The Original Monkeemobile

The Monkeemobile is a modified Pontiac GTO that was designed by famed customizer Dean Jeffries for the 1960s TV show, "The Monkees." Owner Mel Gutherie describes what it feels like to drive this piece of pop culture, and reveals how owning it fulfills a childhood dream. Subscribe! | bit.ly/1sddOmD
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[@fixt100]

He seems to be the correct owner for this great piece of history, Not afraid to drive it? CHECK! Can afford to maintain it PROPERLY? CHECK! Loved it since his youth? CHECK! Shares it with the public? CHECK! Is a very nice human being? CHECK!

[@kennethbredow3098]

Had to write a big check to buy it. CHECK!

[@Jesse-B]

Cheque? Check

[@deecee4644]

You hit the nail on the head!

[@jimmysapien9961]

A very humble person we need more people like him Mike pay attention !!!

[@kimosabbe50]

@@kennethbredow3098 $365,000.00 ... and the supercharger is fake :)

[@larrydrozd2740]

Well....this car found its perfect owner! I love this guys enthusiasm! Rock on Mel...enjoy your car!! The fact that you are so cool with it and drive it and let people sit in it......you rock!

[@ew1usnr]

I like that the car went to a person who really really really appreciates it. That is great. And if I saw it, I would want to take pictures if it too. You rock, buddy. Have fun in your Monkeemobile.

[@Hagerty]

Monkeemobile owner Mel Gutherie describes what it feels like to drive this piece of automotive history.

[@dontpokethebear4190]

I love seeing the GTO front clip. It’s a favourite.

[@paullasmith4975]

Had a Catalina 67 or 68 maybe. Paid $350 for it. It used to sputter. Boy friend went to the junk yard and got a $20 carburetor with a manual choke. Drove it back and forth to school for three years. Manual roll up windows, AM radio and a heater. It was a 68. I looked at pictures on line. Had the sad back lights and horizontal head lights. and I remember the number 400 motor. PS Hay Mike Nesmith, WE LOVE YOU!

[@decadantdog4444]

The 1960s was THE decade for hotrods!

[@apieceofdirt4681]

So Nesmith wouldn’t sign it?? WTF? What’s he doing now to make his signature so damn valuable?? Oh, wait.....I’ve got the answer......NOT A DAMN THING!!

[@tapper701]

Just use White Out on MN ...

[@AtZero138]

RIP Dean Jeffries.. great to work with him, to bring the Mantaray back to Car shows At Long Beach Showcase of Kustoms..

[@johngrepo9976]

I used to work for Dean Jefferies in the 80's. I learned alot from him.

[@wolfgangwylde5889]

Love this.Such a humble man. Thank you for sharing

[@MrUltraworld]

Mike Nesmith wouldn't sign it. What an angry pos he is.

[@Gunslinger1875]

Yeah but still, sign the dash that guy loved the show and LOVES THAT CAR! He's never going too sale it just make a fan s dream dude.

[@Gunslinger1875]

@2Fine2Be Humble good point.

[@acemacgruber6593]

Paul Newman didn't want to sign autographs either. Some ppl don't want to.

[@dressshoeguy]

I would agree with you

[@miguelsalami]

WHO IS MICHAEL NEssmeth❓

[@ghostmost2614]

Mike Nesbit is a dooosh!

[@bradlangton1549]

My father worked for a major record company out of Nashville, for my 12 th birthday he took me to the concert, I sat in a chair behind Mickey while they were playing. The 1910 fruit gum company was the back up band. Then Poppy took me back stage to meet the 3 ( Peter Tork) wasn't there. We ate Chinese food and had a great time. Good bunch of guy's. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[@hotweel64]

One of the best show cars, loves it!

[@tomshiba51]

I'd be happy just to have one of the model cars of this beauty.

[@toddswasey1671]

They still make plastic 124th scale model kits at least they did about three years ago I bought one

[@robw3027]

That is one wacky set of wheels. Happy it's been preserved. Thanks for sharing.

