Despite the improvements offered by the 1983-1985 Monte Carlo SS, Chevy found itself again needing to up the aerodynamics factor in 1986 to compete with the fluid lines of the Ford Thunderbird. The solution was called the Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe, which was basically the same car with a sloped rear window that was designed to reduce drag and, consequently, increase track speed. It was a plan that obviously worked, as evidenced by Dale Earnhardt winning the Winston Cup championship in 1986 and 1987, both times in an Aerocoupe.

Though they were abundant on the race track, Aerocoupes were much harder to spot around town. For 1986, Chevy limited the Aerocoupe run to 200 vehicles, and 1987 production reached just over 6,000 units. But that was it for the Aerocoupe, which never saw the 1988 model year, and it wasn’t long after that the Monte Carlo also met its demise, albeit temporarily. While it lasted, the Aerocoupe sold for about $14,000 and delivered 180 horsepower from its 305 cubic-inch V8.