Fresh off the lot and glistening in all its glory, Ernie Thompson’s 1977 Monte Carlo began its journey with its one, and only owner. A journey that would see love, heartbreak, and redemption. This isn’t just a car; it’s a time capsule, a testament to the roaring spirit of an era and the man who cherishes it. From the perfect hum of its 350 cubic-inch, four-barrel V8, to the tunes echoing from its Panasonic 8-track radio, every inch of this Monte Carlo whispers tales from a bygone era and in good-as-new condition.

Ernie’s Cream Gold 1977 Monte Carlo looks just as good now as it did rolling off the assembly line 47 years ago.

Ernie Thompson’s 1977 Monte Carlo was special-ordered to his near exact specifications in 1976, for just $5,612.85. It was ordered from the factory with a small-block 350 topped with a 4-barrel carburetor, a black vinyl bench seat, and seven-inch rally wheels. He drove it off the lot in September of that year, which, luckily enough, is the perfect time of year for cruising. Shortly after getting his Monte Carlo home, Ernie added an 8-track Panasonic radio with four speakers, dual exhaust, and wider, eight-inch Corvette rally wheels. Between the 8-track and the dual exhaust, I doubt that he has yet to experience a quiet drive home.

In 1977, the four-barrel 350 made around 170 HP and a surprising 270 lb-ft of torque.

One of the hardest things to accept about being so passionate about a car is that not everyone will share that same passion or enthusiasm for your ride. This is something Ernie got to learn quickly when he got married in 1977. His wife wouldn’t even drive the car, although, that might have saved him some curb rash over the years. The other good news is this led him to only drive the car for special occasions and prevented Ernie from racking up the miles. In 1992, they got divorced and Ernie paid $5,000 for the car again. This time it had 19,000 miles on it.

A fun fact is that the 1977 model was the only time in history when an intermediate model was larger in every dimension than a full-sized model

Ernie has always taken great care of his ride. As of today, it only has 22,295 miles on it. When Ernie went to the dealership to order the car, he knew he was looking for a drivable car and not a hot rod. Since then, he makes sure to store the Monte Carlo away every winter to keep the salt, harsh weather, and bad drivers far from this beauty.

Ernie’s sons could have never imagined they were standing in front of such a historic ride.

Throughout the years, Ernie’s Monte Carlo has seen a lot and been there for him through the ups and downs of life. One of those “ups” includes raising his two sons. The two boys in the picture are his sons, which are now 39 and 42 years old. His youngest son made sure to “call dibs” on the Monte Carlo, in the chance that something happens to their dad. It’s nice to know that Ernie has been able to imprint the importance of this historical ride onto his kids.

Being garage kept, as well as being stored every winter, has kept the interior in pristine and fade-free condition.

Ernie’s addiction to the Bowtie doesn’t stop with his Monte Carlo. He also has an original 1950 Chevy truck, an all-original 1991 Camaro, a 1987 S10, and an off-breed of a 1969 Rambler gasser with a 1951 Chevy truck straight axle! He truly is a Chevy guy at heart.