[@JamesD92763]

I put together the Revell Model kit..... always loved this one and the Munster mobile

[@dinadaughtry8993]

I seen damnation Ally and Star wars in the same theater in the same week, I was just a kid then and I also watched the Monkees and creature feature with Dr pollbearer on TV, the 70s had the coolest cars, space ships, and monsters.

[@karlslidingdoorguru1785]

I have a pictrure of my dad working on the original car for George, i am surprised that his name is not mentioned, if you notice any of the old pics in Georges Shop, the guy who always wore a shop coat or lab coat, he is also the guy who actually built the original Bat Mobile, he customized the Futura to make the Batmobile.

[@martinharris5017]

George Barris restored the car, but Dean Jeffries built it originally.

[@SCfanIam100]

To Mike Nesmith - Thank you so much for letting all the Monkees fans all over the world know that you hate that you were ever in that show. Thank you for repeating it every chance you get and never letting us forget how it ruined a professional music career for you and held you back from many other opportunities. You were so much bigger and better than the Monkees and deserved so much more .You certainly are a class act. :-|

[@regaltip8A]

Yeah I lost count of how many hits he had since the Monkees. If it wasn't for his inheritance he would be waiting tables.

[@timnelson5782]

Thanks to the Monkee's show Nesmith came up with the concept of music videos which made him quite wealthy and spurred several generations of music video followers which in turn made some unknown groups very popular and had success afterwards so he should be glad he was a part of this show that affected tons of music fans from the late 70's through the early 2000's and beyond!!

[@harvey1016]

I remember watching the series when it was first on tv. I thought this was the coolest car ever. I still think its pretty cool. Mike nesmiths mother invented liquid paper.

[@bobsilver3983]

I love that car

[@adventuressurvivalinthailand]

So it's not the original look and has been re-modified? That's crazy and devalues it in my eyes. Why would another modifier make changes?

[@sprngrdave]

Awesome Car!! Great Guy !!! Thank You for Sharing it with us.

[@glennewell8108]

The Monkeys was one of my favorite shows, and the Monkey Mobile was to me. Cool.

[@stevenspenneberg7407]

I’ve loved that car too, since the first time I ever saw it

[@robertreed8294]

Great interview Mel!!

[@nigelcharlton-wright1747]

My God, Ian Beal of Eastenders owns the Monkeemobile, The lucky blinder! Nice car.

[@scootergeorge9576]

Does the supercharger actually work or is it just for show? The Munster Coach had a wild 8 carburetor engine but actually ran on one hidden 2 barrel carb.

[@scootergeorge9576]

***** Correct. Make that 10 non functional carbs.

[@jerrysaunders6105]

I believe originally, the blower was functional, but because it was too powerful to drive it was changed over to a carburetor inside the empty case.

[@timsacco6g694]

Very cool car but the blower was fake just an empty case with a four barrel underneath

[@irongoatrocky2343]

According to Wikipedia there were 2 built, this one was #2 the Show Car, both are in the hands of private collectors, still a keeper though.

[@martinharris5017]

Correct. One went on show, the other was used for filming.

[@Jgeneraledger23]

The GTO on the show was Gold? I thought it was always Red.

[@johngrepo9976]

Was always red.

[@TS-ef2gv]

I think he was referring to the top and interior being "champaign" (tan) in the TV show, which is true, but now they're a lighter color, white or off white. Not the exterior of the car, which has been red since it was converted to the Monkeemobile.

[@fredkeele6578]

You ought to sign Mikes name yourself, then whiteout half of it. Lol

[@BggstHm]

I heard the car was in early episodes of I dream of Jennie before Dean worked his magic

[@styldsteel1]

I don't know. it's a super cool car, but I don't know if I'd really want to drive this thing around. lol

[@BETTERWORLDSGT]

Almost as cool as the Batmobile!

[@OO-tt2ky]

It's cool that hes a good sport about letting people get in the car to take pictures .the car went to the right guy .

[@saldada6928]

noice 66 monkee mobile based loosely on a 19y6 poncho gto!!

[@RodgerE2472]

Nesmith should have signed the damn thing for ya.

