,900 miles) on it that someone doesn't want $5,000--$10,000 over the original MSRP today.
The pricing I've seen so far is way beyond the MSRP for low mile Regal's
and now starting to see the approaching MSRP asking price for the TTA's.
People can ask these prices, but they ARE NOT getting them.
I know the economy is a little weak, or is it just that the asking prices are waaay too much!!!!!!
Go on E-bay and search all the past auctions for what sold, and what didn't sell.
There are a lot of people out there still bidding reasonable money for nice cars.
However, they are not paying the top dollar people want for them.
Everything sky-rocketed up with the real estate BUBBLE (in less than 4 yrs).
Bubble popped, real estate came back down significantly, but not a lot of the asking prices for some Muscle cars including Turbo Regal's.

I am just going to keep my eyes open,
bound to get a little lucky sooner or later.

 

[alwayscode390]

Watch Barret Jackson , the most recent setup for TTA's, Syclones, and GN's werent close to MSRP.

'MSRP for the TTA is over $27k

This car with 7k miles sold for $25k , and there is ONLY 1555 of them.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdetails.aspx?aid=304&ln=54&pop=0&it=1

IF BJ cant get it , nobody can ---

 

[davidf]

Most people mistake the GN for an SS anyway.:frown:

 

["Turbo-T"]

I don't know what the Monte SS in question is worth, but IMO Monte SS were nice cars. yes they didn't have a lot of power in stock form but they're still nice looking cars, though that long nose is sort of a throw off.

If anything, the Monte SS is what I'd consider an "over-rated" car since I don't know how many times someone who had one thought they were hot ****.

Also since they came with a 305, it's NOTHING to drop in a built up 383 stroker or better, a 406 sbc and have a low 12/high 11 second 1/4 mile car and it would still look factory and retain all the factory hardware under the hood...or if you didn't mind it being a little nose heavy, a 454 bbc fits in the Monte SS easy....stoke that 454 to a 496 and you have an easy 500 hp engine w/o even breaking a sweat doing it...meaning using a moderate cam and semi decent street manners...not so much gas mpg but by then you're not building a fuel sipper either.

Sure the 305 is arguably the worst V8 GM ever released

Not really...ever heard of a 262 V8? They were used in '75-'76 Novas and Monzas...they were real turds compared to the 305. or how about the Olds 260? Or the Chevy 267? They too were turds compared to the 305. At least by '91 the 305 was pushing out 230 hp.

Going low 11's with a Monte SS 305 is another story all together.

Your not gonna see Horsepower TV putting on a whole show on Monte SS's.

I don't think anyone would bother trying to run 11's in the 1/4 on a 305...that's why they're usually replaced with 350's on up...also because sbcs can be built cheap and made to run well into the 400 hp range.

Also HPTV has done already did a whole show on a MCSS more than once.

 

[corsair231]

As for the 7.5 rear, I've always wondered why the SS got that but the 442 got the 8.5. That 307 must have been a real fire-breather.

I think the answer to this is that they were built at two different assembly facilities. The 442's and the TR's were built on one assembly line. The SS's and GP's were on a different line. (The same reason 5.0 Regals got the 307 Olds engine while MC's and Grand Prix's came with 305 Chevys.) The only cars other than the TR's to get the 8.5 were the 442's because that was what was already on hand while the MC guys didn't have the option to use that rear.

As far as the value. There are several things that can make cars desirable and impact value.
1. Image, ie: style and looks. Yes the SS has them. But beauty is subjective. Performance, well the idea of performance is there. Actual performance is measurable but is also fairly easy to improve. Prestige and exclusiveness (rarity): Once again the idea is there but com'on, it is a G-body, so to most of the Hollywood rich types, it's nothing but a beater.

2. Condition. Is it it good shape? At such low miles it should be but is it? Is it all original? Once again it should be.

3. Future plans. Is it going to be an investment or is it a keeper? What kind of a car is it going to be? Is it a museum piece, a fair grounds cruiser, or a weekender.

4. Emotion

Comparing the SS to a TR. Looks are subjective. To each his own therefore that really can't be argued. Performance goes hands down to the TR in the from the factory form but with enough money even trucks can be fast. It may be easier and cheaper to get a TR into the 11's than a SS but the key here is that it can be done with pretty much the factory engine set up. The SS would probably need a heart transplant before it would be comfortable at that level. Advantage, TR.

