NEW! Award 47: 1973 Dodge Monaco Four Door Hardtop – SOLD!

September 12th Update – While updating our Malaise Monday database, we confirmed the private seller of this Dodge Monaco survivor deleted their Craigslist ad, so we’re calling this one “Sold!”

August 16th Update – The private seller of this Dodge Monaco Survivor just lowered their asking price from $10,995 to $9,495. We’ll continue to keep an eye out on whether this Mopar sells at this still lofty price.

Within Chrysler Corporation, 1973 marked the final year of the popular “Fuselage” styling used by the Dodge Monaco such as this well-preserved green over green survivor currently listed recently on Craigslist in Collegeville, Pennsylvania with only a stated 89,000 original miles, the optional 400 cubic inch V8, and factory air conditioning with an asking price of $10,995.   Using the NADA Guides Classic Car Online Valuation Tool for the two-door hardtop as a proxy confirms this private seller optimistically has his price set $500 above the current #1 “Concours” estimate of $10,400. A second check of the NADA Guides Classic Car Online Valuation Tool confirms the seller wants double the high end of the “Low”, “Average”, and “High” retail value range of only $1,885, $3,120, and $5,005, respectively.  While we agree with the seller’s assertion this is a very clean survivor in excellent condition, he will be lucky to find what will end up being an ardent Mopar fan willing to pay that premium.  Consequently, we have no choice but to give the private seller our latest NEW! (short for “No Effin Way!) Award for such an optimistic price.

For its last year in the fuselage-styled body, the Monaco continued with its 1972 styling, except for a new rear bumper with redesigned tail lamps, along with a new decklid and rear-quarter end caps. Large black rubber guards were added to the bumpers to comply with new Federal five-mile-per-hour impact standards. Hardtop and sedan models gained about 6.5 inches in length due to the new bumper guards.

Inside, new fire-retardant materials in virtually every visible part of the interior meant added safety.  Under the hood, all three available engines gained reliability with the addition of Chrysler’s new electronic ignition system as standard equipment, which extended spark plug life and virtually eliminated periodic ignition system maintenance.  Despite the cars’ improvements, sales dropped again to 29,396 as the U.S. Arab Oil Embargo hit, forcing new car customers to run away from large gas-guzzling cars such as this Monaco.  Consequently, 1973 proved to be the Monaco’s final year as Dodge’s top-of-the-line full-size car.

We agree with the private seller this Monaco is a very well preserved and well-optioned example that will likely do very well at any AACA Preservation judging event you decide to enter it into.  Unfortunately, the hard reality is that the seller’s asking price is well above what the market still will bear for a four-door hardtop that didn’t sell all that well when new, so it won’t be very popular now.

The other thing we don’t like is the seller mentioning the factory air conditioning “needs a charge”  and the hidden headlight doors work intermittently.  Specifically, he mentions that he’s working on getting these fixed and the price will go up accordingly.  Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way.  When you’re already asking Concours money for a car, the expectation is everything is in place and everything works.  We smell a private seller quick flip here so if it were us, we’d start the negotiations from what the seller paid the original owner for this Monaco and then work from them there based on what he’s had to put into it.  Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Up for sale is a very RARE and hard to find 1973 Dodge Monaco. I purchased it from an older gentleman who had it garage kept its whole life! He would not even leave his house if he thought it was going to rain.
This thing is AWESOME! Please see the photos. The front end of this car is so unique! The lines, style, and size of this vehicle measuring almost 20 feet long… is just outright impressive!
You will not find another one like this online, Anywhere!!!
This car is in great shape, here are some of its features…

– Starts and runs strong with the optional factory upgraded 400 motor. No mechanical issues really to worry about. (The 400 motor was an optional upgrade from the standard 360 motor)

– Nice tight Steering and Braking with a ride that is so smooth you never felt anything like it.

– Olive Green Paint is smooth shiny and in great condition. Looks to be all original from the factory except for some work done on the right rear quarter panel, but the paint is matching perfect.

– Dark olive green hard top, again original in perfect shape, with no cracks or leaks.

– The frame looks great! Very miner surface rust but no major rusting or rot anywhere, you can tell it was garage kept.

– The Dark Olive Interior it is in Beautiful shape. Seats look like they did when they came from the factory. No cracks or fading on the dash anywhere.

– It has air conditioning but needs charging. (Currently working on it to have fixed price of may increase when fixed)
– This comes with the highway headlights that work but the covers that open sticking sometimes. (Currently working on it to have fixed price of may increase when fixed)

– Title is clean, in hand, and titled as an Antique so no need for ever paying those registration, inspection, or emission fees again!

I could go on and on about the Pros. of this car but to save you a lot of reading… Here is a list of its flaws for full disclosure.
-Air condition not working(Currently working on it to have fixed price of may increase when fixed)
-Highway headlights need adjusting(Currently working on it to have fixed price of may increase when fixed)
-Temp Gage not working properly
And that is pretty much it! New cars today have more issues then this one.

It will be hard to find another one like this one ever, in this nice of condition, for this low of a price. $10,995
If you have any questions please let me know and I will answer them to the best of my ability. I will not answer if you just ask “is still available for sale?” I will remove the listing if it is sold.

I will only accept cash or Bitcoin for payment. No checks, credit cards, paypal, or other payments will be accepted. And please No low ball offers.
May consider trades as long as it is reasonable and if you have something unique/rare. Not interested in trading a 73 Monaco for a Honda Accord… you get the idea haha.
Thanks for looking!

• Dodge Monaco 4-Door Hardtop 400 V-8 TorqueFlite (aut. 3) , model year 1973, version for North America U.S. (up to September)
• manufactured by Dodge (USA) in USA
• 4-door sedan body type
• RWD (rear-wheel drive), automatic 3-speed gearbox
• gasoline engine with displacement: 399.8 cui, advertised power: 185 hp torque: 310 lb-ft
• outside length: 228.7 in, 79.6 in, wheelbase: 122 in
• base curb weight: 4255 lbs
• top speed: 115 mph
• accelerations: 0- 60 mph 10.9© s 1/4 mile drag time 18© s
• fuel consumption and mileage: average estimated 13.5 mpg (imp.) / 11.2 mpg (U.S.)

Make: Dodge (USA)
Model: Full-Size 9th generation (Monaco, Polara)
Submodel: Monaco Hardtop Sedan
Optional equipment:
Production/sales period of cars with this particular tires: September 1972 – September 1973
Modelyears: 1973
Body style: hardtop sedan
Doors: 4
Traction: RWD (rear-wheel drive)
Engine type: spark-ignition 4-stroke
Fuel type: gasoline (petrol)
Cylinders alignment: V 8
Displacement: 7206 cm3 / 439.7 cui
Horsepower net: 164 kW / 223 PS / 220 hp (SAE net)
Horsepower gross:
Transmission type: automatic
Number of gears: 3
Standard tire size: G78 – 15
Tire width (mm): 204
Tire sidewall factor: 78
Rim size (in): 15
Total wheel diameter (mm / in): 699 / 27.5“

Do you have a Dodge Monaco story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!