2002 Dale Earnhardt Monte Carlo SS Project !

Picked this up a couple years ago, Engine seized but got it freed up, did a lot of work but had put it on hold in order to buy my home and shop. Now that I don't have to work in the grass anymore, I'm getting back to this as well as working on my Ram transmission.
My problem is this: Apparently a previous owner ( probably a minority ) has cut the fenders out to most likely have big rims and thin tires! About as stupid as rear bumper dragging trucks!
Luckily they put the original Rims back on when they sold it.
Generally speaking cars are worth more if they are left original, with original paint. This one was negelected and abused, and also suffered storm damage.
My inclination is to restore it to original, rather than keep it looking like it is, with the decals pretty much half gone. It was a driver with 154K currently on it.
Opinions ?

LOL

Hay ! I really didn't care much for Earnhardt, but the car is going to continue to increase in value because of it's being what it is and how few there are.

It's an overweight cab forward front wheel drive grocery-getter, and I highly doubt it will ever be worth too much.

If it were me, I'd cut the floor out of it and put a real chassis under it with SLA front suspension and four link rear. Use a Ford 9" housing with a Detroit Locker carrier, put a straight cut gear four speed in between, and an 18* 358ci SBC in the front. Front half/back half with connectors in between and enough sheet metal work to sit over 15x14 steel wheels. Make that thing earn the number 3 on its door.

Dude. It will NEVER be worth anything. Ever.

Sounds like a cool project to me! Good luck!

Had an ‘02 Monte SS. Had it for 16 years and 138k miles. It was really a nice car but it rotted out. The floor was good but the rockers were gone. Oh well, it was my winter b e a te r and it got beat.
I wouldn’t bother fixing one up expecting it to be worth any substantial money.

It is a 2002 Monte Carlo with some stickers and doodads licensed from Earnhardt. It is not like a Shelby Mustang that Carroll Shelby actually put his hands on and autographed during design and building.

You're wasting your time and money.

I don't think the car will ever be worth anything but if you like it and enjoy it then have fun with it. I bought a brand new 1990 Lumina Euro back when NASCAR was running the Luminas. Took it to the June Michigan NASCAR race and the people there loved it cause it was all black. Nothing special. Right off the showroom floor but Earnhardt drove a black Lumina then.
I bought a brand new 1987 IROC with the 5.7. First year they put the 5.7 in them and they only made 1000 of them and I know for a fact that right after I got mine there were only 998 of them left...lol. My buddies brother was a mechanic at a Chevy dealer and an old lady bought one for her spoiled grandson. A week later he totaled it so she bought him another one. About a month later he totaled it. Next she bought him a custom van and he OD'd and died in it. I had mine for 3 years and traded it with about 3000 miles on it. It kept stalling on me and they couldn't figure out what was wrong and I wanted something different anyway. Still don't think they are worth much. Mine was the darker red with every option available and T-Tops with leather.

I don't think the car will ever be worth anything but if you like it and enjoy it then have fun with it. I bought a brand new 1990 Lumina Euro back when NASCAR was running the Luminas. Took it to the June Michigan NASCAR race and the people there loved it cause it was all black. Nothing special. Right off the showroom floor but Earnhardt drove a black Lumina then.
I bought a brand new 1987 IROC with the 5.7. First year they put the 5.7 in them and they only made 1000 of them and I know for a fact that right after I got mine there were only 998 of them left...lol. My buddies brother was a mechanic at a Chevy dealer and an old lady bought one for her spoiled grandson. A week later he totaled it so she bought him another one. About a month later he totaled it. Next she bought him a custom van and he OD'd and died in it. I had mine for 3 years and traded it with about 3000 miles on it. It kept stalling on me and they couldn't figure out what was wrong and I wanted something different anyway. Still don't think they are worth much. Mine was the darker red with every option available and T-Tops with leather.

OMG Granny spoiled dude to death!

StickyLifter said:

OMG Granny spoiled dude to death!

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yep