Help me understand.... What was the point?

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

So I'm a Fusie Fan. And during those years there were many shared parts, engines, drivetrains, and, soooomewhat, stylistic looks.

My Favorite year is 1972. If it were up to me, I’d have a Newport, New Yorker, Imperial, and a Fury – All in coupe, please!


I also dig me a 1967 Polara! No wait…. Or is that a Monaco?? Nope, I think it’s a Polara… Dammit!


So what was the point/strategy that the Monaco and Polara looked sooooo nearly identical (to me, at least) for 1967. They leaned luxury with the grunt of muscle still there underneath. What was the marketing or consumer angle to purchase one over the other? Did one surpass another in any way?


Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[oliver]

another fan of '72 Fusies here

The Monaco was more luxurious than the Polara, just like the New Yorker was more luxurious than the Newport.

 

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

Ahhhh.... Many thanks. I leaned on my pal Google, but I couldn't get that kind of clarification.

At least from a distance, the '72 Newport tail is easily distinguishable from the NY'er (I sorta with that Newport rear WAS on the NY'er!).

But these Polaras and Monacos seem sooooo stylistically similar!

 

[Davea Lux]

In 1967 the differences were mostly cosmetic. In the US, the Monaco was considered the top of the model line and was promoted to the mildly affluent buyer who was looking for a cushy ride similar to the Chev Impala or Ford Galaxy. In Canada, the Polara was the top of the line, so the ad campaigns were some what reversed.

The Monaco and Polara were mostly the same car but the advertising in the US promoted it (Monaco) as "Sporty" ie more performance oriented for the younger buyer who wanted a full sized car. Interiors tended to be higher end compared to the Polara although a large bounty of options made it very possible to have the higher end interiors as well on the Polara. Power train options were very similar on both cars.

This was an era in which auto makers were trying to save money in a tight market. In my opinion, this is probably the main reason so many models shared appearance and styling features.

Dave

 

[My three 67 Polaras]

A 1967 Monaco glove box lid over a 1967 Polara glove box lid. The dash trim, especially the wide horizontal bar, was vacuum metalized (fake chrome) on the Monaco, whereas the Polara was just painted silver.

I believe the tail light pattern might be different as well. Maybe someone can post a close up of a Monaco tail light. I remember seeing a Monaco years ago that did not have the ribbed pattern; it had stars or some other sort of embossing. Pictured below a Polara tail light (maybe someone can post a close up of a Monaco tail light, if it is different).

Some other things are the door panels and seats have more padding on a Monaco. Exterior moldings and emblems are not the same. Here is the option break down list (especially note the standard equipment section for each level).

:

 

[GJS]

67 Monaco tail lights .. double chrome accent stripe and chrome bezel as opposed to the Polara's Chrome bezel to solid silver infill trim.

Both of my monacos (67 and 68) had a silver inset with plasti-chrome strip above and below like the polara lid pictured above. I've never seen a full chrome inset like that.

 

[My three 67 Polaras]

67 Monaco tail lights .. double chrome accent stripe and chrome bezel as opposed to the Polara's Chrome bezel to solid silver infill trim.
View attachment 165352

Both of my monacos (67 and 68) had a silver inset with plasti-chrome strip above and below like the polara lid pictured above. I've never seen a full chrome inset like that.

Very interesting. I picked up this entire NOS dash insert set for a Monaco A/C car with the plasti-chrome that goes only on the glove box. I only assumed all Monaco's were made that way. From looking at the part for the center of the dash that goes where the radio and center vents are, the whole part is plasti-chromed, then the silver is painted on top of it. They must have forgot the second part of the process for the glove box lid. I had never unwrapped and looked at the rest of it until now!

 

[GJS]

Very interesting. I picked up this entire NOS dash insert set for a Monaco A/C car with the plasti-chrome that goes only on the glove box. I only assumed all Monaco's were made that way. From looking at the part for the center of the dash that goes where the radio and center vents are, the whole part is plasti-chromed, then the silver is painted on top of it. They must have forgot the second part of the process for the glove box lid. I had never unwrapped and looked at the rest of it until now!View attachment 165354

Holy crap-balls I stand corrected! So, first photo is of my 67 Monaco 500:

And this is of my 68 Monaco (non 500, canadian car) My memory must be going as I seriously don't remember the inset being black but clearly it was:

I guess thats how they did it though, they pasti-chromed the whole strip then panted the inside silver in 67 and black in 68.

 

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

Huh...... Funny how Chrysler took the tail of the Monaco as inspiration for the front end of the '70 Coronet!

 

[Jon O.]

So I'm a Fusie Fan. And during those years there were many shared parts, engines, drivetrains, and, soooomewhat, stylistic looks.

My Favorite year is 1972. If it were up to me, I’d have a Newport, New Yorker, Imperial, and a Fury – All in coupe, please!


I also dig me a 1967 Polara! No wait…. Or is that a Monaco?? Nope, I think it’s a Polara… Dammit!


So what was the point/strategy that the Monaco and Polara looked sooooo nearly identical (to me, at least) for 1967. They leaned luxury with the grunt of muscle still there underneath. What was the marketing or consumer angle to purchase one over the other? Did one surpass another in any way?


Thanks for your thoughts!

I have a 72 newport, and if you can find a nice one, they are well worth it.

 

[Bill Watson]

To clarify the position of Polara and Monaco, the Polara was the low priced series and the Monaco was higher. Base engine was the 383 (CD2-) although the 318 was a credit option on some Polara models. In the U.S. the Polara was priced to do battle with the Pontiac Catalina, just above the Chevrolet Impala.
1967 prices - sedans - Fury III (US $2,851), Impala (US $2,818), Catalina (US $2,866), Polara (US $2,918).

The Polara 500 and Monaco 500 were the sporty models, although the Monaco 500 was pushed with luxury in mind. The 1967 Monaco (sedan - US $3,138) was priced to go against the Pontiac Executive (sedan - US $3,165). This arrangement held for the 1966 through 1970 model years (the Polara 500 was replaced by the Polara Custom for 1970). Then the cheapest Dodge Polara moved down the price ladder a notch.

In Canada the Dodge C body was priced lower in the market going head to head with Pontiac and Meteor, just above the Big Three - Chevrolet, Ford LTD and Plymouth Fury - and well below the Catalina (CDN $4,015). In 1967 the base Canadian Polara used Fury I interiors in sedan and wagon models. (Prices for Canadian models are in Canadian 1967 dollars)
1967 sedan prices - Polara V8 ($3,136), Meteor Rideau V8 ($3,096), Pontiac Strato Chief V8 ($3,101). All were available with a six (Polara (CD1-) had the slant six) and the base Canadian Polara/Monaco V8 in 1967 was the poly A block 318 (CD3-).

The Canadian Polara 500 (Fury II interiors) was available in sedan, 2 door hardtop and wagons. No convertibles and no sporty stuff. If you wanted a sporty big Dodge in Canada you bought a Monaco 500 (Sport Fury interiors) 2 door hardtop or convertible. Monaco 500 competitors were the Meteor Montcalm S-33 and Pontiac Parisienne 2+2. The Monaco (Fury III interiors) was priced just above the Fury III, Impala and LTD, and did battle with the Meteor Montcalm and Pontiac Parisienne.

Trim levels date back to the late 1930's (not to be confused with models) and could be determined by different exterior trim and interiors.

One other difference on Canadian 1967 C body Dodges - the US Polara taillamp lens (2808 916-7) was used on Canadian Polara, Polara 500 and Monaco models. The fancier US Monaco / Monaco 500 (2808 980-1) lens was used only on Canadian Monaco 500 models. All wagons used 2808 922-3.