Though this 1998 Chevy Monte Carlo had a build date in April 1998, I purchased it in early ’99 with only 200 miles on the odometer. It came equipped with all options except leather and sunroof. The four-wheel independent suspension had a pretty soft ride but was very quiet and felt like a full-size car on the road. The engine was an improved version of GM’s 3.1 V6, called the “3100”, and featured front wheel drive with a 4 speed automatic overdrive transaxle with electronic traction control. Major improvements to the engine include a more efficient sequential-port fuel injection and platinum spark plugs. This was as close to a maintenance free car as you could get in 1998.  The spark plugs, coolant, and trans fluid were all designed to last 100,000 miles, and the suspension joints were lubricated for life. It was a fairly trouble-free car but I felt I wanted something a bit “sportier”. I only owned this car for 36,000 miles.

Chevy’s Monte Carlo series dates back to 1970 as a “personal luxury coupe”. After being discontinued in 1988, Chevy brought back the Monte Carlo name in 1995 for a body style based on the 4-door Lumina. GM designed this body style to race in NASCAR so it made sense to offer a production version for the public.  These cars became NASCAR favorites driven by the likes of Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, and Terry LaBonte. The Monte Carlo came fully equipped and only in two models: the LS and the Z34 (later called the SS), which was the sport version. A new generation of Monte Carlo debuted in 2000, this time based on the larger chassis of the Impala since GM discontinued the Lumina series.  Chevy retired the Monte Carlo model permanently after the 2007 model year.

Here is the original window sticker for this car:

Here are some photos of the car taken in 1998 along the gulf coast in Waveland, Mississippi.