Looking for a better 77 Monaco/Fury cop car

[Oldmopars]

I know that at some point there was a Japanese kit of the 77 Fury/Monaco cop car. Who was it?

I have the AMT/MPC/ERTL version and I am very disappointed with the quality of it. The body is OK, but the chassis pan is pure POO!

The fit of parts is sad, the engine lacks details and it has a 4 speed manual in a 4 door cop car. No shifter, so the interior is neither an auto or manual. 

So far, the body is the kits only good point. 

I do have an old issue, but I looked at the latest R2 issue and all the parts are same as I have, it's just a reissue of the same old junk kit. 

 

[Bainford]

I think the company you are looking for is Yodel. I have not seen these in person, but my understanding is they are quite basic, though if I recall, they look good built up. 

[Force]

1 hour ago, Oldmopars said:

I know that at some point there was a Japanese kit of the 77 Fury/Monaco cop car. Who was it?

I have the AMT/MPC/ERTL version and I am very disappointed with the quality of it. The body is OK, but the chassis pan is pure POO!

The fit of parts is sad, the engine lacks details and it has a 4 speed manual in a 4 door cop car. No shifter, so the interior is neither an auto or manual. 

So far, the body is the kits only good point. 

I do have an old issue, but I looked at the latest R2 issue and all the parts are same as I have, it's just a reissue of the same old junk kit. 

 

Yup, this kit started out as a 1977 Dodge 2-door car back in 1976 and has been modified several times over the years and got the 4-door body 1982ish with the TJ Hooker kit...so the basic tooling is quite old.

Edited December 31, 2020 by Force

[1972coronet]

I had one of the Yodel 1977-1978 Fury kits at one time . 

Its Strong Points :

- Clear tail lamps (easier to properly paint)

- Nicer spot lights 

- Better wheels and hub caps (since introduced by Round2 in the latest release of the 1977-1978 Monaco)

- Better tyres 

- Decals for different cities 

Its Weak Points :

-Bodies are too 'square' 

- Interiors are lacking

- Chassis plate is just that 

They're not terrible , IMO . Lots of the squareness of the body is subdued when the car is completely assembled .

They're quite expensive IF you can find them .

[1972coronet]

The MPC 1977-1978 Monaco Sedan (and any of its variants) are all saddled with the incorrect transmission . It's a generic 4-speed transmission with its roots in the 1971 Plymouth annuals (the similar Dodge b-bodies had a hole-in-the-block , but at least had a Torqueflite instead) .

The engine compartment is completely incorrect for 1975 & later models , and is lacking in realistic details ( there's no brake master cylinder , for instance) .

I'm not knocking the old MPC Monaco . If one doesn't sweat its 'functional inaccuracies' , it presents as a nice representation of a popular police car .

[Danno]

If you are looking for a "better" 77 Monaco/Fury, the recently issued CHP version with the new wheels and tires, and a few bits, is just that:  "better."  The Yodels are not.

If you are actually looking for a truly accurate and well-detailed replica 77 Monaco/Fury, keep wishing and hoping - but don't hold your breath.

Final note:  It's really not too hard to vastly improve the AMT kits with donor chassis from a number of sources, such as the 71 Dodge Charger, and detail accurizing.

??

[Oldcarfan27]

Yodel kit has lots of detailing parts, but the kit as a whole isn't any better than the MPC kit. In fact, it's less detailed than the old standard we've been working with. 

No engine, basic platform chassis, room for motorization, farm implement tires, et al.

To top it off it's too big to bash with the MPC kit. And finally, the price you'd pay for it would make it a poor substitute at best.

[Oldmopars]

Well, my goal is to just build a Rosco Police car from the Dukes of Hazard to complete the set for my wife. I already have the General Lee ( I used a Revel kit) and Daisy's Jeep (Monogran CJ7), and I have a kit for Cooters truck. 

At this point I am thinking I may just glue the hood shut and make it a curbside, it will never be shown and just sit on a shelf or in a diorama. 

Thank you

[Casey]

Just now, Oldmopars said:

At this point I am thinking I may just glue the hood shut and make it a curbside, it will never be shown and just sit on a shelf or in a diorama. 

Using the Google search method to search the forum yields good answers:

 

[Steve Kelly]

If you want an actual looking chassie use one from a roadrunner chassie it's got the length and the best looking front suspension