At almost 19-feet in length and 4,500 pounds, this 1974 Dodge Monaco Brougham two-door hardtop is one big car. The Dodge Boys’ timing almost couldn’t have been worse. This green project is posted on Craigslist in Chicago, Illinois. Yes, where The Blues Brothers movie was filmed and they went through dozens of Monacos in police trim. The seller is asking, no demanding, “$3000 FIRM. Price IS FIRM. Cash Only, No Trades.”
Oddly enough, or maybe not for 2018 Craigslist postings, there is just one lone solitary photo showing the entire car – the first one showing the LF 3/4 view. It sure looks like a solid car from that photo and from most of the other snippets and detail photos. But, it’s not quite as solid as a pothole-filler’s job in Chicago. There is some rust on the rocker panels and bottoms-of-quarter-panels to deal with. Overall, though, what a great looking car. The seller says, “Minor rust in the usual places for these Monaco’s. The worst being the passenger side quarter panel and trunk pocket. The marriage line on the roof needs a little attention as well. Floors and main trunk solid.”
1974 was the first year for the third-generation Monaco and it came literally days after the 1973 oil crisis! For a 2+ ton car that gets 10-12 mpg on a good day, the timing almost couldn’t have been worse. This is such a great looking car, though, at least in my opinion. I love the full-sized Dodges, I never see them anymore so to see an original one like this example, even though it needs a lot of work, that’s fun stuff. Not to mention being my favorite color for this model. I actually prefer the 1972 and 1973 Monacos with the covered headlights and right before the federally-mandated 5 mph front bumpers were required for the 1974 models.
The interior needs work, too, hopefully there aren’t/weren’t any mice living in there, but since the seller says that “The car sat for a long time on a Kansas farm outside in the elements before being brought to Chicago”, I would bet that there’s some rodent damage somewhere. Sitting outside anywhere on the planet is rarely a good idea, so plan accordingly on this one. NADA lists a high retail value of $3,775, so that $3,000 FIRM price seems somewhat scary given the thousands of dollars worth of work that is needed to bring this car back to life again. I wrote about a beautiful 1974 Monaco a couple of years ago and that one sold for $4,300, an absolute steal compared to this example.
This car has the optional 400 cubic-inch V8 which would have had around 185-190 hp and 310 ft-lb of torque. The seller says that “While the car starts, runs, and goes into gear, I WILL NOT LET THE CAR GO ON A TEST DRIVE (either brake booster needs replaced or vacuum leak).” What are your thoughts on this big Monaco Brougham two-door hardtop?
I have a feeling he’ll be keeping it awhile.
I get the idea that they don’t want to sell.
I think this series of big Mopars was severely underrated. My grandfather had a Fury from this series with the 360 in the early 80s. It was an amazing road car, just ate up the miles. Held up pretty well, too.
I don’t think I would care to buy this one from this seller, but I would certainly like to experience a nice one in good shape again.
Yes, and the gas mileage would be about 17 on the highway, as it was on my 77 Newport with the 400.
This was the single-dentist-with-a-toupee personal luxury coupe.
Perfect.
Until he bought a Corvette and moved to Marina Del Rey
Or Pentecostal Sunday School Teacher
This seller it’s the kind of guy searching for a job but praying not to find one. LOL
Nice car, hope it finds a good home, but for $3000 he’s dreaming. There’s no demand at all for one of these cars. What Autovisa said above me is correct.
This may be a case of someone telling his wife: “Gee, Honey, I really did try to sell it, but nobody wanted to buy the car…”
You guys are right – he’s going to have this Dodge (or is it just a Dodg?) for a very long time.
Reminds me of going to look at a Simson Duo that was for sale about a half hour’s drive from my friends’ place in Europe. It was overpriced, and the owner refused to even start it up, let alone let anyone take it for a spin.
Apparently, the seller’s wife was putting pressure on him to downsize his collection…
My friends are lifelong rare vehicle collectors and the husband was rather annoyed that we wasted our time. We were all of the opinion that he really didn’t want to sell, but was going through the motions. It’s not the first time I’ve encountered that situation, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.
I have a four-letter word for those kinds of situations: “NEXT!”
