Dodge Monaco Police Pursuit "Blues Brothers"(diecast 1:18, Auto World)
- Dodge Monaco Police Pursuit "Blues Brothers" (from 1974)
- Auto World
- 1:18
- Showcase model / No engine
- diecast
- black
- In near mint condition
- Original packaging does not exist
- Not for sale
Role model and context: Dodge Monaco of the third generation
The pictured miniature is based on a Dodge Monaco in the police version, the kind that was everywhere in the U.S. in the mid‑1970s and became famous as the Bluesmobile. The underlying Dodge Monaco of the 3rd generation was built by Chrysler on the big C‑body platform and produced from 1974–1977. Compared with the predecessor (the 1969–1973 Monaco), the third generation got new bumpers to meet U.S. safety rules, a revised body structure and a changed suspension tune. Typical engines ranged from the 5.9‑liter V8 (360 cu in) (5.9 liters (360 cu in)) through the 6.6‑liter V8 (400 cu in) (6.6 liters (400 cu in)) up to the 7.2‑liter V8 (440 cu in) (7.2 liters (440 cu in)). The police‑favorite Police‑Pursuit version often used the 440 V8 with the “E86” spec, with power figures around 250–280 SAE‑hp, paired with the three‑speed TorqueFlite A727 automatic. The wheelbase was about 122 inches (122 in), front disc brakes and upgraded cooling were part of the package. The Dodge Monaco was seen by many departments as a reliable workhorse and replaced older Monacos in many fleets. To give you a bit of era context: 1974 saw Nixon resign, ABBA win Eurovision with “Waterloo,” and Volkswagen debut the first Golf — just to help place the car in time.
Movie connection: The The Blues Brothers Bluesmobile
This specific miniature is clearly modeled after the Bluesmobile, an ex‑police Dodge Monaco that plays a big part in the movie The Blues Brothers (1980, dir. John Landis). The car shows up in many scenes — from the auction lot purchase to the famous mall drive‑through and the finale chase at Daley Plaza in Chicago. In several shots the Bluesmobile has a huge speaker mounted on the roof to announce the show — and that setup is what this model reproduces. On screen it’s driven by Elwood Blues and Jake Blues, played by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. The story is about getting the band back together and putting on a benefit concert to pay a tax bill for an orphanage, and the Dodge Monaco is their transport, getaway car and visual icon. The production used several identical cars, usually in the tough police spec with steel wheels and spotlights.
The Auto World 1/18 model in Stingrayman’s collection
The photos show a 1/18 scale model from Auto World, part of collector “Stingrayman”’s stash. Auto World makes Diecast metal models; doors, hoods and some trim are metal diecast, which gives the model a realistic weight and the usual Diecast functionality. The roof megaphone and its mounting frame with guy lines are nicely reproduced. The front has the police‑style push bumper and a driver‑side spotlight. The wheels are simple steel‑wheel reproductions with police caps; no specific aftermarket wheel brand is obvious. Inside you can see a plain, utilitarian interior — exactly what you’d expect from a fleet police car. The 1/18 Auto World model captures the proportions well: hood height, roofline and overhangs match what you’d expect from the third‑gen Dodge Monaco.
Looks, markings and model details
The paint and markings are clearly inspired by the movie’s Bluesmobile. The base color is a dark, somewhat matte gray, while the front doors are contrasting white. On the passenger door there’s an overpainted sheriff star, and the rear quarter shows faded “P1” or similar fleet markings. On the front side panel you can spot the hand‑written looking slogan “To Serve and Protect.” The bumpers appear as unpainted metal, adding to the law‑enforcement vibe. The big roof speaker is mounted on a four‑leg frame and lashed to the front with two ropes — exactly like in the film scenes where they drive through town to promote the show. The model includes the ropes, knots and the swivel frame detail, which the photos show well. Two figure busts representing the film characters stand on separate pegs beside the car, which helps cement the connection. The casting looks clean, window trims are finely printed and the door gaps are even. Overall it’s a balanced, no‑frills presentation without overshine.For collectors, it’s worth noting this is a Diecast model that specifically depicts the roof‑speaker version of the Bluesmobile, which is a less common variant. In Stingrayman’s display it sits among other sports and street cars; the 1/18 size fits right in. Technically the reproduced base is believable: the Police Pursuit Dodge Monaco rode on the C‑body, had a live rear axle with leaf springs, independent front suspension with torsion bars, beefed‑up cooling and larger alternators to handle police electronics. From 1975 catalytic converters became common, which dropped the 440 V8’s advertised output a bit, but it still had enough pull for pursuits. All that explains why the Monaco was chosen for the film as a rugged work car. Even though no specific tuning shops or wheel makers are named on the model, it clearly shows the fleet look with steel wheels, blacked‑out hubcaps and reduced trim. In short: it’s a tasteful, film‑accurate piece from Auto World in 1/18 Diecast that sits nicely in a Dodge Monaco / Bluesmobile themed collection.
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