19 replies to this topic

[sigmfsk]

I see in the movie that the bluesmobile has two types of door panels; I'll call them "vertical" and "quadrilateral" types.

It looks like neither had wood trim on them. I started looking at pics to determine what Monaco options yielded a door panel & dash without wood trim.

The only pics I could find of cars that had door panels with no wood trim were true police cars. I attach a pic from
The Dodge Monaco police car

From "king of the hill"

From the e-bay auction in New York

They all have the "quad" style door panels. Do only police optioned Monaco's NOT have wood trim on the door panel and dash? The ONLY picture I could find of a non-wood-trim dash that wasn't a police car is here:

As The TeePee Squeaks: Standin' on a Corner in Winslow Arizona
linked from post #185
http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/forum/bluesmobiles/7625-bluesmobile-sightings-8.html
and I don't know for sure that it wasn't a police option.

What cars got vertical panels vs. quadrilateral panels?
I see on the $25K car
http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/forum/bluesmobiles/7601-1974-monaco-bluesmobile-hire-new-york.html
that it has the vertical style panels, but with the wood trim.

Did police optioned cars ever have the "vertical" pattern (and did they not have wood trim)?

I see that a Monaco Brougham is out of the picture for me, because I'd be stuck with this crazy door panel from
http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/forum/bluesmobiles-sale/7732-germany-1974-dodge-monaco-440-bremen.html
But the Brougham is already out for other reasons such as different tail-light lenses and fuel tank access door.

thanks,
arthur

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•  p-0-08-02.jpg   111.89K   15 downloads
•  police-radio.jpg   86.57K   12 downloads
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•  auction-door.JPG   67.44K   11 downloads
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•  blues10.jpg   115.17K   9 downloads
•  Brougham-dodge021.jpg   19.36K   9 downloads

[sigmfsk]

Anybody have a civilian 74 monaco without wood on the door panels or dash?

I see this place does door panels:
Door Panels - SMS Auto Fabrics

SMS makes over 2,000 different styles of door panels, and not just for cars like Corvettes or Mustangs either. We make the largest variety of door panels in the industry, and we are constantly adding mew styles to our capabilities. SMS can produce exact reproduction door panels for most American cars from the 1950s through the 1970s, using all original materials.

Has anybody successfully "de-wooded" their door panels or dash (either by modifying them, or by getting replacements from SMS)?

your friend in thinking wood trim doesn't exude "police-vehicleness",
arthur

[scatpack01]

I tried on a set but it is part of the panel.

[TK826]

Here are some photos of a civilian Monaco, with non-wood door panels, and dash trim.
This car was converted into a Bluesmobile, in Colorado, around 2004.

(I believe) It is the only example of civilian Monaco, in this form, that I have recorded.

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•  01.jpg   61.41K   11 downloads
•  02.jpg   78.85K   13 downloads
•  03.jpg   71.35K   13 downloads

[TK826]

I've also checked on, and received samples from, SMS Fabrics.

Here are the prices:
(Quality stuff... but a bit on the pricey side)

[Mr Mercer]

Mine came with wood in the door panels , but not on the dash .

[country bunker]

Hey Arthur, got your messages.

Mine as well like Mr mercer, came with wood in the doors but not the dash. Idk if it has to do with the model or what?? Mines just a regulor custom. Ive got every piece of paper from the dealer when it was bought, ill have to find the folder, and do some investigation!

Sorry couldnt be more help at the moment, I like em without the wood on the dash personally, but i do like it on the doors.


-zac

[sigmfsk]

All good posts; thanks guys - just what I was looking for. Summary:

At least one civilian Monaco came without wood on dash or doors.

Several civilian Monacos came without wood on dash, but had it on doors. Zac/Country Bunker says he has "every piece of paper from the dealer when it was bought", so he may be able to provide some leads of what options or packages might be checked or deleted to have wood in various places.

You can't really remove the wood from the door panel - its part of the panel.

SMS may be able to make a door panel without wood - haven't asked them. I don't know of any other companies that might be able to make door panels for a 74 Monaco.

Don't know of any police packaged Monacos with wood on dash or doors.

Don't know of anyone that's tried to de-woodify their dash (if its possible or easy).

Don't know what decided a car having either "vertical" and "quadrilateral" style door panels.

Don't know if a police packaged Monaco ever came with "vertical" style door panels.

your friend in learning everything there is to know about 1974 Monaco door panels,
arthur

[country bunker]

Hey Arthur,

I found my folder, but cant find my build sheet.. but according to the brochure, the royal monacos had the wood trim on the dash. But it says all monacos had wood on the doors, maybe except for cop cars?

My window sticker only mentions bench seat, and light packages.. i gotta find my build sheet though..

I took a couple pics of my papers, their hard to read cause of the camera, but u get the deal. If you want me to write anything on them out on here, just ask and ill gladly do it.. Hope this helps
-zac

[TK826]

Quote

SMS may be able to make a door panel without wood - haven't asked them...

I've sent SMS nice detailed photos of the style door panels that we most associate w/ the Bluesmobile
(the horizontal stripe).

I was told... "No problem!".

That is in fact what is reflected in the price, that I've shown above.

Four (4), proper looking, Upper door panels..... $695.00 US.

[scatpack01]

My Monaco is a cop car. It had the wood trim on the dash but it is just a decal.I am peeling it off since it's faded. Door panels had no wood trim.

[sigmfsk]

country bunker said:

Hey Arthur,
I took a couple pics of my papers, their hard to read cause of the camera, but u get the deal.

