Dodge Monaco: Difference between revisions
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Monacos were popular as [[police car]]s and a [[1974]] police model [[nicknamed]] ''"[[The Bluesmobile]]"'' appears as the vehicle purchased by Elwood Blues in the [[1980 in film|1980]] [[comedy]] [[film]] ''[[The Blues Brothers]]''. |
Monacos were popular as [[police car]]s and a [[1974]] police model [[nicknamed]] ''"[[The Bluesmobile]]"'' appears as the vehicle purchased by Elwood Blues in the [[1980 in film|1980]] [[comedy]] [[film]] ''[[The Blues Brothers]]''. |
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Many of these [[police car]] Monacos of the [[1970s]] (and its sister car, the [[Plymouth Fury]]) were torpedoed in the air or destroyed in Hollywood car stunt scenes in that decade and in the [[1980s]]. ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]'' was infamous for the use (and destruction) of mid- to late-1970s Dodge Monacos and Plymouth Furys. A few were also used in early episodes of the 1980s show ''[[T. J. Hooker|T. J. Hooker]]''. The title character of the cop show [[Hunter (TV)]] drove a hunter-green '78 Monaco. |
Many of these [[police car]] Monacos of the [[1970s]] (and its sister car, the [[Plymouth Fury]]) were torpedoed in the air or destroyed in Hollywood car stunt scenes in that decade and in the [[1980s]]. ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]'' was infamous for the use (and destruction) of mid- to late-1970s Dodge Monacos and Plymouth Furys. A few were also used in early episodes of the 1980s show ''[[T. J. Hooker|T. J. Hooker]]''. The title character of the cop show ''[[Hunter (TV series)|Hunter]]'' drove a hunter-green '78 Monaco. |
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==Sources== |
==Sources== |
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Revision as of 13:57, 1 May 2006
| Dodge Monaco | |
|---|---|
| 1968 Dodge Monaco (ad campaign art) | |
| Manufacturer: | Chrysler Corporation |
| Production: | 1965–1977 1990–1992 |
| Class: | Mid-size/Full-size |
| Predecessor: | Dodge Polara 500 |
| Successor: | Dodge St. Regis (1979-1981) Dodge Intrepid (1990-1992) |
| First Generation | |
| Production: | 1965–1977 |
| Body Styles: | 2-door hardtop 4-door sedan 4-door hardtop 2-door convertible 4-door station wagon |
| Engines: | 225 in³ I6 318 in³ V8 360 in³ V8 383 in³ V8 400 in³ V8 440 in³ V8 |
| Platform: | FR C-body |
| Second Generation | |
| Production: | 1977–1978 |
| Body Styles: | 4-door sedan 2-door hardtop 4-door station wagon |
| Engines: | 225 in³ I6 318 in³ V8 400 in³ V8 |
| Platform: | FR B-body |
| Third Generation | |
| Production: | 1990–1992 |
| Body Style: | 4-door sedan |
| Engine: | 3.0 L V6 |
| Platform: | FF B-body |
The Dodge Monaco was a fullsize automobile built and sold by the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation (now DaimlerChrysler) between 1965 to 1978 and 1990 to 1992.
The Dodge Monaco was originally designed to compete with Pontiac's Grand Prix model in what came to be known as the personal luxury market. Introduced in 1965 as a hardtop coupe, the Monaco was based on the Dodge Polara two door hardtop coupe. The Monaco received special badging, different tail light and grille treatment, and a center console.
In Canada, the Monaco was Dodge's version of the Sport Fury, available in hardtop or convertible body styles. Unlike the American Monaco, the Canadian Monaco cold be had with the 318 in³ V8 or even the slant six.
For 1966 the American Custom 880 series became the Monaco and the former Monaco became the Monaco 500. The Canadian Dodge hung onto the "Monaco" name for the Sport Fury equivalent and Polara 880 for the Fury III competitor.
In 1967, the Monaco name was applied to all premium trim level, full-sized Dodge products (sedans, coupes, and station wagons) in Canada, replacing the Polara 880 at the top of the Dodge line. Taking the Monaco's place as a premium full-size model was the Monaco 500, which was available only as a two-door hardtop and convertible. Dodge terminated the Monaco 500 at the end of the 1968 model run in the United States and 1970 in Canada.
Chrysler Canada Ltd. fielded a Dodge Monaco in Canada, which was also available as a convertible. However, Canadian Monaco’s were equipped with Plymouth dashboards in 1965 and 1966.
In 1970 Dodge Monaco and Polara models offered the "Super Light" option, which placed a quartz road lamp on the driver side grille for better visibility. Despite the fanfare, Dodge dropped the light option at the end of the year because of lack of consumer interest and various challenges to its legality in certain states.
As a result of the 1970s' energy crisis, Chrysler shifted the Monaco nameplate to the midsize B platform in 1977, retiring the Coronet name. For 1977, the older, larger Monaco remained available and was called the Dodge Royal Monaco. The nameplate disappeared at the end of the 1977 model year and was reincarnated as the Dodge St. Regis for 1979. The St. Regis was gone at the end of 1981.
For 1990, with Chrysler searching for a way to sell the required amount of Renault-based Eagle Premiers, the Monaco name was briefly revived for a rebadged version of the Premier, differing only in grille, taillamps and badging. It didn't work; with the similarly-sized Dynasty already a known entity and by far the more popular (and some say more reliable) model, the latter-day Monaco was destined to fail. Although built at the Bramalea, Ontario plant in Canada, the new Monaco was never sold in Canada, because the Mitsubishi Galant-based 2000GTX was Dodge's top-line sedan in the early 1990s.
The Monaco (and, for that matter, the Dynasty as well) was discontinued following the introduction of the Dodge Intrepid in late 1992.
Trivia
Monacos were popular as police cars and a 1974 police model nicknamed "The Bluesmobile" appears as the vehicle purchased by Elwood Blues in the 1980 comedy film The Blues Brothers.
Many of these police car Monacos of the 1970s (and its sister car, the Plymouth Fury) were torpedoed in the air or destroyed in Hollywood car stunt scenes in that decade and in the 1980s. The Dukes of Hazzard was infamous for the use (and destruction) of mid- to late-1970s Dodge Monacos and Plymouth Furys. A few were also used in early episodes of the 1980s show T. J. Hooker. The title character of the cop show Hunter drove a hunter-green '78 Monaco.
Sources
- Burness, Tad, American Car Spotter's Guide (Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1978 & 1981)