As far as prestige, when they were new, G-bodys were "Joe Public" cars. Now, there have been a few celeb's that have actually owned TR's and been seen in public with them. Hollywood has even given them star car status in a few recent exploits. The SS may eventually catch up but right now, give it to the Buick.

This leaves rarity. This seems like it should be an easy one but it's not. First rarity in itself does not make a car desirable. Just look at the TR's themselves. In '87 they made more than twice as many GN's as they did the rest of the TR's combined. They made more than 10x's as many GN's as they did WE-4's but what car commands more money. The GN. Now take into account the difference in years. Once again they made many more 87's than they did 86's but 87's in similar shape just about always bring more than 86's and it's hard to believe that it is all just because of a different grill. The same is true for other cars too. '69 Camaro's were made for six months longer and in far greater quantities than 68's but bring higher prices.

In regards to this SS. It is not a first year or last year bodystyle. It is not that rare because the SS's were made in greater numbers than the TR's. It is not an aerocoupe nor does it have an exclusive engine. (The LC2's were only available in the TRs.) It is a top of the line model of a common man's car but even when new, Buicks were considered a more refined car. Not true these days but back then it was still thought that factory workers bought Chevys, Doctors purchased Buicks. Advantage GN.

As far as condition. Given that condition is similar then based on factor 1, the win would still go to the GN.

Now for the future. Traditionally, cars have not been the best investments. There are some cases where cars have made their owners big money but a lot of that is right place, right time influenced. If it is going to be a museum piece that you want to preserve for future generations then it can be a good investment. But if you purchase at the top of fair market price now with the plans to resale for profit in the future then you may be disappointed. If it is for a fairgrounds cruiser then you may be okay but careful, the least amout of damage or few extra miles then your value goes down greatly. If it is a weekender, then the value appreciation of a stocker is lucky to stay even with the depreciation of the increased miles.

When it comes to emotion, which should be the last thing to affect the value of the car, you can throw out the first three factors. Is there something about that particular car that grabs your heart? How bad do you want it? Do you have to have it? This factor drives more purchases than anything else. If your preference is a MCSS over a GN, then no amount of convincing will do. If that particular car pulls you hard enough, you will overpay and still be happy about it (until you fall out of love with it and decide to sell that is).

You have to balance the factors. If you want the car for the originality and low mileage and you plan to keep it that way it may be worth the 15. Just don't look to make a profit off of it anytime soon. The GN's cost more new, are rarer, perform better, and basically are more desireable and with paitence, can be had in that range with moderate milage where driving and enjoying it will not impact the resale value very much. The only thing the SS has over a GN in the same price range that is not totally subjective is the low mileage, but once that is gone, it is gone. If you want a driver then you can have a cosmetically identical moderate mileage SS that you can swap the engine for better performance and still retain decent resale for about half that much.

Bottom line is, only you can decide what that car is worth to you. As far as myself, I would not think over 12 grand if I had it to waste on a show only car. If I was looking for a weekender then I would keep walking.

 

[toofastforyou]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree Brett.

The way I see it is..... the car is still a "special" model of a plain 'ol grocery getter of the 80's, just like our beloved TRs.

GN's, T-Types, turbo-T's WE4's, etc. are nothing more than a glorified Regal. The same Regal 99% of the buyers who bought them didn't give two $hits about. They got driven into the ground & then left to rot away in a junkyard.

Same goes for the SS Monte Carlos, Hurst/Olds,442, & 2+2. All special models of plain jane cars of that era.

Don't get me wrong, I love the TR's the best of all the special models, but I personally believe that all the special G-Body models deserve the same amount of respect when it comes down to collecting them, restoring them & preserving them as part of American Muscle Car history.

P.S. Not trying to knock your dick in the dirt Brett, but the Blue color was dropped after '84. This does make the '83-'84 Blue SS more desirable.

Amen, rant done.

"CATman", Yes, I agree with you 100%. Also, about the colors, besides black, blue, and white, weren't there some BURGUNDY ones too?

Claude. :smile: