Why did so many people like the G-Body Monte Carlos?

[blubaldmontess]

I can't say anything bad about either. I love the GN but own the Monte. The reason I was more attracted to the monte in the end came down to a few things when I bought 3 years ago, one was that in my humble opinion, I liked the look/sportyness of the monte. Then there was the v8 rumble, even if it came with the crapped out 305. Lastly was the availability and price of an SS. I looked at the GN and the Turbo T's and then I looked at the monte I bought, 350, alot of GN parts (and more i've added like the rearend) on it and it was only 4400. I'd still love to buy that 87 GN up the road from my house, I mean 40k miles, an extra racing engine, and only 18k...but the price is way out of my budget. Plus, sbc parts are a dime a dozen. I love these cars too, but the monte has a permenant place in my heart guys.

And as for you guys getting asked if its a Monte SS, we probably get it just as much because the only cars people hear about (thank you Barrett-Jackson) is the GN. I've heard, at car shows none the less, "hey man, sweet regal, or sweet grand national" As much of an insult that is to ya'll, its just the same to us.

 

[dgoodhue]

I don't understand how you can LOVE one car, and HATE the other. I have always wanted a T-type Regal...but in Oklahoma, those are the rarest of the G bodies.

I am a GMC Syclone owner & fanatic, in general I personally could careless about S-10 or S-15's pickup trucks. Interms of stock performance they aren't in the same league .

They were built for a more mature audience that wanted a touch of luxury and a somewhat sporty car. The reason Chevy didn't put a bigger motor in the Monte Carlo was because with it weighing close to the same a a f-body, would you sacrifice a back seat when you could get a much more comfortable car with similar performance? GM did it to keep innerbrand competition down.

Maybe it was just where I lived but in the 90's, the people I saw driivng Monte SS were guy wearing big thick gold chains.

And as far as a stock GN blowing the doors off of a stock SS...Here is an article titled "Modern Muscle" from the July 1985 Car and Driver comparing the GN, SS, and 442...

...Granted, .2 seconds is more distance than it sounds, I don't think it justifies "blowing the doors off".

I agree .2 isn't blowing the door off anything. However those are the hot air GN's. The 86 & 87 Turbo Regals were underated (275hp) and were putting down atleast low 14's stock with some hitting hit 13's stock. a 2 sec difference is a huge difference. With a few mods they were well in the 13's and 12's. Not much could do thaqt in that time period without spending big money.

If GM had stuck with the hot air engine platform for the 86 & 87 Turbo Regal's, GN would not be the legend they were in their day and that they are today.

 

[darkred87T]

I agree .2 isn't blowing the door off anything. However those are the hot air GN's. The 86 & 87 Turbo Regals were underated (275hp) and were putting down atleast low 14's stock with some hitting hit 13's stock. a 2 sec difference is a huge difference. With a few mods they were well in the 13's and 12's. Not much could do thaqt in that time period without spending big money.

If GM had stuck with the hot air engine platform for the 86 & 87 Turbo Regal's, GN would not be the legend they were in their day and that they are today.

Exactly, you can try to close the gap all you want between the performance differences in the Monte SS and the Turbo Regal by comparing the hot air years to it or saying things like " if the monte had a 350", but in 1986 and 1987 stock for stock there was no comparison.

 

[thepezking639]

yes with a few easy mods an intercooled GN can be in the low 14's - mid-high 13's

but the Monte has a greater total performance potential. 3.8l's vs 5.0l anything you can do to a 3.8 you can do to a 5.0l.

 

[liquifire]

Nice 2+2. Here's a pic of my ole Cutlass. Loved everythong about the except the speed, or lack there of.

 

[thepezking639]

Nice 2+2.

i wasnt aware those existed.. i thought they were all fugly.

 

[liquifire]

Pic would be helpful, huh?

 

[87 355 TPI]

Hey, I posted that comparo article because the original poster never said anything about distinguishing a hot air GN from an intercooled one. I thought we were just lumping all years of GNs together. If it was a stock for stock race, it would be no competition between my 87 SS and an 87 GN. So...IMO...it really comes down to how you like your car to look.

You can say cost was a factor for the SS. I know a big marketing scheme of Chevy's was that it was the last "true" muscle car as f-body and Vette had switched to TPI in 87. Also the fact that it was in Nascar...I think the SS was probably just more well known.

 

[darkred87T]

I know and it's a good comparison of 1/4 mile times in 1985. I like both cars and think they both look cool but it's frustrating to see blatent ignorance with some people. It's like they have this mind set. When someone walks up to me and says, "hey nice Monte", and I correct them I know they are walking away thinking to themselves "whatever". I know the same applies for the Monte owners when people car them GN's.