Wow; this post sat stagnant for a while, and now its popping with information. I type-in the information from your last pic, rearranging the information to show the differences between the base and the Royal:

Monaco
single horn
hubcaps
cloth and vinyl front bench seats
padded door trim panels with simulated wood-grained trim
body-side moulding

Royal Monaco
(above std. equipment plus)
single horn
hubcaps
cloth and vinyl front bench seats
padded door trim panels with simulated wood-grained trim
body-side moulding

additions to base:
in addition to body-side moulding, also upper door frame and wheel-lip moulding
simulated wood-grained accents on instrument panel
glove box light
trunk light
hidden headlights

Royam Monaco Brougham
(above std. equipment plus)
electric clock
hidden headlights
dual horns
simulated wood-grained accents on instrument panel
cigarette light, glove box, and map light
trunk light
vinyl body side, upper door frame, and wheel lip mouldings
rear door light switch
cloth and vinyl 50/50 split back front bench seat with built in armrests (and passenger recliner of 4-door models)
hood stripes
side accent stripes
deluxe wheel covers
padded door trim panels with integral assist straps

Yours seems to be a 1975 vs. a 1974, but I expect that the differences between a 74 base and 74 Custom to be about the same as the differences between a 75 base and 75 Royal. This answers a question I posted here:

http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/forum/bluesmobiles/9495-strange-fender-turn-signal.html#post107164


The Royal has only the following differences from the base:

additions to base:
in addition to body-side moulding, also upper door frame and wheel-lip moulding
simulated wood-grained accents on instrument panel
glove box light
trunk light
hidden headlights

And now that I know that I can remove the wood decal on the dash, the only thing that seems non-bluesmobile-ish is the "hidden headlights". But it looks like these didn't exist in 1974:

Dodge Monaco - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the 1975 model year, changes to the base Monaco were minimal. However, the Monaco Custom got a new name — Royal Monaco —and the Monaco Brougham became the Royal Monaco Brougham. These newly-named models featured, as Monacos had in 1972 and '73, concealed headlamps.

I'm guessing that folks with 1975 Royal Monaco's were reasonably easily able to replace their hidden headlights with 1975 base headlights.

Thanks Zac; it would be interesting to see if there was a special check box for "wood dash" on the build sheet, but its really more of a trivia question now. With all the good help I now feel comfortable getting a 1974 base sedan or 1974 custom, and it can have wood on the dash or door panels. I can remove the wood from the dash. And, it seems that (if I go that far) I can get new door panels made sans wood.

thanks,
arthur

[sigmfsk]

TK826 said:

I've sent SMS nice detailed photos of the style door panels that we most associate w/ the Bluesmobile
(the horizontal stripe).

I was told... "No problem!".

That is in fact what is reflected in the price, that I've shown above.

Four (4), proper looking, Upper door panels..... $695.00 US.

Wow TK; we were totally thinking alike. If I proceed that far, I'll touch base with you. Maybe I can re-use your photos or quote (or maybe we can get a bulk discount with 2 sets of panels).

What are "upper" door panels? It seems from this article

Auto Upholstery Repair - Rebuild Your Door Panels - Car Craft Magazine

that an "upper" door panel is somehow equivalent with a door panel "skin" as described by SMS:

Door Panels - SMS Auto Fabrics

Our panels can be purchased in in two ways, the most popular are the complete and ready-to-install door panels with no assembly on the part of the customer. Alternatively, you can opt to save money and reduce delivery time by purchasing door panel skins. Door panel skins come with all the components necessary to either assemble the door panel yourself or have it done at a trim shop.

I'm thinking I'd want the "ready-to-install" door panels, which is probably much more expensive than the "uppers". Oh well, at least I know it can be done, which was my goal at this point.

thanks,
arthur

[sigmfsk]

scatpack01 said:

My Monaco is a cop car. It had the wood trim on the dash but it is just a decal.I am peeling it off since it's faded. Door panels had no wood trim.

Thanks scatpack!
That's a key piece of information. Now I don't have to be scared of a Custom (or a base model that somehow got a wood dash).

your friend in plowing ahead in research,
arthur

[TK826]

Pic 1:

- Upper:
Vinyl - fiberboard - insulation.
Snaps onto door.

- Lower:
Hard molded plastic.
Screws to door.


Pic 2:

Quote

My Monaco is a cop car. It had the wood trim on the dash but it is just a decal.I am peeling it off since it's faded. Door panels had no wood trim.

The '75 ex-KC squad I once had, was opposite of Scat's.
Wood on the doors.. but none on the dash.

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•  Upper_Lower.jpg   43.83K   25 downloads
•  75Door01.jpg   110.88K   15 downloads

[scatpack01]

that first pic looks like a 74 door panel with the pocket.

[TK826]

It is.

It was in response to the question about the difference between,
"upper".. and "Lower".


- The blue door is the 75.

[scatpack01]

oh ok.. just checking.

[sigmfsk]

scatpack01 said:

that first pic looks like a 74 door panel with the pocket.

Firstly, TK thanks for the pics showing what an "upper" door panel is. The fact that you had a police Monaco that had wood on the doors makes me less bothered by the thought of it on my future door panels.

And Scatpack, can you comment on what in particular made the first pic look like it was from a 74? Was it something to do with the pocket (only being available on 74's), or was it that "vertical" panels were in 75, and "quadrilateral" panels were in 74, or maybe the shape?

your friend in panelation,
arthur

[scatpack01]

Well from what I have seen that pocket was only on 74 models. My car is a 74 and had it. The upper pad I have seen both styles. My int now is from a 77 Royal. On the upper pad, I have seen both styles, mine being like the first pic.