This is an Ertl diecast of the '85 Monte Carlo, which was in the "Elite Series" I believe. This series was nearly at "Authentics" level but just below in the price/detail scale. The Monte Carlo had been reduced in size but still retained a V-8 engine/RWD and, for the time, had some good performance.
This is an Ertl diecast of the '85 Monte Carlo, which was in the "Elite Series" I believe. This series was nearly at "Authentics" level but just below in the price/detail scale. The Monte Carlo had been reduced in size but still retained a V-8 engine/RWD and, for the time, had some good performance.
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A very nice model of a butt-ugly car...sorry, just my opinion.
Way back when, ERTL sent me two Monte Carlos to review. One was a preproduction test shot of a '70 that was just horrible. The body actually had large dents on the sides which I found baffling on a diecast body shell. The review I had to give the model (which came in an Aston Martin DB5 box!) basically meant I never got anymore review samples from them. This more rare black Monte Carlo SS "Chase Car", I thought was a very well done model for the pricepoint. I like the T-Tops stored in their GM sleeve.
A fantastic model but, as many of you know, finding one is a scary endeavor. Assuming you purchase one a decent price, would you truly have the guts to buy it? Would you accept the risk? It appears that 80% or better of all of these AuthenticsMontes  manufactured have suffered from diecast cancer.Â
It's VERY puzzling to me that Autoworld (I assume they own the tooling/dies) hasn't ever re-issued these. I's logical to assume they'd sell like hot cakes.  🤔 🤔 🤨Â
My 1/18 Ertl '85 Monte Carlo was obtained new years ago in a diecast store and it was priced somewhat less than an Authentics '85 Monte Carlo. I don't know if the T-tops are removable because I never made a major effort and tried to remove them. So I don't know if they would come off like the Authentics Series do if I forced the issue. I understood this Elite series was highly detailed to almost Authentics level but not quite and were somewhat less expensive. Later, I think they exclusively made 1/18 Authentcs '85 Monte Carlos.
So far my MC has seemed to be ok and one might think they wouldn't necessarily make all Authenics level and Elite level cars (and the 4 colors or so they came out with) all at the same time and with the same batch of flawed zamac. So, one might think there would be a number of good ones out there. But maybe those good ones aren't for sale and that might skew the issue somewhat ! For a number of years it has been a very nice diecast car, although in the real world, the RWD size and engines of the original 1:1 series Monte Carlos was still the best size and power combination.
@mikedetorrice I didn't know the Monte Carlo was done at two levels. As to the T-Tops, mine came stored in the trunk in their 'GM' sleeves as shown. Perhaps yours are not removable... or is it a plain coupe?
I had the silver Authentics version, which I sold in 2016. As far as I remember, it didn't have any signs of diecast cancer. Hoping its still holding up. That sucks to hear because the Authentics version was a VERY well done model.
