
On September 25, 1973, Chrysler Corporation introduced a new generation of full-size car, sold by Dodge as the Monaco. Also referred to as the C-body, the exterior was new as were many structural components. This new Monaco was the Dodge successor to the “fuselage” cars that were introduced in 1969.
In early October 1973 the first oil crisis hit. This crisis affected not only the United States but also Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, and later South Africa. By some reports the global price of oil quadrupled between October 1973 and April 1974.
The new Monaco weighed 300 to 400 pounds more than the outgoing model, despite a half-inch reduction in wheelbase, and now had a larger 360 cubic inch (5.9 liter) V8 as standard equipment. This, combined with the timing of their introduction, helped make these new Monacos a challenging sell.
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