Why are some old cars just 'worthless'?

[69finder]

I just picked up a 1965 Monaco (for its' engine/trans).  But basically it's in rust free shape, underside is repainted, runs/drives etc.  I got it for a good price, but these cars are basically 'worthless'?  Ie there's a nice one on ebay for $4000!!

What?  That's like 2 quarters and doors for a Charger.

Notice the same thing for a few other unloved older cars.  They're basically all the same aren't they?  Except for body design, what's the massive difference between say a 69 Charger (what I have) and a 65 Monaco? 

[Todd Wilson]

Notice the same thing for a few other unloved older cars.  They're basically all the same aren't they?  Except for body design, what's the massive difference between say a 69 Charger (what I have) and a 65 Monaco? 

The difference is people like you dont think anything about the Monaco. Just want to strip it for its engine and leave it dead...............If its in such good shape why dont you keep it and drive it. Daily driving anything old these days is an oddity and will surely look much cooler then the little cookie cutter commuter cars.


Todd

[lukedukem]

i agree... 

[69finder]

I plan to drive it and learn more about it.    The problem where I live is if an old car 'drops' from the registration system, it requires a new inspection.  The inspection is brutally hard to pass on old cars.  This one would pass (no rust holes), but I can see why cars are easily parted over here.  But what about in other areas?

[1974dodgecharger]

it has to do with culture and the charger was part of the revolution of muscle cars during that ear it was considered KING of quarter mile runs and late night friday after high school runs the charger was KING of it all. Hence now the old farts as with me appreciate it and got the young kids hooked on the charger so hence greater popularity than other cars.

[Kern Dog]

I've heard from many people that C body cars are just ENGINE donors.
Pretty sad, but if you are looking to go fast, everyone knows that lighter cars are the way to go. The C bodies are great cruisers and often very comfy, but a 440 in a Dart will beat a 440 New Yorker. I'm getting to the point though where a nice C body would be pretty cool, and a nice alternative to the Charger on occasion.

[DC_1]

Because like life, you have pretty people and you have ugly people. The Monaco falls in the ugly people category...

[HPP]

The problem where I live is if an old car 'drops' from the registration system, it requires a new inspection.  The inspection is brutally hard to pass on old cars.  This one would pass (no rust holes), but I can see why cars are easily parted over here.

Because like life, you have pretty people and you have ugly people. The Monaco falls in the ugly people category...

These two points are the 1-2 combo that usually dooms these types of cars. They aren't particularly attractive, although they do have their style points that are interesting. Combine that with safety inspections, registration issues, hard to find parts to make all the little doo-dads work, and non-existant aftermarket support, and it takes a HUGE effort to keep them on the road. This effort for the reward, feedback, encouragement from the rest of the car world is usually lacking so many poeple look at them as if they don't deserve the effort and if it takes twice as much effort/$$ to restore one to full functionality yet it has half the value potential, it really takes someone who loves them to bring em back to life.

[69finder]

Agree with ^   Someone really love this little (haha, 4 foot overhangs over the trailer!) Monaco.  They redid the botttom, swapped/rebuilt the drivetrain, quartered it, bodyworked it.

I will post pictures of this little 'ugly' and maybe it deserves a little paint as well?!  I'm going to fix it's little problems so I have experience but I think the search for an engine for my Charger continues! 

[TK73]

I like the 65/66 Monacos.

Drive that sucker!!

Love to see pics

[myk]

Because like life, you have pretty people and you have ugly people. The Monaco falls in the ugly people category...

Agreed, but unlike ugly people like myself I think less popular cars like that Monaco eventually have their day.  A friend with a very nice '72 Nova SS couldn't understand why his car was unappreciated for most of the time he owned it, but it slowly started to gain traction with crowds and value on the books; every dog has it's day, IMO.

BTW, I never knew they had 2 door Monacos...

