Advice on purchasing a 66 Monaco

[theconvertibleguy]

Evening all

So had a possible deal, or money pit, land in my lap. Have a friend of mine that's looking to offload a 66 Monaco convertible. Verified the drivetrains' original. Needs to be completely repainted. Not sure about the interior condition. Outside looks solid, top doesn't have any holes, havent had it on a hoist yet.

Basically what I'm wondering is what I should be looking out for, and if it'd be worth the time? I was told it's hard to find 66 convertibles, especially original drive trains, but I'm not a mopar expert either.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Rare Canada only car - the Monaco in Canada in 66 is equivalent to the 66 Monaco 500 in the USA, and there was no convertible offered there.

Your car has a Plymouth dash and Sport Fury interior, which also makes it unique.

Which engine? 318, 383 or 440? As the displacement increases the rarity increases.

Watch out for rust in the trunk floor, quarter panels, floors. All common place in Canadian cars from that time. Watch out for rust at the rear of the stub frame. The stub frame can be repaired. The sheet metal for the rear of the car is more difficult, but the parts are out there from the southwest etc.

The trim on the car is one year specific, and very hard to find good examples of. There is a guy in Ontario selling a BUNCH of trim for that very car, so you're in luck that way.

Tail lights are hard to find - especially the chrome trim around them which are often pitted. They're out there though. The guy noted above may have another set.

What power options might it have? It should have power brakes and steering as a matter of course, since the Monaco included those in Canada for 66. Also available, and very rare in Canadian convertibles is AC, power seats, tilt/tele steering column, Autopilot (cruise control - EXTREMELY rare), and other things.

I see on Kijiji one for sale in Montreal. Is that the one? 1966 Dodge Monaco CONVERTIBLE, 383 PC 4 BARIL, AUTOMATIQUE AU PL | Classic Cars | Longueuil / South Shore | Kijiji

There's also another rough one in St. Johns NB RARE 1966 Dodge Monaco Convertible FOR SALE from Saint John New Brunswick @ Adpost.com Classifieds > Canada > #17285 RARE 1966 Dodge Monaco Convertible FOR SALE from Saint John New Brunswick ,free,canadian,classified ad,classified ads,secondhand,second hand

Pictures would help!

 

[theconvertibleguy]

Which engine? 318, 383 or 440? As the displacement increases the rarity increases.

Watch out for rust in the trunk floor, quarter panels, floors. All common place in Canadian cars from that time. Watch out for rust at the rear of the stub frame. The stub frame can be repaired. The sheet metal for the rear of the car is more difficult, but the parts are out there from the southwest etc.

The trim on the car is one year specific, and very hard to find good examples of. There is a guy in Ontario selling a BUNCH of trim for that very car, so you're in luck that way.

Tail lights are hard to find - especially the chrome trim around them which are often pitted. They're out there though. The guy noted above may have another set.

What power options might it have? It should have power brakes and steering as a matter of course, since the Monaco included those in Canada for 66. Also available, and very rare in Canadian convertibles is AC, power seats, tilt/tele steering column, Autopilot (cruise control - EXTREMELY rare), and other things.

Thanks for the reply!

The engine I'm told is a 383, confirmed it with the VIN they sent me. Wish they had sent me a picture of the data plate as well but what can you do. And yep pictures would be good. Currently waiting on them but right now I don't have any. It does have power brakes and steering. Not sure about the rest (yet more info I'm waiting on)

if this sale goes through I will need to see who that is, as I'm in Ontario as well.

Sounds like I'll need to track down a hoist

 

[CBODY67]

ANY Chrysler Corp convertible is a low-production number "rare" car in the USA, much less in Canada. Other than the things specific to the Canadian models.

Buy it like it's going to need rust repair, so you don't get surprised when it does. Be surprised when it doesn't. Hopefully, the price is agreeable. It could make a great project to restore back to its former glory.

Please keep us posted on how things evolve.
CBODY67

 

[MoPar~Man]

I'd like to get a reality check on the "convertibles only available in Canada" claim. Because it really doesn't make any sense. Given the huge differences in climate and market size, setting up the plant in Windsor to make conv's to sell only in Canada doesn't make any sense. This at a time when Canadian Monaco's were getting Polara tail light and grill treatment and 318's as standard equipment, the decision to lavish only the Canadian market with conv's seems strange.

