I have the opportunity to purchase a very low mileage 1978 Monte Carlo owned by the proverbial grandma. It is a 305 with a 350 trans. I also have an opportunity to purchase a higher mileage 1987 Monte with a 305 and THM700-R4.

If given the same opportunity which year would be your preference and more reliable if they were in identical condition? I am asking for pro's and con's advice and will not hold anyone in disdain if I purchased one and it ended up being a POS after 100 miles.
Thanks

 

Is the 1987 an SS? If so, I would personally go with the 1987. Otherwise, I would take the 1978 instead since I believe the body lines are much better looking and defined. Either way they are both older cars and may need to have quite a few parts replaced and/or repaired to keep them running for another 10, 20, 30 years or more. Of course...my opinion may be swayed a little since I have a 1979 project car I am working on. Do you have any pictures of either of the cars?

 

Id drive em both & look em both over real good & just go with the better of the 2 both generations are nice

 

Anthony, unfortunately there is no SS in the choices otherwise it would be in my garage. I appreciate your advice and especially about the need and scarcity of replacement parts because the plan is to keep it for at least 10 years. I restored a Japanese car and I know how difficult replacement parts can be to find for some models especially like foreign cars which are only required to maintain replacement parts for 12 years thus my switch to an American project. No I don't have any photos. I sincerely appreciate your advice as I will use it to make the final choice.

 

Thank you. I have only looked at them but have not driven either one so that should help decide. I noticed your photo shows the latest generation. How do you like the car? The reason I ask is that they are far more affordable than the older ones it seems, to collect. I can pick up a 2002 that I did drive and have seen the late model pace cars for almost the same price as gens 2 & 3. Thanks

 

Well, the 78 is a very good looking car, the 350 trans is pretty much bulletproof behind a 305, but the issue is that parts on the car are hard to come by, and modification parts aren't really around for it from what I have seen. I could be wrong though, I haven't dug on the car much.

The 87 has the 700r4, which is also great, and has overdrive for better mileage. The 3 speed in the 350 will make you want to destroy things because you have to rev so high on the highway. If you plan to fix anything/mod anything, the 87 will have A LOT of parts for it. Most of the gbody parts are interchangeable and thats a pretty big platform in racing.

 

I would go with the 4th gen(87) but I am a little bias

The thm700r4 was not original to the car, it would have came with the th200(3speed) or the optional TH200-4r(4speed overdrive trans) from the factory,

I am not a huge fan of 3rd gens(78) just too much swoop to them everything is a bit exagerated for my taste,

The 4th is a G-Body which and there is a lot of aftermarket,
The 3rd gen is tecnicially an A-body if I remember correctly but the frame is the same as a 4th gen

 

Drive them both and see which one rides/performs better. Also look at condition - I would choose the one that is in the best condition. No rust dents etc....

 

One note of advice. Make SURE it doesn't matter if its an SS or not as well as power output. It will ALWAYS come back and haunt you sooner than later. My next Monte will be a 4th gen SS and absolutely NO compromises.

Since you did mention that otherwise if it was an SS it would be in your garage my choice would be neither. Keep looking.

 

personally if i had the choice i'd go with the 78, only cuz i kinda want to stand out, the 4th gen (SS or not) are all too common cars and i see alot of them in summer time here in chicago.