LOADED Out Original Paint SURVIVOR 1970 Dodge Monaco Woodgrain Wagon! T-Code 440 With WOOD!

We at Rocket have had the fantastic opportunity to work on this wagon for our friend Willy from Germany. Willy is a huge full size Mopar fan and has bought several cars from us over the years. He found this car locally to us and asked us to go over it to make sure it was mechanically sound. Unfortunately we found it had a burnt valve in the head so we went ahead and pulled the motor to rebuild it. Once you do that it goes into the "well...we are there" to fix a lot of other things on the car at the same time. The transmission has been rebuilt, front end done, steering box, and a million other things. This thing drives great and looks even better. Wagon has almost every option including the rare on a Dodge T-Code 440, AC, power steering, 8 track, power seat, super lite and much much more.
We give you a tour of the car, test drive it, highlight some of the more unusual options on it, and go through the 1970 Dodge Data book showing you how you would order a vehicle like this from a dealer.
Willy is planning on taking the wagon cross country with a camper behind it then ship it from the east coast back to Germany!

[@darrylcavanaugh9465]

Its crazy how ‘uncool’ wagons were when we were kids, but man o man do I love wagons as a mid 50’s adult. Its a secure truck, that drives like a car. Best of all worlds. Beautiful Monaco, Sir.

[@robertjonas6216]

I concur!!

[@rocketresto]

People love nostalgia and these old wagons.

[@BigBoxDodge2020]

In 1970, my dad bought a brand new Chevrolet Kingswood station wagon. And I don't think it had a whole lot of options but it had air conditioning, it was a cool car. We took it across the United States of America over and back. Without a flaw. I still have the 400 4 bolt main engine out of that car.

[@douglasnicholls1366]

Back in the day, we had the 1969 10-passenger version with a 383 2-barrel. Great exhaust note, gobs of torque and an honest 18mpg highway. I remember leaving from Salt Lake city, pointing west, and heading for the mountains in Wendover at 100mph with A/C blasting. Took five of us across the entire country twice plus Mexico, hope this one does the same for its new owner.

[@douglasnicholls1366]

By the way, the original Polyglas tires were dangerous crap, not up to highway speeds with a C-body They shed belts dramatically.

[@rocketresto]

Was it an air porter?

[@bsu1960]

I wish they made them like this these days it really is special inside and out

[@danielweith1075]

What a great example of a true family car. Great video, thanks/

[@SypherF]

This thing is badass on a whole different level of awesome.

[@michaelnault5905]

Amazing it got used enough to need transmission work, but still survived in such good shape.

[@rocketresto]

Tranny was OK but that's one of those if everything is out might as well go through it.

[@rickrice3221]

Super cool car! Learned how to drive on my dad’s ‘69 Polara so that dash is very familiar to me. Fun fact: that round dash mounted courtesy light is the same lens and bezel as the rear passenger courtesy lights in my ‘57 New Yorker convert (and the plastic lenses were used on ‘66 - up consoles, which is why they were reproduced - and I stocked up on them!)

[@bsu1960]

Its beautiful so glad it will be taken care of

[@dave1956]

I heard you mention that this vehicle was built at the Belvedere, Illinois plant. My grandfather was an electrician and I remember him talking about working on the plant when it was under construction.

[@rocketresto]

Super cool love hearing stories like that.

[@richjordan9375]

Ours was a 1969 Custom Suburban 6 seater, blue with blue interior, 383 2bbl my Dad bought new. It was the daily driver for Mom, and our faction-mobile! I would give a lot to have that car back and would still love to someday find a nice 1969 - 72 C-body wagon to use as a weekend cruiser. Next to a similar year Imperial, Sport Fury GT, Hurst Edition Chrysler, and others. C-body wagons were and are awesome.

[@coldlakealta4043]

big-arsed station wagons with sticky paper wood graining - the essential motor vehicle of all Canadian hockey Moms

[@joemazzola7387]

I would like to see the super light in action

[@davidpowellseattle]

I think the exhaust description in the book means: single exhaust with 440 on the wagons. Probably to keep folks from sucking too much exhaust in through the back glass. Love this wagon! My parents purchased a 69 Coronet from Pauley in Shelton, 4 door, teal w/black alligator top. It replaced the 64 Dart.

[@rocketresto]

That’s awesome! Btw I have all the records from Pauley Motors and should have the original order material for your parents wagon.

[@davidpowellseattle]

@@rocketresto very cool. I would love to know more.

[@idaholineman5788]

Such a neat wagon. I have a special place in my heart for wagons as my first drive and family car was a Chevy caprice wagon. Beautiful job on this one Tom.

[@JobyJoby-iw2wr]

A very nice example.

[@williamslay310]

Brilliant!!! Wish I had that beauty! Great job.