[ODZKing]

I love those old C body's.  Learned to drive on my dad's 67 Monaco and it became mine when he bought his B5 blue 73 Monaco.
And BTW, that 67 was only 3800 lbs. 
My 67 is 3480
Second Gen is what, 3600?
And my 73 is 3540

[TruckDriver]

Notice the same thing for a few other unloved older cars.  They're basically all the same aren't they?  Except for body design, what's the massive difference between say a 69 Charger (what I have) and a 65 Monaco?  

The difference is people like you dont think anything about the Monaco. Just want to strip it for its engine and leave it dead...............If its in such good shape why dont you keep it and drive it. Daily driving anything old these days is an oddity and will surely look much cooler then the little cookie cutter commuter cars.

Todd

I agree Todd!  

Personally, I'd kill to have that car, and drive the hell out of it. Kinda sad your going to strip it out  

[Indygenerallee]

Grand dad still has a 66 Chrysler 300 2 door 383 that he sold new (original owner traded it back in in 1968) And I would gladly drive that baby any day of the week!! Nice comfy cruiser!!!

[nvrbdn]

one i really liked was the 65 chrysler newport. pretty close to that monaco.

[Mike DC]

 
It's not that some old cars are worthless, it's that a few of them aren't. 

The majority of all cars made between the 1950s and the 1990s have little or no collectible value. 

(Yeah they might bring $5000 or $10,000 in nice shape.  But so do most presentable cars at your local used car dealership.  That's not a lot of money for wheels these days.)

[69finder]

Well, this car is growing on me.  I got the engine running better.  Cleaned it up a bit more.  And I started to re-do the brakes.    It's VERY hard to get parts up here for this car and they are going to cost $$$ but this car deserves it I think.

I spent all day (9 hours!) on it but I didn't get a single pic (so sad), but I will!

1965 was the only year for the 2 door (wikipedia says).  It's massive!!!!!!  I thought Chargers were big, but dammmmn, the Charger looks like a little baby next to the Monaco.  

The previous owner 'shaved' / welded all the moldings and it looks like one long, smooth, well, boat!    

[TK73]

With shaved parts it'd look cool lowered...    Low, long and sleek !!

[69finder]

It's lowered a little bit I think.  There is no real gap between fenders/quarters and the rubber.  215/70/14's on a 440!  WHAT were they thinking??!

[Cooter]

You might run the numbers on that '65 as you might be surprized to find a late production 413 instead of the coveted 440..in that case, cruise it as the 413 isn't worth diddly squat.

[69finder]

The engine was swapped in.  It's a 1973 440.  Probably still gutless but it's big and sounds angry!

[stripedelete]

1965 was the only year for the 2 door (wikipedia says).    

I'm pretty sure there were always two door Monacos. 

[TeeWJay426]

1965 was the only year for the 2 door (wikipedia says).    

I'm pretty sure there were always two door Monacos. 

Agreed- when first introduced in '65, it was ONLY available as a 2-door, but from '66 on to it's demise in '78, it was always an available body style. Just most of them built in later years were 4-doors.

[ODZKing]

1965 was the only year for the 2 door (wikipedia says).    

I'm pretty sure there were always two door Monacos. 

Agreed- when first introduced in '65, it was ONLY available as a 2-door, but from '66 on to it's demise in '78, it was always an available body style. Just most of them built in later years were 4-doors.

Oh yeah ... and they we're nice too.  Monaco 500 had the same console with arm rest as first gen.
http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1967/67_Monaco0002.jpg

[XS29LA47V21]

  

  supply demand generationally regionally popular should cover the main part of the question as I see it.  Sad really, I carved out the PW stuff from a nice complete mild rust triple black 2dr 69 NYer and then gave it to a friend, it remains in the pasture.  Cool car really, thought about it some, but not for me...   The generational part is a big one, not that many yrs ago a T-bucket was very popular... you could not give me one unless the wheel would fit my Charger maybe .  Don't worry, when we die our kids will at least have techy toys