This 1975 Dodge Royal Monaco Brougham is a recent estate sale find, presenting as a survivor car with the desirable 440 big block mill under the hood. The coupe bodies on these always struck me as a far more attractive car than the sedan, although you’ll have to tolerate acres of red paint, plastics, and fabrics on this example. Find it here on eBay with an $8,500 Buy-It-Now and the option to submit an offer.
Comfort was the focal point of the interior, with a billowy ride and soft settings that ensured you never felt the road. It’s strange to think this feature was considered a selling point, whereas most vehicles in this class today are sold with the promise that it will deliver some semblance of handling and road-holding. The interior presents well with no visible flaws, and mileage is recorded at 77,122.
The 440 was the top-shelf engine option at the time, representing a commitment on the buyer’s part to fill this four-barrel mill with enough fuel to satisfy its 7.2 liters of thrust. With two tons of mass to haul around, this Monaco had the efficiency of a brick wall being dragged underwater. The paint shines nicely though, and it’s difficult to ignore the Monaco’s handsome presence even if its performance was approaching joke status.
Still, the 440 could hurtle this comfort cruiser to a top speed of 127 m.p.h., which, when combined with the floaty handling, seems borderline frightening. The coupe embodies much of what the era was hungry for, with trick features like hideaway headlights and nomenclature like “big block” and “Diplomat package” to make consumers all too happy to spend their hard-earned cash at their local Mopar dealer. Would you have been one of them?
Not especially a 1975 type Mopar fan but I like this car
Me too. The coupes have grown on me. Just so much area that if you weren’t a purist you could change it up. I think it would be basic changes. But hey if you buy it, may as well make it yours.
Nice car, hope it finds a good home. Price may be ambitious, though.
5k max is where this car should be at
Love your description of efficiency! brick wall being dragged underwater.
Float? Sorry but no Chrysler products float when it quit with longitudinal torsion bars. The transverse F body Etc setup, yes they float. Why is it some writers of big means no handling?
The dudes on the “For C Bodies Only” forum will be studdering with glee over this formal roof boat lol. It’s clean!
Oh wow that’s a fine looking ride. Makes me think back to when I had a 74 model. Some may have called it light blue I called it Sky Blue. Love love loved that car.
Jeff, great post, thanks. I remember these cars. If you lean on the loud pedal a sign shows up in the instrument panel that reads, “You Can’t Be Serious”
It presents nicely in the photos considering that “fit and finish” were not the hallmark of these Mopar cars..or most cars of the era.
Nice 70s land yacht. The 440 is an unexpected surprise.
Price is down to $7000 now.
cool car!
I see a lot you guys complaining that high prices ruin the hobby. Now you say that what is probably the nicest 1975 Royal Monaco in existence is only worth $5000. I guess all the rest are worth zero since it would cost $5000 to restore almost any lesser one to this condition.
My father had a new 77 Royal Monaco 440 2dr hardtop like this one, when I was growing up. Being a kid at the time it was a very impressive car to me. I still remember riding in it. It was his daily driver, the car we took on vacations, trips to grandma’s house etc. The 440 would get 7-8 mpg in town and 11-12 mpg hwy. Anyone know if this one sold?