One year before the 426 cid street hemi’ graced option sheets at Mopar dealers everywhere, this full-sized 1965 Dodge Monaco hit the streets with some serious muscle courtesy of another 426 cid mill, the RB-based street wedge. Not only did someone order this first-year Monaco with the top-line wedge motor, but they paired it with bucket seats and a floor console-shifted four-speed manual transmission! This flashy and potent Dodge would have silenced poseurs in the local stoplight Gran Prix, bringing the style one would expect from a Dodge named after one of the richest nations in the world and the performance one would expect from the glamorous Formula 1 race held there since 1929. This running but not road-worthy classic can be yours with a high bid here on eBay. With a mere 24 hours or so left in the auction, at least 13 bidders have raised the street value of this wedge-powered coupe above $7500, a mere pittance compared to what a typical 426 hemi’ car from the next model year would command.
The 426 cid (7.2L) street wedge looks like other RB engines including the popular 383. Though not as radical as the race-only Max Wedge 426, the street wedge made a healthy 365 HP and 470 lb-ft of torque, according to Automobile-Catalog. The seller believes this motor is *not* original but these days a suitably built replacement will do nearly as well, especially considering the oddly narrow market for full sized performance cars of this vintage.
Despite Dodge’s low standing in the Chrysler pecking order, this Monaco came to life with a mission to take market share from the Pontiac Grand Prix and other high-rolling two door luxury cars. Sunglasses may be required to ward off blindness from all that bling. There’s no mistaking the sporting aspirations of this Monaco with the four-speed and full-length console that continues to the rear seat.
Since the seller provided no pictures of the (entire) rear of the car, I made one! Yes; it is intentionally ridiculous, but not as odd as failing to simply back up a step or two before firing off the camera. Fans of the 1966 Dodge Coronet will recognize this tail light signature immediately. After working through safety and mechanical necessities, I would immediately acquire a supply of cast-off junk yard tires to feed this monster’s appetite for converting them into smoke… you know, for testing purposes. Would you consider this sporty 426-powered Monaco a muscle car alternative?
That is one fantastic-looking dashboard and console. Given how angular the exterior is, it’s a nice contrast. Very unusual and interesting call overall.
Seems like a very tight shift pattern for a 4 speed.
Thats what she said
Raymond, you can Crack jokes & it is ok, but others do it & you get on their a$$? That’s a bit of a double standard, isn’t it?
No A/C NO dice! the thing that pontiac did so well even in GTO body style is had A/C! It’s rare to find a pontiac without A/C and in Florida that means a lot
Maybe not in Florida or other hot states ,but most Pontiacs didn’t come with A/C back then as well as most other cars, with the exception of the higher line luxury cars. It was optional on many cars ,but many people didn’t get it as it was an added expense and in many climate areas you could pop the vent widows in for a rush of air to cool you down.
And pull open the vents under the dash.
The folk’s new 66 Mercury Montclair was sans AC. Their first with it was a used ’70 Olds Delta 88.
It wasn’t common on mainstream cars. Their first new one with AC was the ’72 Ambassador Brougham they bought which came standard with AC from 1968.
BA, That may be the most untrue thing I have read all day…and there’s lots of untrue stuff around this site, lol!
Oh my yes, this could be a LOT of fun!
Super cool unknown combination. But rust, that cotton Pickin RUST :(……….
I’d love to know the history of this Dodge !. Almost definitely a special ordered car , it would be cool to find out who ordered it and why. This car may very well be a 1 of 1 ; if not, there couldn’t have been more than a handful made. The seller states he has a lot of NOS and replacement parts for it too , and there are still a lot of full size Mopars around so they arent hard to find parts for. Not the best color combo IMHO , but it would still attract attention when restored
Writer…the seller did NOT say this at all.
“The seller believes this motor is *not* original but these days a suitably built replacement will do nearly as well, especially considering the oddly narrow market for full sized performance cars of this vintage.”
He was talking about ANOTHER one of these that surfaced out west, where the owner of THAT car said he thought the engine was not original. You do lots of harm to a person’s ability to sell a vehicle when you make these kinds of mistakes.
I remember looking at one of these to buy about 20 years ago. These cars have an awesome interior! Everything about it is cool! The exterior styling is also pretty cool! There’s nothing here not to like. Seems like a pretty cool restoration candidate.
I had an identical one, same color exterior and had a burgundy interior.
383. Poor thing was clapped out when I got it. It was 14-15 years old at the time. LA was going to have a bus strike and I was car-less so jumped on it for $250 or so.
I wound up selling it twice. The poor couple I sold it to brought it back. They paid me $50 for using it but they were cashing in pop bottles to pay for the gas it sucked up. Brutal gas mileage.
The next guy who bought it was going to paint it blue and call it Debra. Months later I got a bill from the garage where it wound up being parked. The guy never even put it in his name so they tracked me down.
It made a great sound. Was fun to drive with all the windows wide open. The purpose of a hardtop: convertible look, driving without the hassles or the structural weaknesses of one, the openness of the passenger compartment and style.
Dropped seat foam just like the Valiant did for years before I had the padding replaced.
It wasn’t around long. One of three hardtops I had over the course of my car owning history: 66 Mercury Caliente, 63 Valiant Signet and this one.
Beautiful car. I have always liked that color.
Neat car. Classy. Quite the gentleman’s hot rod. Not for everyone. And don’t forget that cool dash has the electroluminescent lighting to boot!
As you can tell by my name I have owned many of these C body cars.. This car is a rarity with the combination of the engine and the 4 speed. These were luxury cars so to have one like this is rare and maybe one of ten . If I where a Mopar collector I would grab this one and add aftermarket A/C.
In March of ’66 I accompanied my dad in his search of local MoPar dealerships for a new car. The owner of one dealership tried to sell my dad his personal driver – a triple black ’65 Monaco with the 426 wedge, but with an automatic.
Dad pondered that for a minute, but ended up with a new gold ’66 Coronet 500 from another dealer. To my 12 year old eyes, either was a considerable step up from the green ’60 Valiant Dad drove at the time.
I seen this car pop up for sale for YEARS. Believe the owner started out wanting $20k. Having owned a couple late 60s C-bodies and not ever really have been a MOPAR fan, I must say that I felt they were a really solid cruiser with a great ride and a really beautifully trimmed interior. I’d LOVE to own this car, but I always felt it was probably overpriced by double considering the amount of (hidden) rust. Appropriately (IMO), the seller has announced that he will remove his reserve if it should bid over $10k.
Someone will get a unique car if the owner will let it go at a reasonable price. It will be saved to tear up the road someday.
Stalled @ $8100. I hope he has generated enough interest to get closer to what he wants. Would be a fantastic car when restored…
This is a unique car with a lot going for it. The only thing it’s missing is a buyer willing step up. Though not inexpensive, I figured someone would pull the trigger. Another example of how the market for Mopars doesn’t extend beyond B-body’s, E-body’s and 340 equipped Darts, Demons and Dusters.
Steve R
You’re right. Remember the 1971 Fury police car with the U-code 440 a few months ago? It didn’t make $5K and didn’t sell.
This is a completely different car it is a 2 door and a very rare combo for this car. I would inspect it in person to see what rust issues their are..
This car I would have seriously consider buying. Definitely has refinements suited to my wife and I in our old age. LOL, we’re the least concerned about A/C. Should get us out of the church parking lot first.
But….???
Let’s be honest, you weren’t seriously considering anything. You just couldn’t help yourself and had to write something.