[@rocketresto]

Thanks!

[@mathuetax]

Wow, that's awesome. I'd so drive that!

[@beljames1563]

Cool old c body. Reminds me of my dads Fury. I had a 71 Coronet wagon. Was a 383 2bbl. Great car.

[@jonclassical2024]

Very cool, was 16 back in 1970 and loved all these era cars.

[@waterbourne9282]

Beautiful.

[@ronaldrey8474]

Think it gets attention here... Imagine another Country ! Thx Tom & Hemi

[@maxr4448]

Love this car!

[@clevejason]

Beautiful wagon

[@davidbrown4180]

Very Cool

[@barberjeff67]

Perfect color! Could this have been a showroom display model with all the options?

[@rocketresto]

It has a Q VON meaning it was likely built for promotion or an executive lease car.

[@kirkneprud8336]

Thank you for such an in-depth look at this car! The road wheel option with H 70 white letter tires is interesting. The 1970 Monaco brochure, dated 8/69 is different. I am guessing that the brochure that I have is either a revision, or the brochures were not finalized until after the change was made, based on what you said about a production change after a few weeks. The brochure has a picture of the road wheel with a double striped white wall, which means the tire was a 78, not a 70 aspect ratio. The brochure lists a J 78 tire size as standard on wagons, and there are not any optional sizes listed, so Dodge must have dropped the H 70 size altogether. The wheel size is listed as having 6.5 width, verses the all other Monacos as having 5.5 width rims with H 78s.

[@timdasenbrock7363]

My jealousy of the new owner matches the paint. Enjoy it in good health.

[@rocketresto]

That’s a good one…

[@smarternu]

If his plans fall through, let us know. Love to find a nice old wagon for weekends.

[@LongIslandMopars]

Awesome. Sad that it won't be on this side of the pond anymore.

[@rocketresto]

They love the cars over there and take very good care of them.

[@LongIslandMopars]

@@rocketresto I know. My car club president sold a "needs work" Superbird and it went into a shipping container to Europe.

[@steves9905]

man I love this wagon. Jealous. Great colors too...green and timber, very foresty and appropriate for the PNW. Wagons are great...so much metal and glass...the most expensive cars in the lineup...and this one specially so. Wow

[@ivanjones1804]

Oh yeah 👍🏾 the C or Fuselage bodies for the Chrysler rides always did it for me as a kid 👦🏾 growing up to now including Ford and GM. And again back then i would have every single option installed i could think 🤔💭🧐 of back then and big power plant options under the hood as well. Sincerely Yours Truly Ivan I J

[@rocketresto]

C bodies are a great platform.

[@joemazzola7387]

I would like to see the super light on

[@richardbennett9045]

I had one of them many years ago it was a big boat but i loved it

[@agentgordo]

You have the tailgate open, please show us how the window wash works.

[@rocketresto]

Should have done that huh? Maybe next time.

[@michaelweilmuenster5754]

Willy must have a warehouse to park all his huge 70s mopar cars. Having spent time in Germany that won't be easy to drive there not to mention the cost of gas there.

[@rocketresto]

He lives in the west part of Germany more room out there.

[@johnchapman3446]

Love it

[@stevenbernier4206]

If the power seat is like the one we had in our '68 polara wagon give that knob a twist to get a little tilt action.

[@randyhoepker5528]

My dad bought new 71 Plymouth Custom Suburban 9 passenger wagon with a 383 Magnum and trailer tow pkg. it wasn’t as optioned out as this Dodge was, but it had a sticker of about $5500 on it. I have the window sticker yet. The mileage on your car is not correct or actual. Looking at the odometer, the tenths digit is red. That indicates the Speedo was replaced. Otherwise if it was original the number in that position would be black like every other car from that era is. There was supposed to be a sticker placed on the door jamb by the dealer indicating at what mileage the original Speedo was replaced. A dealer told me that back in the 70s when I use to detail used cars for new car dealers. Great car

[@HermanMunster-o2j]

That car is freaking awesome! I'd own 1 and I'm a GM guy. Idk y Chrysler over complicated some things 👍👍

[@davidthomits544]

Looks like something I've seen on the Brady bunch episode

[@acardiac5983]

Similar to the Brady Bunch wagon

[@rennkafer13]

Same column/wheel in my '71 Coronet, same color even.

[@rockymason7695]

Looks like it has the super light option

[@rocketresto]

One of the cooler options it has.

[@stephenholland5930]

As mentioned.

[@DAS769]

The Brady bunch 👍

[@RustyFuel]

Love the wagon Can you post a link to the exhaust shop you mentioned ?

[@rocketresto]

waldronexhaust.com

[@olikat8]

The Valiant still has the "Anderson's Lynnwood" on the trailer hitch. It'll be kind of sad when I cut it off, but I'd rather have a class II receiver hitch

[@rocketresto]

Love old history like that!

