Detroit has a very bad habit of confusing hobbyists who are trying to learn about a particular vehicle. Dodge has been no less guilty than others, and our Pick of the Day is a splendid example of one of these vehicles. This 1966 Dodge Monaco 500 hardtop is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
When the Pontiac Grand Prix was introduced for 1962, it brought the world of personal luxury down-market. While that may give the impression of austerity, the truth was that the Grand Prix was in the form of a trim Catalina hardtop with the upscale aura of a Bonneville—all with a sporty twist. Add distinctive styling features not shared with other Pontiacs and the brand had a winner. While the Grand Prix somewhat followed in the footsteps of the Oldsmobile Starfire, the success of the Grand Prix influenced the debut of the Dodge Monaco.
When the Monaco was introduced for 1965, it too was a two-door hardtop with several distinctive features, most notably the taillights and wicker interior trim. It was quite distinctive compared to lesser Polara and Custom 880 models, but it was far from being as distinctive as the ’65 Grand Prix, which featured a curved backlite (shared with Oldsmobile’s Jetstar I and Starfire) among other features not shared with other Pontiacs.
Strangely, Dodge mainstreamed the Monaco nameplate for 1966, replacing the Custom 880 as the top model in Dodge’s lineup. The former Monaco became the Monaco 500, in line with other Dodge models (Coronet 500 and Polara 500) that were on the sportier end of the spectrum. “Style leader of the Dodge rebellion,” proclaimed the brochure. “Two buckets of comfort inside, four barrels of action under the hood. Plus, a lavish display of luxury on the inside that some people call downright sinful.” Wicker inserts on the seatbacks and door trim were still a feature, plus a standard console and armrest made it clear this was not your typical Dodge. A standard 383 four-barrel paired with a TorqueFlite automatic was a step up from other Dodges too. Outside, the Monaco 500 distinguished itself with three chrome, paint-filled louvers mounted on each door and front fender, stainless steel outlining the under-edge and meeting the front bumper. Standard was a paint stripe in black, blue, red, or white, or it could be deleted if you wished.
Power plant options included the new 440 four-barrel with 350 or 365 horsepower, depending on single or dual exhaust, or step down to a 383 two-barrel if economy was on your mind. A four-speed was available with the standard 383 and the 440 with dual exhausts.
Only 6,251 Dodge Monaco 500 hardtops were built in 1966, with only 900 U.S.-spec cars built with the 383 two-barrel (894 of those connected to a TorqueFlite). Not only is this a car with under 59,000 miles, but it also is painted the interesting hue of Mauve. Gladys Milner of Latrobe originally bought this Monaco 500 and owned it through 1993, with the second owner owning it until recently. Inside, the white bucket seat interior has just been redone. Other features include a remote driver-side mirror, full wheel covers with spinners, an AM radio, and fender-mounted turn signals. According to the seller, “It runs and drives excellent! Not a show car, but a very nice driver quality car with a great history!”
The car comes with a Certicard that identifies it by VIN and select option codes, and even includes the original owner’s name. A round front fender badge identifies this Monaco as a 500, so there will be no confusion about whether this is Dodge’s full-size personal luxury car. We identify this $32,900 (OBO) example as a rather neat car not often seen in this condition or color.
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