 

[darkred87T]

yes with a few easy mods an intercooled GN can be in the low 14's - mid-high 13's

but the Monte has a greater total performance potential. 3.8l's vs 5.0l anything you can do to a 3.8 you can do to a 5.0l.

Stock the intercooled GN's were capable of running 13.9 in the 1/4. With a few easy nods, the can run low 12's. I don't know how easy it is to mod a 305. If it was just as easy I would think I would see a lot more of them at the drag strip. I think an LS1 engine in a Monte SS would be the way to go. :biggrin:

 

[rwrows]

I know of two bone stock TRs that went 12.0 with a tire and race gas and the boost turned up, two cars on two different occasions, same driver though

 

[blubaldmontess]

Again, not to argue any cases, because the turbo six was easier to modify. A lot of SS owners find it just as easy to drop a 350/400 sbc in there, and we have less fear of devaluing the car. Sorta like paint, we'll do some different paint jobs because again, it won't detract (unless its totaly fugly) from the value.

 

[rwrows]

Again, not to argue any cases, because the turbo six was easier to modify. A lot of SS owners find it just as easy to drop a 350/400 sbc in there, and we have less fear of devaluing the car. Sorta like paint, we'll do some different paint jobs because again, it won't detract (unless its totaly fugly) from the value.

true but the monte trans and rear were really weak compared to that of the TRs. If you put the 400 in, say good-bye to that trans.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

true but the monte trans and rear were really weak compared to that of the TRs. If you put the 400 in, say good-bye to that trans.

I broke 2 monte rears
but i loved does 373s they feel great.

 

[87 355 TPI]

Haha, yeah I know what you mean by ignorant people. Just last week I parked my car and was walking off when this father and his ~5 year old kid walked by. The dad goes "Look at that Grand National...it's pretty nice". I look back to see it since I'm a fan, and I realize they are standing next to my car....my car with Monte Carlo SS emblems.....my girlfriend and I just started laughing. Oh well.

 

[turbofish38]

Least we forgot that money and profit were the sole driving force for GM back when these cars were built. Buick had it a little more easier than Chevy did with the MCSS. I've worked for GM dealers since 79 so I've been around the G-body scene since thier inception. Back when the 83 MCSS hit the dealers in early 84 it was a limited content model just to keep the costs down. One interior and 2 exterior colors and I think 6 options. Heck Chevy wasn't sure how many they could sell. Same for Buick when they brought back the GN for 84. Its no coincedence that Buick made exactly 2000 of them in 84. Thats why the production numbers are so low. The same could be said for the H/O,Aerocoupe and GP2+2. Thats why those models where built by Cars and Concepts. They cost to much build which translated into not enough profit. Thats also your answer for why they never stuffed a 350 or TPI or manual tranny in them also. The production lines where maximized for total profit by kicking out the granny mobiles. At least a dealer didn't have to worry about them sitting on the lot for very long. I can remember my dealer getting stuck with a couple of dozen white elephant Aerocoupes. Who the heck is going to pay 18 grand for a Monte when for a $1000 less they can have an IROC? Same thing goes for the TR. Plenty of other models delivered more for less money. This wasn't the musclecar madness of the 60's because there wasn't any muscle and there certainly wasn't any youth market either. You bought what you could afford to buy.

 

[thepezking639]

Stock the intercooled GN's were capable of running 13.9 in the 1/4. With a few easy nods, the can run low 12's. I don't know how easy it is to mod a 305. If it was just as easy I would think I would see a lot more of them at the drag strip. I think an LS1 engine in a Monte SS would be the way to go. :biggrin:

haha i agree, a member on the Montecarloss.com forums has an LS-7 swapped monte...

i remember a review of the Monte Carlo SS saying " a great car looking for a great engine"

as for the 200-4r in the monte being weaker.. idk considering mine held up to track duty behind a 400hp 400ft/lb 355 SBC for a year. the 7.5in rear ends are quite the pooch though.

 

[little]

It's already been said, but I love all those cars-and I have always thought the best looking overall was the euro front cuttys, especially the 442's. The gbodys were/are just cool. I'd have a building full of them if I could afford it. For performance, I picked the gn.

 

[TTA197]

I agree the '87 442 are one of the best looking G-body cars. Although the 307 is slow turd.

I also have a Monte SS (it's a 1988 hardtop). It rides much better than my t-top GN, but is also a bit slower than the GN .

 

[Toady]

but the Monte has a greater total performance potential. 3.8l's vs 5.0l anything you can do to a 3.8 you can do to a 5.0l.

Agreed on principle, but I'm curious about something. There are a few Buicks running 9s with the stock block. If you generate enough power with an L69 (is that right?) 305 to run an SS into the 9s, will it hold together?

I like the looks of a Monte LS myself. Sleeeeper.

And what's with the lack of cupholders on any G-body? People didn't drink in the 80s???