ID that SS (v1.2)

A few months back I wrote a post that hopefully would help
 monte browsers to determine what year of Super Sport they
 were viewing.

As there were a few errors, a few areas needing more attention,
 new developments, I figured I'd repost this guide.

As before, if anyone has any additions, corrections, or other
 observations, let me know.  It is my hope that Mike D. can post
 this on the web page under the "how to tell the differences in 
 the years" as a suppliment to the existing write-ups there.

Thanx
Derek Atteberry
After carefully observing Monte Super Sports for most
 of this past year, I felt I could write this and help
 out anyone else who is having problems with identifying
 the year of a given SS.

This is based on my knowledge and if anything is incorrect
 then I would appreciate any additions or corrections.
 Perhaps this could be posted on the Monte Page and serve 
 as a guide to interested web surfers.

First off, there are two separate generations of Monte Carlo
 Super Sports.  There is the First Generation Super Sports.
 Only offered in 1970 and 1971, they could be ordered under
 the Regular Production Option Z20. The 70 SS held a 360 
 horsepower 454 cubic inch V-8 under it's hood, 2.5 inch 
 dual exhaust pipes,  a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 transmission,
 3.31:1 rear axle, heavy duty front and rear springs and 
 stabilizer bars, 15 x 7 inch rally wheels with G70-15/B
 bias belted white stripe tires, and Super lift automatic 
 level control rear shock absorbers.  Among the additional 
 options for the SS were bucket seats, center console, special
 instrumentation, and Positraction rear axle.  

The distinguishing features between a 70 an 71 Monte Carlo are 
 the front parking lamps and front grille.  The parking lamps
 went from round lamps in the bumper, in 70, to rectangular 
 lamps, also in the bumper, in 71.  The 71's grille is also  
 "a finer mesh."  Overall length of the 71's increased from
 205.8 inches to 206.5 inches.

In 1971, Monte Carlos gained a hood ornament.  The Super Sport
 option's engine upgraded to a LS5 454 V-8 rated at 365 horse-
 power.  "Interestingly, 1971 ordering information showed the
 RPO code LS6 454 V-8 (425 gross horsepower) as an option for 
 the SS package.  Also shown was the RPO code M22 4-speed close 
 ratio manual transmission and a 4.10:1 performance axle ratio.
 It has been speculated that very few, if any, Monte Carlos were
 assembled with these options.  It is unknown at this time if any
 Monte Carlos with this combination ever made it into the hands
 of retail consumers."  1971 would be the last First Generation
 Super Sport offered.

Production totals for 70 and 71 Super Sports break down as 
 follows:
	1970	2 Door Sport Coupe SS 		 3,823
		454 ci V-8			 3,823
		THM 400				10,786

	1971	2 Door Sport Coupe SS		 1,919
		402 ci V-8			 8,633
		454 ci V-8			 1,772
		THM 400				10,283
	(unsure of percentages of SS with 402 vs 454)

Fourth Generation Monte Carlo Super Sports
------------------------------------------

The 1983 model year brought big news for Monte Carlo buyers:
 the return of the Super Sport Package.  The RPO code Z65 
 SS package included a "new high output" 305 V-8 rated at 175 
 horsepower, new front end styling, suspension upgrades, twin
 exhaust outlets, and a rear spoiler.  "The front end treatment
 consisted of a new rounded, molded plastic nose piece with 
 integral grille."  Bucket seats were not available in the Monte
 Carlo for 1983 and the SS package included a bench seat in blue
 with white trim only.  The white head rests had "SS" embroidered 
 into them, and the steering wheel was a standard Monte Carlo 
 Wheel.  Special 15 x 7 Rally Wheels and P215/65-15 GT white letter 
 Goodyear Tires also distinguished a SS above the rest.  

The only modifications between the 83 and 84 Super Sports were
 the option of ordering blue cloth bucket seats, a center
 console, and a new "sport" steering wheel.  The blue and 
 white bench seat was still available but minus the embroidered
 lettering.  The 305 got a horsepower rating boost to 180 horse-
 power.  The only exterior colors available in 83 and 84 were
 white with 2 tone blue striping, or dark blue with 2 tone
 blue striping.  The darker tone of the stripes was similar to
 the blue color of the car so that the impression was given of
 only one stripe.

New in 1985 was the availabilty of a 4-speed automatic trans-
 mission in which 4th gear was a .70:1 overdrive (THM 200-R4).
 To accent this new transmission the rear axle was changed
 to a 7-5/8 inch ring-gear, with a new ratio of 3.73:1 from a
 7.5 inch, 3.42:1.  A limited-slip option became available with
 this new rear-end.  Gone was the Dark Blue color and new hues 
 available were Silver Metallic, Black, and Dark Maroon Metallic. 
 The color white was still an option. The striping package was 
 changed by the addition of CHEVROLET lettering in a striping 
 break on the front facia, the outline of a bowtie above the trunk 
 lock cylinder, and an additional stripe along the top-rear of 
 the spoiler.  Monte Carlo SS lettering changed size and typefont 
 on the doors and trunk lid.  The coloring of the stripes and 
 lettering now match the color of the interior; Charcoal and 
 Black with a Grey interior, Orange and Red with the Maroon 
 interior, and two Golden color shades to accent the Tan interior.  

