’87 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe – Goodguys

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Vehicle Quick Facts

Profile ID: 64567
Year: 1987
Make: Buick
Model: Grand National
Markets: Resto-Mod
Vehicle Type: American
Contact: Goolsby Customs

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Vehicle Story

The ’80s called – and they look more awesome than ever! That’s right, Goodguys is making another trip back to the decade of mullets, stone-washed denim, and hair metal with their 2025 Grand Prize Giveaway car, a sleek ’87 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe street machine crafted by Goolsby Customs. We wanted to see if we could bring the cool factor to an ’80s-era car that we’ve been able to deliver on two recent giveaway trucks from the same decade.

The genesis of this project dates back to 2018, when Goodguys first expanded its year cutoff at national events to 1987. We didn’t just want to accept vehicles from the ’70s and ’80s, we wanted to embrace them. We did that by first building a Fox-body Mustang – also crafted by Goolsby Customs – which is still in the Goodguys stable of vehicles. We followed that up a few years later with the Grand Prize Giveaway ’86 Chevy C10, and then an ’88 Chevy pickup in 2023. A G-body Monte Carlo – Chevrolet’s last full-frame mid-size muscle car – has long been on the short list of ’80s vehicles we wanted to build, and a clean Aerocoupe found in Texas gave us the opportunity to put those ideas into action.

Armed with a rendering from Eric Brockmeyer, we began planning the recipe for a clean G-body g-machine – a pro-touring version of this streamlined ’80s classic. When Jonathan Goolsby caught wind of our project, he lobbied hard for his shop to build it. “I grew up with those cars in the high school parking lots and racing them on the local short tracks,” Jonathan says, noting that this was a “bucket-list” build for him. “It gets it out of my system,” he continues. “It gives me the opportunity to build it, enjoy it, and then pass it along for someone else to enjoy.”

Like any good giveaway project, this one was a ground-up effort that began with a fresh frame – an all-new SPEC chassis from Roadster Shop. Built with CNC laser-cut and contoured frame rails and crossmembers, the SPEC chassis features a performance-based coil-over front suspension, power rack-and-pinion steering, four-bar rear suspension, and a 9-inch rearend with a Gear F/X FN988 center section. The frame was delivered to Goolsby with a gold powder coat finish, which would coordinate perfectly with the accent striping planned for the body.

The chassis was eventually outfitted with a Rock Valley fuel tank, plus Baer 14-inch drilled and slotted brake rotors and six-piston 30^th Anniversary series calipers, complete with custom white coating and Goolsby Custom engraving. It got rolling on 18×9- and 19×11.5-inch Forgeline AL307 wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot 255/35/18 and 325/30/19 tires.

Power is a key element to any good giveaway vehicle, and this Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe got a healthy dose of it with a Chevrolet Performance E-Rod LT4 crate engine from Gandrud Chevrolet. The supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 is an all-aluminum powerhouse with a forged rotating assembly, roller camshaft, direct injection, and an Eaton supercharger that helps it develop 640-horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque. Better still, the E-Rod version of this engine is California emissions legal in 1995-and-older vehicles, so the lucky winner of this car will have no problem registering and licensing it no matter where they live.

The new engine is being cooled by a PWR aluminum radiator with integral dual fans. It’s backed up by a new 10L90 ten-speed automatic transmission, also from Gandrud Chevrolet, which will send power to the rearend via a custom driveshaft from Performance Driveline Engineering.

Metalwork and fabrication are two key specialties at Goolsby Customs, and the team there put its skills to the test on the Monte Carlo’s sheet metal. Much of the custom metalwork was subtle and hidden, like the widened inner wheel housings to accommodate the rear tires and wheels and lowered stance, or the custom-fabricated aluminum inner front fenders that deliver better steering clearance and a cleaner under-hood appearance.

Aside from the wheel housing work, the Goolsby team had to fine tune a previous quarter panel repair. Beyond that, their efforts mostly involved refining an otherwise clean, straight, and rust-free body. The crew dialed in the panel alignment and got all the gaps nice and tight, and then rolled the body into the paint booth so Jonathan could lay down a fresh finish.

“We did four or five color and wheel combos,” says rendering artist Eric Brockmeyer, “but the consensus was that the white really showed the crisp lines of the Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe, and the gold accents add to the ’80s flavor.” The right hue turned out to be GM Summit White, applied using BASF materials. It was accented with gold striping, with GG lettering in place of the SS.

With upholstery capabilities now available in-house at Goolsby Customs, progress could be made on the Monte Carlo’s cabin while other mechanical and assembly work was being performed. The original front bucket seats and modified rear bench were upholstered in brown Moore and Giles leather, with custom door and side panels covered to match. The dash and other plastic elements were color matched using BASF interior paint, while Dakota Digital instruments and new trim pieces from Dixie Restoration Depot aided the facelift.

Finishing elements inside came in the form of a Flaming River tilt column topped by an original wheel and a Hertz stereo head unit feeding an Audison amp and speakers. Wiring from Painless Performance was used to get everything connected, and a Vintage Air HVAC system will help keep temperatures comfortable.

As we noted in this month’s build-up installment, the Monte Carlo got an impromptu break-in road trip on the way to its unveiling at this year’s Summit Racing Nationals in Columbus. Ben from Goolsby Customs ended up driving the car more than 500 miles to get it to its debut due to a trailer issue, and it made the journey without a hitch! In other words, it’s the sort of reliable, first-rate build you’ve come to expect from Goodguys giveaway vehicles. Couple that with crisp and clean ’80s styling and modern performance, and you’ve got one awesome Aerocoupe that’s sure to make one lucky winner happy next year.

One lucky enthusiast will fire up and drive away in this awesome Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe at the Goodguys 2025 Summit Racing Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. Registered Goodguys participants have a chance to qualify as finalists to win the coupe through the Goodguys Sunday Lucky Ticket program. Just fill out the Sunday Lucky Ticket from your registration packet and drop it in the yellow barrel prior to the Sunday awards ceremony at any Goodguys event. We’ll qualify one finalist at each event leading up to Columbus. Online entry is also available at www.good-guys.com – look for the form under the Promotions tab. One current Goodguys member will also be randomly selected as a finalist prior to the 2025 Goodguys Summit Racing Nationals.

Tech Sheet