Looking for feedback 1972 Monaco

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Kelly Dorsett

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Hello,

It's been a while since I've visited. I've recently found a 1972 Monaco for sale in Sault Ste Marie. Before I make the trip I was wondering if I could get some opinions. It's it worth it? Concerns? I've been flip flopping for a few years in doing a resto project and think I'm ready. I've done a lot of research and feel it's fair. I know it's hard to tell from an ad but any feedback is welcome. Here's the link,

1972 Dodge Monaco | Classic Cars | Sault Ste. Marie | Kijiji
 
Kelly Dorsett said:
Hello,

It's been a while since I've visited. I've recently found a 1972 Monaco for sale in Sault Ste Marie. Before I make the trip I was wondering if I could get some opinions. It's it worth it? Concerns? I've been flip flopping for a few years in doing a resto project and think I'm ready. I've done a lot of research and feel it's fair. I know it's hard to tell from an ad but any feedback is welcome. Here's the link,

1972 Dodge Monaco | Classic Cars | Sault Ste. Marie | Kijiji
Click to expand...

72/73 Monacos are one of my favorite cars and have great styling. The 360-2 bbl engine is a good one and is peppy in those models. Car appears to be in good shape and the claimed 60K miles on it seem believeable too. I am not real excited about the colors personally but that is your choice and they could be changed if you so desired. I believe the price is quite reasonable too from what I am seeing.

I was looking at one on the other side of Canada a few years back and that one would be the colors I would choose for your car personally - but again that is just a personal taste issue. Here is a link to that discussion. I ended up not buying the car due to the lack of a/c, otherwise I would own it today.

A Sincere Thanks!!

I hope you get this vehicle if on personal inspection everything checks out.

Good luck!
 
Bad thing about some Mopars is that although they might look really nice when new, if neglected they can get really ratty quickly. Personally, I'm not a big fan of that particular model year of Dodges. BUT, past that, the car looks like it needs some TLC and cleaning to look good again. BUT also consider that the vinyl roof might look decent, but it's got rust under it at the rear window corner. Figure a replacement or removal and re-paint where it came off, plus repairing what needs to be repaired under there.

The '72 C-body cars usually had issues with the a/c case leaking condensate into the rh front passenger floorboard area. Not noticed at first, but it happened. New gaskets didn't usually help due to the way the clips and screws interfaced with the gasket, by observation. A different retention method can be configured to fix that, I believe.

Consider, too, that all of the rubber fuel lines will need to be replaced due to the current ethanol'd fuels we now have. Plus a new fuel pump and possible fuel pump push rod for good measure. Not impossible to do, just "something else" on the "to do" list. As should te a new timing chain set.

Getting the head light doors to close properly might be "a deal to reckon with", unfortuntely. Might take some disassembly of the grille area to get to them, too!

Doing much of the work yourself can help prevent it from being a money pit, especially on the cleaning/waxing of the total car. But when done, it can be a nice car again, just not worth a whole lot of money. Which makes me consider the asking price about $3000.00 USD too high, even with low miles. But, as is, do NOT consider it something that you can get into, fire it up, and take off on a trip in. Many of the cosmetic things can wait as you get the mechanicals and new tires taken care of, though. Doesn't have to all happen at once.

Just know what you're getting ready to undertake before you do it. Maybe this car is not "the one", so you might look a bit more?

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67
 
Last edited:
I would say is a great deal , original paint nice dashboard and interior
 
you can access the headlight door motor & mechanism from underhood, no need to pull grille
 
saforwardlook said:
72/73 Monacos are one of my favorite cars and have great styling. The 360-2 bbl engine is a good one and is peppy in those models. Car appears to be in good shape and the claimed 60K miles on it seem believeable too. I am not real excited about the colors personally but that is your choice and they could be changed if you so desired. I believe the price is quite reasonable too from what I am seeing.

I was looking at one on the other side of Canada a few years back and that one would be the colors I would choose for your car personally - but again that is just a personal taste issue. Here is a link to that discussion. I ended up not buying the car due to the lack of a/c, otherwise I would own it today.

A Sincere Thanks!!

I hope you get this vehicle if on personal inspection everything checks out.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
I appreciate the feedback - lots! This is all so new for me so any and all feedback is appreciated. This will likely be a bit of a retirement project for me so I want to make the right choice. Thanks again
 
CBODY67 said:
Bad thing about some Mopars is that although they might look really nice when new, if neglected they can get really ratty quickly. Personally, I'm not a big fan of that particular model year of Dodges. BUT, past that, the car looks like it needs some TLC and cleaning to look good again. BUT also consider that the vinyl roof might look decent, but it's got rust under it at the rear window corner. Figure a replacement or removal and re-paint where it came off, plus repairing what needs to be repaired under there.

The '72 C-body cars usually had issues with the a/c case leaking condensate into the rh front passenger floorboard area. Not noticed at first, but it happened. New gaskets didn't usually help due to the way the clips and screws interfaced with the gasket, by observation. A different retention method can be configured to fix that, I believe.

Consider, too, that all of the rubber fuel lines will need to be replaced due to the current ethanol'd fuels we now have. Plus a new fuel pump and possible fuel pump push rod for good measure. Not impossible to do, just "something else" on the "to do" list. As should te a new timing chain set.