1986 brought about a change in exterior, rear-view, mirrors.
 The style changed from an oval shaped "pod" attached to the
 door by a pedistal, to a "wind shaped" model that seemed to
 flow from the front of the door where the window met up with 
 it.  The mirror itself bore a "D" shape to it.  It was mounted
 similarly, but the pedistal was short and hidden by the mirror
 housing.  In addition, in 1986, a new aluminum alloy wheel
 became standard on the Super Sports.  This five spoked 
 design is what most people think of when you say a Monte Carlo
 Super Sport rim.

Also new to the Monte Carlo Family in 1986 was the Aero Coupe.
 This Aero Coupe included a "drastically sloped rear window, 
 and short trunk lid."  Only 200 Aero Coupes were produced for
 retail consumers in 1986.  This was the minimum ammount 
 necessary to allow NASCAR racing teams using the Monte Carlo 
 body design to legally use this new rear window design on their
 race cars.  The rounded rear window improved the aerodynamic
 performance of the car at high speeds like those attained on the
 NASCAR tracks.

1987 brought about a change in rear styling.  A "smoothed"
 rear bumper eliminated the notch that existed below the trunk
 line, on top of the bumper.  This new bumper came complimented
 with a newer tailight housing that saw the red portion extend
 to, and over approximately 1/4 inch, the corners of the car.
 In addition, a new, lower profile wing became available some 
 time in the middle of 87.  This is the same style that was
 used on the 86 Aero Coupes.  Tracking VIN production numbers 
 has left me with no clear answers as to when or where the
 new style began.  From 83 to 87 the Super Sports were assembled
 in Arlington, Texas (as evidenced from a R just before the 
 production number on VIN's).  In 1987, and into 88, Super Sports 
 were also assembled in Pontiac, Michigan.  It is theorized that
 that is where the distiction in wings lies.  Aero Coupes found 
 the end of their production run in 87; There were NO 1988 Monte 
 Carlo Aero Coupe Super Sports.  

The 87 model year colors did not change, however the Monte Carlo 
 Super Sport logo on the door did.  It went from a format of having
 the MONTE CARLO placed linearly before the slightly-larger 
 SS.  The new logo placed a large SS above a MONTE CARLO so that
 the SS spaned the width of the MONTE CARLO lettering.  The striping
 changed to a tri-color format, again accenting the interior colors.

"The 1988 model year marked the end of an era."  After producing
 the Monte Carlo for approxamately 3 months, Chevrolet decided
 to cancel the Monte Carlo Super Sport model.  On Friday, 
 December 11, 1987, at 5:29 pm, the last fourth-generation, 
 Monte Carlo rolled off the production line at the Pontiac, 
 Michigan plant.  It is believed that the 88 model year was 
 just an extention of the 87 year to allow production of any
 Monte Carlos that were ordered late in the 87 year.  In so,
 there were no changes to color or stripe options from 87 to 
 88.

Production numbers for the 83 to 88 run of Super Sports are 
 as follows:

	1983	2 Door Sport Coupe SS		 4,714
		L69 305 ci V-8			 4,714

	1984	2 Door Sport Coupe SS		24,050
		L69 305 ci V-8			24,050
	
	1985	2 Door Sport Coupe SS		35,484
		L69 305 ci V-8			35,484
	
	1986	2 Door Sport Coupe SS		41,164
		2 Door SS Aero Coupe		   200
		L69 305 ci V-8			41,164 (?)
	
	1987	2 Door Sport Coupe SS		33,199
		2 Door SS Aero Coupe		 6,052
		L69 305 ci V-8			39,251
		
	1988	2 Door Sport Coupe SS		16,204
		L69 305 ci V-8			16,204

(On an interesting note 88 was the only year that there were
  more Super Sport models made than standard models {13,970})
	
Seven years passed by before Chevrolet decided to dust of the
 Monte Carlo moniker and apply it to a mid-sized Chevy.  However
 the new Monte Carlos were of Uni-body construction and were
 powered by V-6 engines feeding the front-wheel-drive trans-
 missions.  The 1995 Monte Carlo is considered by some to be 
 a disgrace to the Monte Carlo name.  However, plans are in the
 works to help smooth some of those ruffled feathers.  John Moss,
 a head Engineer at Chevrolet, has designed a rear-wheel-drive,
 V-8 powered Monte Carlo that shares many chassis components with
 the Camaro.  A prototype was assembled and has been on display 
 at many national events such as the Detroit Auto Show, and the
 National Monte Carlo Owners Association national convention.  The
 Chevrolet designers have also decided to capture the attention of
 the "Rod and Custom" group by designing a "lead sled" version
 of the Fifth Generation Monte Carlo's  This version retains the
 front-wheel-drive V6, but features a "chopped top", filled rear
 wheel openings, "smoothed" wheel covers, and a lowered stance.
 Could we be seeing the return of a RWD Monte?  Will the "Rod &
 Custom Monte Car-Low" try to seal some of the "nostalgia" steam
 away from Plymouth and Ford.  Keep your fingers crossed, and hope 
 these unique Monte Carlos go the way of the Plymouth Prowler and 
 Chevy Impalla SS: from auto-show prototype to showroom product.

=====Sources
	"Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1970-1988 & 1995 ..." published
	by Chevrolet, and available in a "Restoration Packet"
 	from them.
	
	"Chevy Super Sports 1961-1976. Including '83-'87 Monte
	Carlo SS"  by Terry V. Boyce	

	Derek Atteberry's personal observations.

*********************