Chevrolet Monte Carlo

1981 to 1988 · Coupe

A 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo cost $7,221 new. Over the past 12 months, 10 have sold publicly at a median of $15,875. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $17,500. Across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $5,250 to $43,750, depending on mileage, color, and history.

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Shifty Estimate
$17,500
High confidence · $11K to $34K
Up 12.4% over 12 months
Median · 12 mo
$15,875
Sales · 12 mo
10
Original MSRP
$7,221Up 142% since new

The market

Every recorded 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo sale, by date and price
May 2026 · Bring a Trailer
$15,500 · 68,000 mi · Black
See this car
$10k$20k$30k$40kFeb 2023202420252026SHIFTY ESTIMATE $18k
Sold Bid to, not sold
37 sales · 9 unsoldmedian $16kupdated Sep 2026

Community

Latest results

The newest 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo sales with photographs
1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, sold Jan 2026

Sold $37,000

1987 · #17 Tide livery
Jan 30, 2026 · Bring a Trailer
1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, sold Dec 2025

Sold $11,000

1987 · NASCAR Winston Cup red and white · 73,700 mi
Dec 17, 2025 · Hagerty Marketplace
1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, sold Nov 2025

Sold $17,900

1983 · Beige · 9,000 mi
Nov 26, 2025 · Bring a Trailer
1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, sold Nov 2025

Sold $13,500

1984 · White · 26,000 mi
Nov 24, 2025 · Bring a Trailer
1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, sold Nov 2025

Sold $16,250

1986 · Black · 27,302 mi
Nov 6, 2025 · Hagerty Marketplace
1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, sold Oct 2025

Sold $14,501

1984 · gray · 721 mi
Oct 23, 2025 · Hagerty Marketplace

Every 1981 to 1988 Monte Carlo

Sold prices, last 12 months · Oct 11, 2026
Every 1981 to 1988 Monte Carlo. Sold prices, last 12 months · Oct 11, 2026
Monte Carlo1981 to 1988SS1983 to 1988
Shifty Estimate$17,500$20,000
Sold median$15,87510 sales$23,2507 sales
12-month moveUp 12.4%Too few sales to call
For saleNoneNone
Other Monte Carlo generations

Specifications

Engine
V6, 3.8L
Power
110 hp
Torque
190 lb-ft
Transmission
Automatic
Drivetrain
RWD
Original MSRP
$7,221

Common questions

How much does a Chevrolet Monte Carlo cost?

A 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo cost $7,221 new. Over the past 12 months, 10 have sold publicly at a median of $15,875. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $17,500. Across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $5,250 to $43,750, depending on mileage, color, and history.

What is a 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo worth today?

The Shifty Estimate is $17,500, up 12.4% over the past 12 months. Confidence is high: 10 public sales in a year gives a firm read.

Is a Chevrolet Monte Carlo a good investment?

It has appreciated 142% against its $7,221 list price. Values are up 12.4% over the past 12 months. The caution is spread, not direction: across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $5,250 to $43,750, and mileage explains most of that.

How many Chevrolet Monte Carlo have sold?

Shifty has 39 public sales of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo on file. The earliest was on Feb 20, 2023.

What is the most expensive Chevrolet Monte Carlo sold?

The highest public sale on file is $43,750, on Nov 30, 2023, with 978 mi.

What has a Chevrolet Monte Carlo sold for at auction?

The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:

  • $15,500May 21, 2026Black · 68,000 mi
  • $32,000May 12, 2026Dark Blue Metallic · 33,000 mi
  • $37,000Jan 30, 2026#17 Tide livery

About the 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The 1981-1988 Monte Carlo represents Chevrolet's downsized interpretation of the personal luxury coupe, built on the G-body platform shared with the Buick Regal and Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. While purists mourned the loss of the previous generation's imposing presence, these Monte Carlos found new life on NASCAR tracks, where their aerodynamic efficiency proved formidable. The SS variants, particularly the 1986-1988 models with their 305 V8 engines, have emerged as the most collectible, offering genuine performance credentials with their sport-tuned suspensions and aggressive styling cues. Production totaled over 1.2 million units across all years, making base models relatively common, but clean, low-mileage examples are increasingly scarce. The final 1988 model year holds special significance as the last rear-wheel-drive Monte Carlo until the nameplate's 1995 revival, creating a natural stopping point that collectors appreciate.

Sales and listings

Showing 20 of 49 on file

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