Here is a car to relive the 1980s, or more precisely, an alternative side of that era. A 1980s Chevy, carrying the bowtie’s PLC mantle into that decade, but powered by Buick’s turbocharged V6; and with only 3,027 such Monte Carlos equipped in 1981, a rare and different take on the model.
What? You can’t recall a turbo-powered Monte? If so, don’t beat yourself too hard about it. The model was offered solely in the midst of the challenging malaise era, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it effort sold only from 1980 to 1981. That makes this survivor a true rarity that has clearly been loved, as it looks in outstanding condition; as well preserved as an early 1980s GM product can be.
The 1981 Monte Carlo has the hump and badge to prove it; TURBO, make no doubt about it! The topic is not alien to CC, and has a devoted entry from a while back. In short, the option first appeared in 1980, when Chevrolet poached Buick’s 3.8 turbocharged V6 for the model.
For that year, the turbo model sold 13,389 and offered 170HP at 4000RPM, with 275 lb-ft of torque. Nothing that sounds great now, but it did well against the 305 V8 option, which offered just 155HP and 240 lb-ft of torque for that year. In theory, providing 15HP more, along with improved fuel efficiency. However, it was somewhat of a pricey choice over the 305.
For 1981, the model would be restyled along the rest of GM’s formal coupes. This makes the turbo-powered MCs a curious oddity; being a one-year option on the outgoing 1980 third generation, and also a one-year curiosity on the newly available fourth generation shown here.
Styling is pure early ’80s GM, with crisp, Sheer Look surfaces and remnants of brougham detailing. The tamest of the MCs, with a new, cleaner attire for the posher 1980s. Still, as tame as it had gotten, it still carried enough cues to give it a polished, brash character. It looked sleeker, and it was; an 0.48 Cd against the 0.53 Cd of the outgoing model.
A period Car And Driver review on the V6 turbo 1980 MC found the model to offer “adequate… middling performance”, though experiencing some minor drivability issues when cold. All while delivering an eerily quiet driving experience.
With no SS model for the year, the turbo was still the Monte’s top dog for 1981. A new electronic fuel and emission management system arrived as well, the Computer Command Control (CCC), which, in the spirit of the times, was tuned for economy and emissions, with turbo lag somewhat reduced and drivability supposedly improved.
Performance for the car was actually above average for the times, with 0-60 reached in about 11 seconds. Still, interest in the turbo clearly waned that sophomore year; either resistance to novelty, a too different feel from the old norm, or the option’s cost. With demand not meeting expectations, Chevy dropped the turbo pretenses that year. (Not that it had been Chevrolet’s sole attempt at turbo.) Meanwhile, Buick would go on to polish their turbo tech, which would gain fame in upcoming models like the Grand National.
Those low-selling figures make this 1981 model a very rare piece of GM nostalgia. So, ready to check out more closely this remnant from the Radio Shack (Hey! It was a thing!) era?
First of, the images come from a Bring a Trailer listing from late 2024. The car had only about 40K miles since new. If you’re interested, sorry, but it’s gone. At the time of this ad, the turbo was a Nebraska resident, though originally it had been sold by Bun Austin Chevrolet in Sterling, Illinois, and had been a “barn find” in 2018.
Like a good PLC, this survivor came with several expected options: two-tone blue metallic paint, tinted windows, a cassette stereo, air conditioning, bucket seats, and 14-inch wheels (a size that sounds so small now!). No electric windows or door locks on this one, though –gotta crank those, 1960s/1970s style.
The 1980s plastics have enough gingerbread to offer the expected Monte Carlo PLC ambiance. I didn’t check closely, but that faux wood appliqué looks like a carryover from the original 1970s model, cut to fit the new arrangements, of course.
Those straps; so 1980s GM. Memories of every Caprice taxi I ever rode in those years (and the 1990s).
And how about that peeling trim in the rear bumper? Another 1980s GM memory. Not sure… is it something I really wish to remember?
Bucket seats with ashtrays, and a neat Body by Fisher badge on the door sill.
A farewell look at the face of this dead Chevrolet branch. The turbo is unlikely to be the MC many wish to remember, but exist, it did, and as rare as they were, it’s interesting to find a fossil still moving around the living.
Related CC Reading
Ad Classic: 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Turbo – One Of The Rarest (by Perry Shoar)
Curbside Classics: 1981 & 1982 Chevrolet Monte Carlos – Yin & Yang (by Joseph Dennis)
COAL: 1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo – Unwanted Attention (by Marc)
Vintage Review: 1979 Buick Century Turbo Coupe – This Wild Turkey Tried To Fly (by GN)
You are correct. I had no idea these existed. Great find. Looks like a well-loved car. All props to the owner(s) who resuscitated her.
The 81s were so much better looking than the 78-81s! I think the Cutlass Supremes of the times looked the best but the Regals were pretty sharp followed by the Grand Prix’ and then the MC.
One had to wait for the back barrels on the QJ to fully open for the boost to come on then they pulled pretty well for the time.
“No power windows/locks”.Ahh! Sounds like paradise! Two less things to malfunction. Now if we could nix those dumb seat sensors.
Very pretty car, co workers, mom got one (not a turbo) about the same color. Wasn’t , the “tutone”; med blue/ vinyl top a bit darker, blue.
Still, for 13 grand? Not bad. (of course that was 2018 money).
Let’s find other rare Monte Carlo survivors like the ones who have the Oldsmobile diesel engine under the hood in the 1982 model. https://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Chevrolet/1982-Chevrolet/1982%20Chevrolet%20Monte%20Carlo/slides/1982%20Chevrolet%20Monte%20Carlo%20Brochure%2010-11.html
And while we’re at it, it could be interesting to see someone creating a Phantom Monte Carlo SS with the turbo from the 1986-87 Regal Grand National.
And one more rare Monte Carlo, a 1984 Mexican Monte Carlo SS with a 4-speed manual who was sold in Mexico.
https://www.theautopian.com/you-could-get-a-1984-chevrolet-monte-carlo-ss-with-a-350-and-a-manual-transmission-but-theres-a-catch-holy-grails/
I never knew either .
I’m not a fan of these Monte Carlos but they’re still wildy popular here in So. Cal.
Nice survivor .
-Nate
I know, I’m not a GM fan. But how did they only get 170HP out of a turbo 3.8/231? OK, I’ve got my bias, but in that exact era BMW was getting 169, conservatively rated HP out of 2.8/170 displacement. Were the heads that bad that? Oh, fuel injection, that was over a decade old by that time. They did seem to get good torque ratings, but overall it was slow. It’s like how did they do that? Let alone it was coyote ugly. I know, I wasn’t their market, but their market didn’t seem impressed either.
As many power window motors as I sell at work, I will crank my own too. These late motors are no bigger than a speck of fly poop, and some are even plastic!