I can understand that '65 - '68 C-body conv's might have been built only in Windsor for the entire US/Canada market, but not the idea that these were simply not for sale in the US. Outside of that year range, I have no idea what "we" know about where C-body conv's were built and sold.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

I agree, it doesn't make any sense, but the truth is that Dodge did not offer a Monaco 500 convertible in the USA for 1966. One could get a POLARA convertible, but not a Monaco 500.

Whether any were sold in Canada and moved to the USA is possible, but none were factory made as a Monaco 500 convertible.

People have created clones of 66 Monaco 500 verts, but they are only that - clones. I know of two.

There were more trim level models of Monaco offered in the US for 66, the top level being the Monaco 500.

In Canada, there were less overall trim levels- Polaras and one Monaco - while it was called simply Monaco, it was equivalent trim-wise to the USA Monaco 500, however, it used the complete Sport Fury interior and dash. All Dodges in Canada used a portion of Plymouth parts in their interiors during those years due to some governmental trade restrictions. Yes, it was weird.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I like those cars. I had one in the 80's that I purchased with a non running 383 for $275.00 here in Mi. My Dad claimed it and we swapped in one of my 440's that we rebuilt. He traded it off to a guy who sold it to a guy in Minnesota. I just recently found it for sale again on the internet from the guy in Minnesota. However, in much rougher shape after all these years. I would like to buy it back for my Dad again, but price is to high and not sure if I want to travel to go get it

 

[MoPar~Man]

I agree, it doesn't make any sense, but the truth is that Dodge did not offer a Monaco 500 convertible in the USA for 1966. One could get a POLARA convertible, but not a Monaco 500.

So only for '66 there were no "Monaco" conv's in the USA ? What about Polara? Was this just a Dodge phenomena?

For any other C-body in '66, like Newports, New Yorkers, was that also the case?

Did this lack of US conv's apply to any other year?

 

[Big_John]

This one? 1966 Dodge Monaco CONVERTIBLE, 383 PC 4 BARIL, AUTOMATIQUE AU PL | Classic Cars | Longueuil / South Shore | Kijiji

NOT MINE - 1966 Dodge Monaco convertible - 7k CAD - Saint-Hubert, Quebec, Canada

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

I think it was 65 - 67 or 68. Not sure.

As far as I know this did not apply to Chrysler models, just Dodges.

Canadian Dodge Polaras (smaller chassis prior to 65) right down to at least 63 used Plymouth interiors and dashes.

Sheet metal and trim differences between Canadian and USA extend right back to the early 50s - even to the extent of complete Plymouth fenders grilles hoods etc., being used on Canadian Dodges, hence the term Plodge when describing Canadian cars.

This was not just Mopar that had Canuck idiosyncracies - Canadian GM products (Oldsmobile, Pontiac Buick) from well back in the 50s used different (shorter) wheelbases and Canadian GM corporate used Chevrolet engines and transmissions in ALL or most brands while USA models had their own divisional engines and transmissions.

Don't get me started on the Ford Mercury confusions...

 

[theconvertibleguy]

No but I suppose that's another one.

 

[LocuMob]

I like those cars. I had one in the 80's that I purchased with a non running 383 for $275.00 here in Mi. My Dad claimed it and we swapped in one of my 440's that we rebuilt. He traded it off to a guy who sold it to a guy in Minnesota. I just recently found it for sale again on the internet from the guy in Minnesota. However, in much rougher shape after all these years. I would like to buy it back for my Dad again, but price is to high and not sure if I want to travel to go get it

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I recognized that car immediately. It's rougher than my Polara and his price is higher than I think it should be for a car in that condition. He will have it for a long time at that price.

 

[LocuMob]

There were more trim level models of Monaco offered in the US for 66, the top level being the Monaco 500.

There was, the Monaco and the Monaco 500!

 

[6PKRTSE]

I recognized that car immediately. It's rougher than my Polara and his price is higher than I think it should be for a car in that condition. He will have it for a long time at that price.

Yeah, from $275.00 (not a typo) to $7500.00 is a big jump in price for something in worse condition now.....

 

[LocuMob]

Yeah, from $275.00 (not a typo) to $7500.00 is a big jump in price for something in worse condition now.....

I think it was $4500 and he first time it was listed in Minnesota, then in the $9k range. I've seen it at Mopars in the Park a few times over the years.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I think it was $4500 and he first time it was listed in Minnesota, then in the $9k range. I've seen it at Mopars in the Park a few times over the years.

It was a cool old car back then. My Dad traded it off probably in the early 90's. Who knows I may make an offer to try to get it back for my Dad.