1977 Dodge Monaco Sport "Malaise Era Mopar"

[ReduitRetro]

Hello again friends! I finally finished this one after working on it off and on for over 10 years while other builds moved forward on my workbench. I modeled and modified this kit to exactly replicate a vehicle a close family member owned back in the late 70's. First of all, nothing from the kit was used under the hood. Everything from the cowl and firewall to the radiator core support, were either sourced from my parts box, extensively modified, or scratch built as needed to accurately portray the engine bay of the actual car. The kits original engine bay was basic and highly inaccurate, so using it was out of the question. The model features the largest available 400 cubic inch V8 with the infamous "Electronic Lean Burn System" (the larger 440 cubic inch V8 by that year in history was only available in 4-door police applications, or pickup's), full HVAC plumbing, spark plug wiring, vacuum lines, fuel lines, secondary wiring, cruise control module, ELB spark control computer (mounted on air cleaner), etc. The kits chassis pan was also fairly bland and simplified, so I grafted in a complete and more accurate front torsion bar suspension, along with adding shocks and a anti sway bar to the just as simplified rear axle as well. I also corrected the vehicles overall ride height, as well as its track width to be more accurate and appealing to the eye. Interior was the easiest to modify, only needing to remove the molded in manual window cranks from the doors, and adding the power window switches, along with adding the right outboard passenger a/c vent that was not replicated in the kit since it was originally a non a/c car. The exterior body features the extra cost "Brougham" vinyl top, optional chrome decor/molding trim package, fender turn signal indicators, deluxe bumper gaurd's, and factory steel "Rallye' wheels on whitewall radial tires. So, why did I spend so much time on such a ho-hum kit?...honestly, I couldn't tell you. I guess it's just for the love of the hobby. Anyway, thanks for stopping and taking a look friends. Until next time...happy modeling!

[Jim B]

Cool Mopar.  Great engine bay details.

[meechum68]

Incredible and what a work of art!  

[charger74]

Looks great 👍🏻👍🏻

[ChrisR]

Looking great!

[johnyrotten]

Beautiful work. 👍👍

[Tom99]

An excellent build!!

[Falcon Ranchero]

Looks very cool; love those Malaise Era cars

[drodg]

That is a great job.  I don't think I have ever seen anyone replicate a lean burn Mopar V8 like you did.  I mean like wow!!!    Congratulations.

[stavanzer]

A Museum Quality Replica!

Excellent Build!

Good Show.

[iamsuperdan]

I like it!
 

[espo]

You could call this build a labor of love and it shows. Your attention to the engine details show just how busy it could get under the hood. Great looking paint color and finish. The vinyl roof is well done along with the interior. Like seeing the showroom finishes and stock look. 

[iwantmodels]

Absolutely beautiful.  Excellent replica.  Well done.

 

[michelle]

nice job 

[karbuildr]

Very well done, excellent engine bay.

[yellowsportwagon]

This is an absolutely excellent build!!

[Bills72sj]

Thanks for sharing your labor of love with us. It is cool you wanted to replicate a car from your past. I did the same with my '75 Hurst/Olds Indy Pace Car.

[STU111]

That’s got to be one of the best engine bays I’ve seen modeled on here, so much detail. On a side note, the ELB system was also fitted to the last of the Chrysler Valiants here in Australia. Top stuff. 👍🏻

[carrucha]

Looks good.  Nice work detailing the engine.

[Maindrian Pace]

Spectacular. This is only the second late B body Mopar I've seen with such an accurate engine bay, special mention for the A/C lines going up and over the core support. The other was a Monaco police car with the same attention to detail, offered on Ebay some years ago. I put a bid in, then another and another, still didn't get it - went well over $100. Quality gets noticed. 

[PappyD340]

Looks great!

[ReduitRetro]

Thanks to you all who stopped and or commented on this build, as well as many others I've posted before. As you all know, life gets busy, so I don't turn out as many finished builds as I could, so the kind comments go a long way. I have a few more "Malaise Mopars" working their way to completion my workbench, so keep an eye out. Thanks again my model building friends!

[catpack68]

Very nice work!

[slusher]

Beautifully done!

[mcs1056]

OK, You need to take this down  right away!

I went directly into flashback mode, remembering when the police used these rectangular headlighted cars. So, it had to be a cop that just pulled in behind me. Had us stashing "ginger ales" and "oregano" as quickly as we could before the christmas tree lit up, only to see that it was a stupid '77 Monte Carlo.