1965 Dodge Monaco. 2/21, DONE!!

[StevenGuthmiller]

I guess it's about time that I get started on this old MPC Monaco kit.

Hopefully this one won't take 2 months, but I'm not betting on it.

Anyone have any input on color choice?

I'm debating between the 2 colors shown.

The one on the right is an original factory color called "Sandalwood", also known as "Medium Bronze".

I'm leaning towards that but I also like the one on the left.

It's actually a GM color from '61 called "Fawn Beige" but is close enough to '65 Mopar "Pale Gold" for me.

I originally bought the "Sandalwood" for this build, so I'll most likely use it, but I balked a little because it seems to be close to the plastic it's molded in & I absolutely hate that color!

 

Steve

 

Edited February 21, 2016 by StevenGuthmiller

[Crusader101]

Oh boy, I'll be watching this one.

I like the Sandlewood, it will look good with your painting/polishing ability compared to the current plastic finish.

I have this same kit, recently received some Modelhaus parts for it. 

Edited December 6, 2015 by Crusader101

[CometMan]

The Sandalwood is cool, in my area back then alot of the 1:1's were either an Aqua color or dark Maroon.

[Ron Hamilton]

You watch yer step Steve! I'll be watchin'

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

You watch yer step Steve! I'll be watchin'

 

      

 

Steve

[MrObsessive]

I'd go with the Sandalwood as well Steve! This is such a nice '60's color! I have this one too-----I got it years ago as an unpainted built-up that's now in many pieces. The body on mine is really nice as there's no broken pillars and no glue spots, which is all too common on this kit. Too bad this one's not to be brought back. I only know of this one and the Johan '65-'66's (have one of them too), that have that era's Dodge/Plymouth full size two door hardtop roofline.

If you ever see 'em on eBay for a decent price, snatch 'em quick as it seems everyone wants 'em.

[charlie8575]

I got a good deal on a '66 over the summer, so I jumped at it.I 

I'm debating colors, too. I'm considering blue,myself. 

I agree that the Sandalwood would make a nice choice, and I think it would look infinitely better than the molded-in color.

The Monaco had some rather interesting details, like wicker trim with the vinyl interiors. That was light cream-beige. You can see the engraving on the seat-backs and the upper part of the interior side-panels.

Here's a quick run-down of the interior features, unfortunately, no pictures. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1965-1968-dodge-monaco-and-5005.htm

I would recommend pairing it with the cordovan interior. If you have the vinyl top texture on your body molded in, like mine is, I think a white top would look exceptionally nice with it. 

This car is Cordovan; the interior is about the same tone. http://www.flickriver.com/photos/36340269@N06/4887769583/ I think with the wicker accents and the brushed aluminum trim, the Sandalwood/white/cordovan would be most striking. 

This will give you a general idea of the interior material's patterns. http://imperialclub.org/Yr/1965/ChryslerBooklet/page50.jpg

This will be an outstanding model in your hands, Steve. 

Oh...one heads-up. The correct engine turquoise is a bit tough to get. When I got mine, I found it was back-ordered at Chrysler. You can get it, but it might take a couple weeks to get it, unless you can get a dealer that has some on the shelf. 

Charlie Larkin

 

Edited December 6, 2015 by charlie8575

[StevenGuthmiller]

Added a little color this morning.

Still one more coat to go after foiling the scripts but this is about what I'll wind up with.

The color is the '65 Mopar "Sandalwood" or "Medium Bronze".

I'm thinking of a beige roof of some sort & a saddle interior.

 

Steve

 

Edited February 3, 2016 by StevenGuthmiller

[10thumbs]

That's a real nice Mopar color for this higher value car.  In my memories I have this color as having a beige interior, seldom black or so, but this without facts,  I didn't follow Charlie's links.  Maybe later, good info for sure. 

About the roof color, I at first thought a 2-tone was not readily seen back then, the White Hat Dodge Days came later on.  For Mopars,  a vinyl roof in '65....?  Maybe not too common if at all.  I haven't a clue right now about the different roof color.  But I haven't googled either, this is only from what I immediately think was common and seen in my area.

I think the body color is very well suited for this car.

 

Edited December 12, 2015 by 10thumbs

[StevenGuthmiller]

That's a real nice Mopar color for this higher value car.  In my memories I have this color as having a beige interior, seldom black or so, but this without facts,  I didn't follow Charlie's links.  Maybe later, good info for sure. 

About the roof color, I at first thought a 2-tone was not readily seen back then, the White Hat Dodge Days came later on.  For Mopars,  a vinyl roof in '65....?  Maybe not too common if at all.  I haven't a clue right now about the different roof color.  But I haven't googled either, this is only from what I immediately think was common and seen in my area.

I think the body color is very well suited for this car.

 

Thanks Michael.

Actually, this kit has the vinyl roof detail molded in.

That's the main reason I'm doing a different colored top.

Otherwise, I may have done it body color.

I would imagine that white or black would have been the standard vinyl colors, but I think something a little more "earth tone" would go better with this color.

