Some will probably love this Bluesmobile clone while others will completely dismiss it. I find it to be a curiosity item and that’s about it. It’s a 1974 Dodge Monaco that’s done up to resemble the famous car(s) that served as Jake and Elwood Blues’ ride in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. By my accounting, this is the third clone (tribute, recreation, copy, etc.) that we have covered on BF. It has the “look” but not all of the proper componentry but it’s still worth a gander. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, this wanna-be movie star is available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $29,999.
If there’s a possibility that you’ve not seen the movie from which this car originates, you should. Besides the car, there are appearances by some very noteworthy musicians from Sam & Dave, Booker T and the MGs, and the Chicago blues era. The plot line is a bit goofy as are some of the hijinxs that occur but it is a fun watch. The premise around the car is that Elwood bought it to replace a Cadillac that he traded for a microphone. The car fictitiously belonged to the Mt. Prospect police department and is finished in that livery, but in reality, it was a one-time member of the California Highway Patrol. The Bluesmobile can’t be referenced in singular terms as several were used in the film’s production.
This example, visually, gets high marks for accuracy and appears to be in solid shape. All-in-all, I’d say that this is a pretty faithful reproduction and the seller is clearly not trying to represent this car as a legitimate movie cast member. He refers to it as a “replica” while this video goes into further, specific details. In the video, we are told that this car’s best feature is how intact the body is as these big Mopars possessed a notorious penchant for rust but that’s not the case with this example.
Things, inside, start to veer from the original as this Monaco is the civilian version and is not equipped with a typical “cop” interior – it’s much too finished, and clean, to be mistaken for the movie car (and it’s actually from a Plymouth Fury). It’s specifically missing the 140 MPH “Certified” speedometer that is prominently displayed in the movie as the brothers speed toward the Richard J. Daley Center, clocking in at 125 MPH while slicing their way under Chicago’s famed El.
The VIN indicates that this Dodge was originally powered by a 185 net HP 400, CI V8 engine, not the “440 CI Cop Motor” that powered the movie car. The engine appears to have been modified with the substitution of a four-barrel carburetor. The seller adds, “Runs perfectly. Engine rebuilt, new carb, new radiator“. This is an A/C equipped car but it’s not connected and therefore inoperational.
But wait, there’s more! The seller will throw in these life-sized fiberglass replicas of Jake and Elwood – such a deal! And just think, all of this for only $29,999…What do you think, priced right or not quite?
Lots of much better ways to spend $30,000.
What do you do with it?
Fix the cigarette lighter.
The new Oldsmobiles are in early this year.
Missing the Craig S685 8 track and the Best Of Sam and Dave.
that’s exactly what I was thinking! They could have made it a bit more accurate by at least adding the Sam & Dave 8 track tape.
I think its missing the cigarette lighter to tossed out by jake (John B)
Does it have cop tires? Does the cigarette lighter work?
I agree with the above, $30,000 is a lot for an attention getter. That is a great movie, though, I suggest finding an extended version that includes some scenes cut from the original for time reasons. Also, a DVD I rented had The Making Of on the other side, which was interesting, and funny, especially showing the remains of the Pinto wagon they really dropped for the filming.
A ’74 Monaco is not a particularly desirable car. Decent driver conditions cars can be had for $5K, often(much) less. Does a $50 spotlight and cheap paint-job increase value by $25K? Not for me.If it was an actual x-cop Fury model it might have a little more appeal.
I was at a Hemmings even a couple of years ago and there was a clone like this there. It was so accurate, right down to the crumpled cigarette pack on the dash. It drew a pretty good crowd and I have no doubt this would as well. Not for me, but a fun project to continue on.
Man, I hated seeing these (or the earlier Dodge Polara) in my rear view mirror. Can you imagine enforcing the 55mph limit today? Same with getting busted for weed… What a joke.
Our drivers ed teacher showed the class advertisements in the local paper with prices of these cars under 3 grand new.He figured that a full-sized car was safer than the pintos,vegas and VWs that younger drivers were buying then.As a lifelong rust belt resident,I recall that most of these cars pretty much had terminal cancer by 1980.
Oh Look !
The new Oldsmobiles are in !
this mall has everything!
Now we’re talking. It’s too clean, though.
If I had the scratch I’d buy it in a heartbeat and it would be my daily driver. The movie was a riot when it came out and still is.
Being a Rhythm & Blues radio jock, I could let pass the musical component of this piece. Neither Sam & Dave or Booker T & The MGs appeared in the movie. However, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Steve Cropper and Donald ‘duck’ Dunn did appear.
“there are appearances by some very noteworthy musicians from Sam & Dave, Booker T and the MGs, and the Chicago blues era”
I said “era“, I know neither Sam & Dave nor Booker T and the MGs were in the movie, but as you said Steve “The Colonel” Cropper, Duck Dunn, John Lee Hooker, and Ray Charles were, and they are of that same era.
JO
Another key word there is “from”, as in not those full bands, but individual musicians who’d been members of those bands.
Don’t forget John Lee Hooker!
The only musician who performed a song who was not featured on the soundtrack album.
If it came with that humongous PA speaker they mounted on the roof to drum up interest in their gig, maybe, then again no. Way too much money!
Model made before catalytic converters, so it’ll run good on regular gas.
OK reproduction, nothing more. And without that 440 it doesn’t cut it for me. :(
There was couple guys dressed as the Blues Brothers that made an appearance at the Myrtle Beach Run To The Sun car show this month. Not sure how much they were paid for there appearance, but it would have to be a lot to invest 30K into a prop.
If it was the original movie, Car, perhaps at that price, but for a clone that does not even have the correct donk? Tell him he’s dreaming.
OH NO we thru a rod!!
Lot of other cars on here for $30k that I would buy first.
The 1970s Chrysler cars that had the 400 ci engines all had Thermoquad barrel carburetor on them, I had 2 of them, 1 was a Cordoba bought new,the other was a Newport
Nope, for about that asking price there are a few decent quality condition Chrysler Imperials available in the USA. I would much rather have an example of the best that the Chrysler corporation could design, engineer, and manufacture than an attempted replica of the Bluesmobile.
I have a white over tan 75 Coronet. I painted it with that wash off crap and made that push thing from pvc pipe and some brackets and me and my teenage son dressed like them for Halloween. Lots of thumbs up and horn beeps and so on. 30k, let’s face it car people. In the real world your the minority most don’t know a Monaco from a 71 Impala. Every 59 Cadillac was owned by Elvis and so on. 30k and the novelty would wear off quick, like as in a few days. Buy an old hearse, those are never ending entertainment, drive-thrus, grocery stores, the possibilities are endless. We have a half a pack of cigarettes, a full tank of gas, its dark and we’re wearing sun glasses…..hit it.
It’s 106 miles to Chicago…
We have both the Monaco cop package as well as the Fury, both in Bluesmobile trim. The Fury has the functioning speaker and has participated in about 15 Great Races. Thats almost 300 car shows. It is the crowd favorite hands down. Just google Great Race Bluesmobile. EPIC
Nitpicking here,but the driver’s side rear wheel looks like a Ford wheel, not a Chrysler rim. Ford shared the same bolt pattern with Chrysler products, but their small hubcaps had a larger diameter than the Dodge and Plymouth caps, so the “ridge” was a bit larger.