12 replies to this topic

[Monaco74]

Hey everybody.

This info is for the motorheads on the board like myself who love seeing a big black and white beast of a Monaco in action.

I bought season One of CHiP's when it was released two weeks ago on dvd. Man alive does that show have Monacos in it. I find myself watching the episodes just waiting for Ponch and Jon to call for backup because I know backup will arrive via a 1974 or 1975 Dodge Monaco in black and white. Officer Baricza is my new favorite character, as he patrols in one of these huge squads.

Most of them have been 75's, but I have seen a few 74's as well. The only way to tell them apart is the grille, hubcaps, or steering wheel. The 75's in the show have headlight bezels, NOT headlight doors, which is very rare. 75 was the last year for the bezels and those were usually put on the police or "low price class" models. The majority in 75 had headlight doors.

I realize I am obsessed with these machines, but it keeps me out of trouble and I'm sure there are a handfull of people who feel the same way.

Take care,
~Monaco74

[Scott]

Interesting... I was under the impression that only the Royal Monacos had headlight doors.

[Monaco74]

Scott, you are correct. Only the Royal Monacos had headlight doors. The majority of Monaco made in 75 were Royals, making base models with headlight bezels difficult to find.

Here is an image I snapped from one of the episodes on the CHiPs dvd set. There is a healthy supply of camera time on these cars in action. This car can be identified as a 75 by the "Hershey Bar" grille and vented hubcaps, neither of which were available on 74 models.

Attached Files

•  75 Monaco.JPG   47.64K   25 downloads

[yellowrr]

A friend of mine with a VERY sharp eye also noticed that my 75 has vent windows in the front doors, and the 74 movie car does not. I don't know if they were optional on low priced cars because my 75 didn't even have factory A/C!

[Steam McQueen]

Monaco74 said:

Here is an image I snapped from one of the episodes on the CHiPs dvd set.

CHiP's was a great show. You gave us the heads up towards the youtube clip didn't you, Monaco74?:D

I love that image you snapped! So only the CHP had dual spotlights?

[Monaco74]

YellowRR,

I think you may have hit on something when it comes to vent windows or "wind wings" as I call them. Back in the day, cars that did not come equiped with ac most likely had wind wings as a substitue ( a hot substitue ). This is just a guideline, not a hard and fast rule, but your post finally made a connection for me about which cars had vent windows (non-ac cars in general).

Steam,

Glad you enjoyed the picture. Yes, I was the one who gave the heads up on the youtube clip of a Monaco in action. I promise to shut up about CHiPs after this post for all those I may be annoying. I'm simply trying to provide more information about these cars and lead people to a new source of details and images.

My post is relevant to Bluesmobiles however. The connection is that several of the Bluesmobiles used in the movie were ex-CHP units. It is believed that this is where the idea for a pushbar on the Mt. Prospect/Bluesmobile came from. Most Bluesmobile fanatics know that the real 74 Mt. Prospect Monaco did not have a pushbar.

As for the dual spotlights, I just don't have enough information to say that they were the only ones who used two, but I can say that the CHP has been using one on each side of the car since at least the 1960's and still use dual lights to this day. ( I live in California ).

I have attached a picture I snapped from the movie. The scene is when Jake says, "No, I don't like it" 9 minutes into the film. I have circled the area in the A-Pillar on the passenger side of the Bluesmobile where a hole has been plugged up. Obviously, the Bluesmobile in this scene originally had two spotlights, making a case for it being an ex-CHP unit. The image may not be clear on this post, but if you watch this scene with your own copy of the dvd, you should have no trouble seeing this "plug." I did not notice this until the movie came out on DVD. In VHS copies, the pillar is out of frame.

The second picture is from CHiPs episode # 20 entitled, "Rainy Day." It is one of my favorites because Ponch and Jon are assigned to a squad car - A Dodge Monaco.

Attached Files

•  Hole.JPG   45.69K   20 downloads
•  PJMonaco.JPG   50.16K   22 downloads

[Monaco74]

just as I expected, the image quality of my picture is too poor to see the spotlight hole plug on Jake's side, but at least you know where to look for it now.

[440RULEZ]

I don't believe it, it's that sh!tbox "D O D G " again... ??!

Looks like someone swallowed an "E"...

[Scott]

Monaco74 said:

I promise to shut up about CHiPs after this post for all those I may be annoying.

I haven't seen anybody express annoyance; is it common for people to be annoyed with CHiPs? Right now I'm wishing it was in reruns so I could watch it. As you said, the Bluesmobile was an ex-CHP Monaco, so CHP is on-topic around here. 440RULEZ has even done his Monaco up as a CHP car.

I'm enjoying this thread, and I look forward to possibly learning the differences between the 75 and 76 next.

[Steam McQueen]

Monaco74 said:

I promise to shut up about CHiPs after this post

Don't be crazy, this is excellent stuff! Unless you're actually crazy, then I apologize.

Monaco74 said:

I have circled the area in the A-Pillar on the passenger side of the Bluesmobile where a hole has been plugged up.

This is amazing! It looked like something on your scan but I will be checking the dvd later. I had no idea that they plugged up a 2nd spotlight hole. I had read that the Bluesmobiles were CHP units, but to remove a spotlight? Fantastic trivia!

Monaco74 said:

The second picture is from CHiPs episode # 20 entitled, "Rainy Day." It is one of my favorites because Ponch and Jon are assigned to a squad car - A Dodge Monaco.

Another beautiful scan! This one makes me think about a possible difference between Monaco's regarding the parking light grille. Did the '74 have a grille across the front parking lights? Or did that depend on the model? Thanks, '74!
:D

[Steam McQueen]

You can see on "The" Bluesmobile that a parking light was broken. Not just the grille over the lens, but the lens itself was broken, leaving an exposed bulb. Which seems to be consistent throughout the movie.


There is clearly a grille over the parking/indicator light on Jake's side. Did all 1974's have that grille?



Is that one of the ways to tell a '74 from a '75? This next grille from the CHiPs car (courtesy, Monaco74) has a slightly different look, no grille over the parking lights!



... and now I see it. The vertical bars in the grille. Well ... that was fun. :o heh. I had never picked up on the more than subtle differences between the '74 and '75 grille until just now. Dang.

They did drop the grille on the parking lights, though! Makes sense. The brighter the better for the rollers! Especially Ponch! "He's got a bad case of the hurries!"

[FL-BLUESMOBILE]

Hello All,

The 75 bumper is different also. I have an ex 75 Monaco OH state Police car and a few 74's and the bumpers are different along with grill. You can always tell a police / Taxi service 75 Monaco with the silver painted impact panels behind the bumpers. Most of them were silver from the factory. Some agency's painted them to match the bodies however. http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u277/bengodi/75monaco1.jpg Here is a pic the day I brought it home 1997. I think I have the same problem I find my self watching movies / shows just to spot a Monaco. My wife says I need some help. Was watching Death wish III the other night when the Monaco takes it in the side and blow apart from the run away Seville Chucks lady is riding in.

Huey

[Scott]

They used a few Monacos for the military police on the A-Team. Only Colonel Lynch's / Decker's car though.