Possibly a dark chocolate brown would look good as well.

I may consider that.

 

Steve

[Ron Hamilton]

I believe that the factory offered vinyl roofs in Black or White only in 1965. A friend of mine owns this car, which his family bought new in 1965, and he restored in the late 1990's.

The car never had a vinyl roof. While I am sick of Black, I am going to do mine in Black, with a Black Vinyl Roof, and a Saddle interior, with the Cane accents.

I like the look if this one so far.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I believe that the factory offered vinyl roofs in Black or White only in 1965. A friend of mine owns this car, which his family bought new in 1965, and he restored in the late 1990's.

The car never had a vinyl roof. While I am sick of Black, I am going to do mine in Black, with a Black Vinyl Roof, and a Saddle interior, with the Cane accents.

I like the look if this one so far.

Looks as though you're correct Ron.

It took a little searching, but it seems the vinyl top on the '65 Monaco was only available in black & white.

So, now I need to give it a little thought.

My guess is black, but I'm not sure yet.

 

Steve

[tim boyd]

A vinyl roof was optional on the '65 Monaco, although nearly all '65 Monacos I've seen include this option.  Most of them I've seen were black (in fact, not sure I recall seeing any other color than black). 

Interior trim colors for the Monaco were somewhat restricted.  If you go to the Hamtramck Registry website, they have scanned and posted most of the pages fgrom the dealer showroom color and trim manuals, which show the interior color and trim options for Mopars from the early 1960's through mid 1970's. It's an invaluable resource for this type of project. 

In this case, they are missing the 1965 Dodge Color and Trim Manual, but here's a link to a page that lists (but does not illustrate) the 1965 Monaco interior color choices http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1965/65_Polara_Custom880_Monaco0002.jpg 

Finally, the '65-'68 Dodge C-body brochures in my library all show with Monaco (in '65) and Monaco 500 ('66-'68) wicker inserts being more goldish in color than beige or tan. But the dealer reference materials posted at the link above claim the inserts are "natural wicker" in color.  So go figure...!  Here's a photo from the Hamtramck Registry link above...

Good luck with this project.  TIM

 

Edited December 13, 2015 by tim boyd

[charlie8575]

Tim, I found the '65 interior shots very hard to find, but I saw a few '66s, and that wicker was definitely the natural cream-beige color. I would assume, then that the '65 would be about the same. 

I got a pretty good deal on a MIB '66 this summer, and I've been doing a lot of digging on these. Really neat cars that zoomed to the top of my want list.

Charlie Larkin

[StevenGuthmiller]

If anyone can find a couple photos of those interior details, please post them!

I haven't bee able to find much either.

 

Steve

[Mattsteel85]

Pretty sure this is he right year

 

[charlie8575]

The cloth and vinyl in tan indicates this is a '66 above. 

Here's a quick overview of the interiors for '65. No color photos, but it'll give you an idea.

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1965/65_Polara_Custom880_Monaco0002.jpg

Charlie Larkin

[tim boyd]

The cloth and vinyl in tan indicates this is a '66 above. 

Here's a quick overview of the interiors for '65. No color photos, but it'll give you an idea.

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1965/65_Polara_Custom880_Monaco0002.jpg

Charlie Larkin

Exact same link as previously posted a few messages earlier above....good info nonetheless....Cheers   TB 

[High octane]

I really like your Monaco build so far and love the color also. I paint all my model cars in factory colors, as some colors come from the Testors factory, some from the Tamiya factory, and some from the Dupli-Color factory as well. I just love dem Mopars!

[StevenGuthmiller]

Thanks everybody!

But what I really need is photos of the "cane" detail.

I think I may have a hard time recreating it when I have absolutely no idea what it looked like!

 

Steve

[charlie8575]

Steve, this is a '66, but the caning appearance and placement are very similar. 

http://www.mcecars.com/viewInventory.cfm?invID=695

Charlie Larkin

[Ron Hamilton]

This is the best one I could find.

I hope it helps. The other cane is on the seat backs, surrounded by the chrome mouldings. It is approximately 15" x 15" on the real car.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Thanks guys!

That'll be a big help!

 

Steve

[tim boyd]

The images posted just above from Ron and Charlie (via his link) look close to what I remember of the wicker treatment.  

Some decanted Testors enamel spray paint Base Gold, mixed with a buff or light beige flat paint, should get close to this look.  

TIM 

 

PS - if you study these interior photos (particularly the ones in Charlie's link) they clearly convey the money mother Mopar put into the 1965-1968 C-body interiors.   The Monaco shared much of its interior appointments with the Custom 880 series, and my Dad's '65 Custom 880 wagon was one of them.  We're talking real metal materials, die cast parts, detailed door panels; soft wrapped parts instead of hard plastics, we're talking real quality and heft.  Sadly the finance guys got to the 1969 C-body replacements, and those interiors could not hold a candle to the '65-'68 models.  TB  

[gtx6970]

I have an MPC  65 Monaco convertible kit and the door panel design on the kit  is very different than shown above. ,,plus the kit is a bench seat car