[@steeldandansteely1027]

Is that leather upholstery? Did he mention it? I've never seen any other Monaco wagon from that era so equipped. Just saying.

[@rocketresto]

It’s vinyl, don’t think leather was available on a Dodge or Plymouth.

[@mrBILL-sr2cu]

Leather was an extra cost extremely rare option on 67-69 Plymouth VIP models. I have run across a couple of 68s and one 69 VIP so equipped.

[@DMCL74]

gas filter over valve cover should it be down by the fuel pump.

[@kenjohnson3641]

Looks like the brady bunch wagon but i think it was a Plymouth

[@user-pgchargerse71]

Brady bunch had the smaller b body Plymouth Satellite wagon

[@kenjohnson3641]

@@user-pgchargerse71 cool tks👍

[@jeffreypinder9398]

MoPar or NoCar. The Europeans love the American muscle.

[@kart70]

Especially such a big car. Back in the 90s, I was stationed in Germany. Another soldier had his 76 Cadillac shipped over. He said it was fun watching his rear bumper extend past the rear bumper of the second car (!) in the next lane over at a stop light. Their cars are tiny!

[@klwthe3rd]

It makes me sick that so many foreigners are buying our vintage cars, driving them around like they are toys to show off and then taking them back to a country that NEVER had these cars for sale in the first place. These millionaires think they can just buy up everything that is American for themselves. And it seems your business does alot to support these actions.

[@vibingwithvinyl]

16:40 Nope, as you're not the original owner :p

[@rocketresto]

Still think it’s worth a try

[@kirkneprud8336]

It could be a good little bit of comedy at the dealership! You say to the Service Advisor: "My Dodge has a set of failed shocks that this dealership installed and are lifetime warranty" The Advisor would likely say "when did we do the installation?..." You say: "According to my receipt, a little over 40 years ago"

[@rocketresto]

@@kirkneprud8336had a 73 Fury wagon years ago and loaded up 8 of my friends to go to the local horse track. Get in the entrance and ask the guy taking money if the races have started yet, he goes dunno what time is it? I look at the clock and go dunno - clock hasn’t worked in 30 years!

[@Oldjohn52]

That charge indicator twitches like a meth head.

[@rocketresto]

Most do.

[@deantaylor8744]

Duly addred

[@deantaylor8744]

Beautiful

[@trojan440]

Dont see many C bodies to begin with, never mind so gorgeous. Nice one Tom.

[@darrylcavanaugh9465]

I was in the market for one when we were going to have our 3rd child. Almost bought a 67 Caprice wagon, with EVERY available option- red with the wood grain, all the racks and guards, black interior, and a factory 427. It was ‘too expensive’ at the time. I wish I would have eaten the extra $. We all have things we wish we would have done.

[@kcchristensen1275]

I love old wagons so cool!

[@butcher390]

What an incredibly beautiful 😍 wagon ❤ Never seen a , C body so complete and packed with factory options

[@RobertLee-um3mr]

Try spraying some Pledge furniture polish on that wood grain. It should look better.

[@clembob8004]

Hey, it's the Family Truckster, Dodge style!

[@rocketresto]

Was doing the thumbnail for the video and realized it is pretty much the family truckster.

[@autonomous_collective]

👍

[@davidcaple6305]

I've only had one wagon.. 78 Olds with a 402? Or 403.. can't remember.. but I love my 73 monaco sedan.. if I could find one I'll rock it lol.. 6500 sedans in 73, only around 3000 wagons.. I love the cbodies.. most have been clobbered in a ring by now. Nice to see them popular again

[@carebear2272]

I think that’s the wagon my aunt and uncle had when I was little, it had these trap door seats in the very back you could open up and sit so you could look out the back while driving it was so cool. Wagons are so cool, my friend had a 6 door Chevy, think it was a vista wagon, never seen a 6 door wagon before……

[@t.b.g.504]

Looks like something the actor Wally Cox would drive.

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

very very rare car today.... as so many gave up the 440 HP engines early in life allso 74 and 79 gas crisis lot where junked glad some keep it nice

[@rocketresto]

Amazing it survived this well

[@stephenholland5930]

Cool wagon, Tom. Any chance you could mitigate the wind noise on your camera phone?

[@rocketresto]

Very hard to do, need to get a window mount or something and think that would help.

[@davestark2015]

I had a Polaris wagon when i was 18 in 1980, it was x military MP car ,it had a police 440 interceptor that was worn out , it ran ok but it loved gas, really loved gas. Lol i sold it and bought a used MG Midget, my gas budget got a lot better.the wagon, still had the hole in the roof from the radio. What a beast !!!!