Great write up Scotty! Always enjoy your write ups.
The seller (read not so nice sounding flipper) can demand all he wants. Doesn’t mean he will get it or sell this one.
Definitely agree the 72 & 73’s are very much better looking.
As far as the older write up…it’s amazing the difference that 2 years make.
My dad bought a 1975 Monaco ex-Highway patrol car in about 1977 or 1978. It was comfortable and moderately powerful for its day, but what a nightmare mechanically. It fouled its plugs on an almost weekly basis, and these big-block Mopar engines locate them under the exhaust manifolds just for sadistic chuckles, I think. Probably to get a little extra emissions reduction, the engine ran so hot (by design, not malfunction) that a drop of oil spilled on a manifold would burst into flame. Dad burned his hands and wrists multiple times, and probably invented some new curse words in the process.
Eventually he got fed up. He threw in a set of plugs that was several heat ranges higher than the factory recommended, so it wouldn’t foul them so easily, and sold it immediately.
Today it would be smog exempt so it could be made way more powerful, reliable, and probably even cleaner with a little bit of modern technology. In the late 70’s it was a complete disaster.
Sellers always lose me at “rust in the usual places”, especially when accompanied by a too high asking price. As if normalizing it takes it off the table as a buyer’s concern, and doesn’t affect the value.
Yes Scotty, I remember that write up about Robert E. Lee’s like it was yesterday. A friend of mine had one almost identical to it. If I can remember correctly, this generation was prone to early rusting. Then again, didn’t a lot of 70’s cars?
There’s a lesson here for all those ABOUT to sell a car. Read this ad and never repeat ANYTHING YOU SEE HERE. THIS IS NOT A SELLER…it is someone who thinks he owns the MONA Lisa while trying to sell an ETCHA-SKETCH.
Some people just don’t want to sell. I’ve tried approaching some who seemed to be uninformed only to learn they’re really just looking for a sucker and are arrogantly dismissive of the rest of us. Let him keep his car. It’s too bad, too, bc somewhere there’s a Dodge guy who’d love to get this at $1000 and put the time and $ into it to cruise it.
Not sure how being honest in an ad somehow turns me into arrogant, dismissive, or thinking that I own the Mona Lisa??? It’s not 1989 anymore. If you can pick up a complete 57k mile big block Monaco for a 1000 bucks I encourage you to do whatever it takes to do so.
Tried replying earlier but my comment seems not to have gone through. You’re correct that I was generalizing from anecdotal experience. Touche. That said, cars like that can still be had for under 2k. Several of us probably overreacted, myself included, but “firm” in all caps more than once seemed over the top too and for some of us, it reminded us of sellers we’d encountered before. If you can sell it for 3k, then I’ll be more than happy to say “touche” again, as it means you and someone else got a win-win. I just don’t think it’s gonna sell for 3k firm. My take is you overshot and should be open to reasonable offers. But hey, your car. I may well be wrong.
Well, it’s true I was generalizing from anecdotal experience. Touché. That said, under 2k isn’t that hard to find for mid 70s cars with some rust and issues. So, I’m wrong for my overgeneralization. I still think you’re wrong on the price. But hey if you sell at that, I’m happy to be wrong on that too.
I have to say cool lookin car not much of a mopar man but i like any thing old mainly ones you dont see much of……being a ks car id suspect theres more hidden headaches then can be seen……the rodents in the fields that make these cars home destroy more then is seen……that being said yes you can still find stuff for cheap if you are willing to look……i just bought a 62 pontiac catalina which had been in a ks farm field since 89 gave a grand for it came with a extra engine and trans…….took it home put in a new set of points and fresh gas fired right up……true i bought it for a parts car for the 2 dr im restoring but being it was rust free besides pin holes n the trunk and shot interior from sun ect it was to nice to rip apart with only 70k miles……true i feel price is a lil high but isnt that how it is start high let em work you down to where u want to be
Hey All!
Just wanted to give you a little update. You’re all right, trying to sell a complete running driving ‘74 Monaco for 3K was crazy!
So I parted it and made DOUBLE THAT!!!
Thanks for showing me the way!