Getting the head light doors to close properly might be "a deal to reckon with", unfortuntely. Might take some disassembly of the grille area to get to them, too!

Doing much of the work yourself can help prevent it from being a money pit, especially on the cleaning/waxing of the total car. But when done, it can be a nice car again, just not worth a whole lot of money. Which makes me consider the asking price about $3000.00 USD too high, even with low miles. But, as is, do NOT consider it something that you can get into, fire it up, and take off on a trip in. Many of the cosmetic things can wait as you get the mechanicals and new tires taken care of, though. Doesn't have to all happen at once.

Just know what you're getting ready to undertake before you do it. Maybe this car is not "the one", so you might look a bit more?

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67
Click to expand...
 
CBODY67 said:
Bad thing about some Mopars is that although they might look really nice when new, if neglected they can get really ratty quickly. Personally, I'm not a big fan of that particular model year of Dodges. BUT, past that, the car looks like it needs some TLC and cleaning to look good again. BUT also consider that the vinyl roof might look decent, but it's got rust under it at the rear window corner. Figure a replacement or removal and re-paint where it came off, plus repairing what needs to be repaired under there.

The '72 C-body cars usually had issues with the a/c case leaking condensate into the rh front passenger floorboard area. Not noticed at first, but it happened. New gaskets didn't usually help due to the way the clips and screws interfaced with the gasket, by observation. A different retention method can be configured to fix that, I believe.

Consider, too, that all of the rubber fuel lines will need to be replaced due to the current ethanol'd fuels we now have. Plus a new fuel pump and possible fuel pump push rod for good measure. Not impossible to do, just "something else" on the "to do" list. As should te a new timing chain set.

Getting the head light doors to close properly might be "a deal to reckon with", unfortuntely. Might take some disassembly of the grille area to get to them, too!

Doing much of the work yourself can help prevent it from being a money pit, especially on the cleaning/waxing of the total car. But when done, it can be a nice car again, just not worth a whole lot of money. Which makes me consider the asking price about $3000.00 USD too high, even with low miles. But, as is, do NOT consider it something that you can get into, fire it up, and take off on a trip in. Many of the cosmetic things can wait as you get the mechanicals and new tires taken care of, though. Doesn't have to all happen at once.

Just know what you're getting ready to undertake before you do it. Maybe this car is not "the one", so you might look a bit more?

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67
Click to expand...

These models almost never show up anymore and I find this one appears to be in much better than average condition. The price is not $3000 too high - in the condition of this car, it is being sold at a price below market IMO. You many not like these models, but a lot of us really like them primarily because of the excellent and unique front end design. But they were also very good quality vehicles and much better than the formals that came after them. Getting the headlight doors to line up is not that tough either as Marko stated. I used to own one of these (a very similar 73 model) and very much regret selling it, although I have one left that I still intend to restore in my retirement as well. This is the one I sold........and I got the headlight doors to line up well..........

upload_2021-7-31_21-59-51-jpeg.jpg
 
Maybe you can negotiate the price, but, if you really like it and can make it a long-term project, just buy it, the enjoyment and satisfaction you gain will stay long after the price is forgotten.

Good luck.

Like I say, you seem to like it, so do the deal, check her out and if happy, trailer it away.
 
Last edited:
Based on the pics, no interior or body work you are that far ahead of the game.
Going through the mechanicals is straight forward.
Just double check the front K frame and its isolator mounts. The mounts can rot over time especially when sitting for a ling time.
Double check for rot along the bottom of back window and any water stains in the trunk.
Flushing the gas tank, going through the brakes, rebuild catb, tune up etc you can spend a couple grand on the high side.
Offer 3500 and bring a trailer!
 
Othere than one's orientation toward the styling, just because the interior looks fine now, it is still as old as it is, which CAN mean "fragile but there, intact" for the fabrics. There is still "sun time" on the instrument panel pad, too. In other words, "looking new" does not mean "IS new" in many respects.

That particular color combination is a good one, when new and now. The old acrylic enamel can buff-up and look pretty good, too, with effort and time. Just remember that oxidation removed is "paint thickness removed", which means . . . take just enough off to get to something of a shine and STOP THERE as primer can not be far behind. THEN use a quality straiaght wax after that, no more cleaner waxes or such. Which can be where the newer silicon dioxide liquids (spray-on or wipe-on) can come into play.

To me, this is another Mopar where the color combination can make the car look really good or not. Steve's car looks really good. Whatever sheet metal might cover the floorpan and chassis, beats the heart of a great Mopar that can be enjoyed and appreciated as time progresses.

Enjoy!
CBODY67
 
@Kelly Dorsett — nice find! Attached are the Kijiji ad photos for record.

To get a sense of the things you will likely need to fix on such a car, you may find the thread on Medina (my 1971 Monaco) helpful. There are differences between 1971 and 1972, of course, but hopefully (i) the posts can give you an idea of what to expect and (ii) the links to spare part sources etc. will save you some time if/when you get to restoring the car.

PS: Members @My70monaco is local to the car and @Fratzog is local to you -- I have no idea if either could help, but good to know.

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This is such great information. Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have to admit, I'm nervous never doing anything like this before, but I'm comfortable moving forward. I knew it was a good find when I saw it I just needed some encouragement. Ill keep you posted. Thank you again
 
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