Vietnam vet attempts to start stored 1985 Monte Carlo SS for the first time in 20 years
- This Vietnam vet rode his 1985 Monte Carlo SS for the first time since his son’s funeral 20 years ago
- After 20 years of sitting in a kitchen, a US-based detailing shop was able to breathe life back into it
- It’s an emotional ride, in more ways than one
Published on Jul 22, 2024 at 2:20 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jul 22, 2024 at 7:18 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Check out the moment this Vietnam veteran rode his 1985 Monte Carlo SS for the first time since his son’s funeral 20 years ago.
It had been sitting in his kitchen in the interim before a detailing shop in Cleveland, Ohio, US, breathed life back into it.
It’s an emotional rollercoaster.
READ MORE: Man builds his ultra rare dream car after finding the remnants of one as a barn find
Why was the car stored for so long?
The 1985 Monte Carlo SS was the first new car the Vietnam vet and his wife bought as a couple.
They drove it until tragedy struck, and their son died.
After the car was driven in the funeral procession, the Chevy was parked and never touched again.
However, it wasn’t in a garage or even a barn – but a kitchen in one of their unused properties.
As weird and tragic as the story is, the one positive is that the unusual storage spot – as well as the wax coating it – shielded the classic car from the elements and ravages of time.
While it collected dust and a few furry critters over the years, the car was able to spring back to life.
That’s all thanks to WD Detailing, in Cleveland, Ohio, US.
Following a call from the owner’s daughter, the detailers only had to clean the 40-year-old muscle car and add fuel.
If classic muscle cars are your thing, you’ll love this 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 behind 20 other cars in a extraordinary barn find.
Meanwhile, this YouTuber has a valid reason for calling this California discovery the ‘craziest barn find ever’.
This 1985 Monte Carlo SS is a five-liter High-Output V8.
That four-barrel motor delivered 180 hp and 235 lb-ft (183 PS, 319 Nm) through a four-speed automatic with overdrive down to the 3.73 performance axle.
The official claim was that the 1985 Monte Carlo SS could do 0-97 km/h (0-60 mph) in 8.4 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in 16.1.
However, seeing the Vietnam vet driving down memory lane with his daughter is completely priceless.
The 1985 Monte Carlo SS
The Monte Carlo was Chevrolet’s late response to the personal luxury car era.
The first generation debuted in 1970.
Over 32 years around 4.4 million were made – but the SS is considered the greatest and the most rare.
The Super Sport was produced between 1970 and 1971 after which followed a 12-year hiatus.
It then returned in 1983 until its final year in 1988.
Its vast appreciation was down to its status as the last full-frame rear-wheel-drive carbureted V8 car made by GM.
In other muscle car news, the Dodge Charger Daytona EV has ben unveiled as the world’s first electric muscle car.
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
