1971 Monte Carlo

In 1971 there was only 1919 Monte SS sold and we're only available with the 454 due to stiffer suspension wider tires etc, in California the 350 4 Barrell was the only engine able to be sold. A good way to tell is if your car has the auto leveling canister located on the right side fender well if looking at front of engine. All SS Monte Carlo came with this due to the suspension upgrades. If this isn't there or looks like there should have been one there then it's possible it could have been removed, you can also look at the top of the rear end and see if there is a fitting where air lines would go from it to shocks, another part of leveling system. If none of this is there it's unlikely a true SS, also do you have the blacked out panel between trunk and bumper with matching trim that matches the trim running along bottom of body before bumper? And do you have the rubber bumper pad that runs almost the length of bumper in the middle of bumper? If you have the blacked out trim piece that the SS badge is on and it's not painted this part is impossible to find and is not reproduced then it's likely a true SS. If all else fails then you can hope to find the build sheet under the rear seat most are still there as the seats are rarely removed hope this helps

about a second ago Best Answer In 1971 there was only 1919 Monte SS sold and we're only available with the 454 due to stiffer suspension wider tires etc, in California the 350 4 Barrell was the only engine able to be sold. A good way to tell is if your car has the auto leveling canister located on the right side fender well if looking at front of engine. All SS Monte Carlo came with this due to the suspension upgrades. If this isn't there or looks like there should have been one there then it's possible it could have been removed, you can also look at the top of the rear end and see if there is a fitting where air lines would go from it to shocks, another part of leveling system. If none of this is there it's unlikely a true SS, also do you have the blacked out panel between trunk and bumper with matching trim that matches the trim running along bottom of body before bumper? And do you have the rubber bumper pad that runs almost the length of bumper in the middle of bumper? If you have the blacked out trim piece that the SS badge is on and it's not painted this part is impossible to find and is not reproduced then it's likely a true SS. If all else fails then you can hope to find the build sheet under the rear seat most are still there as the seats are rarely removed hope this helps

This is the rear of a 71 SS note the pad in bumper and trim

worked at General Motors for 17 years back in the day at the Regional Office. The Information given above is Mostly correct except for the California and 350 info. We NEVER offered the 350 as an optional engine in the SS package for the Monte Carlo in both 1970 or 1971 no matter what State the Plants were in. In the Van Nuys Plant in California they were installing Smog Control Equipment due to Federal Regulations. All Monte Carlo's in 1970 and 1971 Only came with the 454 as the Sole engine option for the SS Model. If you have the 350 in a SS car it was transplanted in there and the original documented 454 was removed by the owner not the Plant. There is Zero chance your SS monte came from the Plant with a 350 and there are zero documentation that will show a Monte Carlo with a 350 in an SS car. Now a 71 and 72 Chevelle is a different story, they came with the 350 as an option engine for the SS model but never in the Monte carlo in the 70-71 years. Of course in 1972 the SS was no longer available to the Monte Carlo as an option.