[@bmck-8400]

Was the monkees logo actually on the car in the show

[@katsu-graphics5634]

I thought the headlights were "Frenched" not French, meaning they were recessed and got a raised surrounding edge, , , ,

[@simonainscough619]

I think he means they are actually french not compliant in england australia or the us at the time

[@dg-hughes]

I looked it up on the Barrett-Jackon site it was listed for $396,000

[@lisad476]

Awesome.

[@robertbuergermeier8521]

Barris screwed Dean Jefferies out of a ton of money, and took credit for building the car for years.

[@johngrepo9976]

I used to work for Dean Jefferies, he would get pissed when you brought up Barris name..

[@senorkaboom]

Shows today just don't lend themselves to having a theme car. You sorta wonder would a Modern Familymobile would look like? It would probably be a heavily modified Hybrid SUV or Chevrolet Volt that has a solar powered charger.

[@mikepetrilli1438]

Brakes seem spongy

[@TeddieWr]

What a fantastic story. Loved it !! 20Aug20.

[@alexmarshall4115]

lol its like ricky bobbys first speech...'the car handles real good'

[@nestea322]

All that yapping and no sounds from the car, no motor info.. pitiful

[@scottr6394]

And those trumpet exhaust behind the front wheels, fake. Something about that top I don't like, looks like it would blow off at speed. But who am I to say, it is iconic.

[@casualobserver620]

Champagne colored ??? Is that lighter or darker than Pepsi colored? Maybe a mix between 7 up and root beer.

[@indridcold8433]

Mike never liked being a team player. If I were him, I would take the last train to Clarksville to sign it at the station.

[@jaymuzquiz2942]

Dude you are the luckiest man on the whole entire multiverse! What did your wife say when you brought that home and told her how much you paid?

[@edgardagosto1917]

Where is the 8track stereo Muntz unit.

[@chrishathaway7054]

that's the coolest kyyyyyyyyaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrr

[@loutomassetti910]

How much did you buy it for?

[@samiam5557]

I built the model kit as a kid. (a Birthday gift, and I thought it was stupid looking myself.....ruined a nice GTO)

[@undefinedname1398]

I'm old enough to say I watched it not in reruns. I saw it was on satellite again so I watched about 5 minutes of it and it was terrible. However I never missed an episode when I was younger. Apparently Mike Nesmith is just too good to sign, I thought he was dead.

[@carlahubbs8833]

I'm sure that car is fun to ride into.

[@geirmyklebust]

I got FLASHBACKs.

[@craigmonteforte1478]

i always thought it was one of George’s coolest ones and that says a lot !Congratulations on the ownership !

[@dennisduran8500]

Not Barris, Jeffries

[@raythackston1960]

This is the second car that Barris built. The original was built by dean Jeffries.

[@martinharris5017]

Both were built by Jeffries. Barris desecrated... err..restored this one. Thankfully the other one is in original condition.

[@techmaven5900]

Caaar?

[@frankmachado1010]

Its look to be made from the 1967 gto, very nice car, i owned one back in the 80's...enjoy..

[@osamablowz]

Drew Blowz

[@edwardburgett1094]

GTO hacked up after a TV show what a shame

[@pl5624]

There is supposed to be no rear suspension on the car...how would that ride...?

[@johngrepo9976]

A little springy.

[@mcshagger510]

Here is the Barrett Jackson auction: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXTdmWBsm7aaY7M $360k was the winning bid, but those auction fees.... www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1966-PONTIAC-GTO-MONKEEMOBILE-61181

[@theedrstrangelove]

This was made from Major Nelson's GTO from i dream of jeanie.

[@charleswillsonpeale5739]

+theedrstrangelove No it wasn't. That's an urban legend. Listen to the video one more time. He said this car is one of TWO. That's right, GM swung a deal with the studio for 2 GTO's. No Tony involvement.

[@Kagaines]

+Charles Wilson Peale I read that too. Made from a wrecked version of Major nelsons car.

[@charleswillsonpeale5739]

You guys have a search engine, sheesh... Many of you already know the story of the Monkeemobile, but for those just tuning in, we’ll lay it all out here. First off, there were actually two cars built. The one you see here is the No. 1 car and it was used in the filming of the original TV series and in the 1997 TV reunion special, Hey, Hey, It’s the Monkees. A second Monkeemobile was built as a promotional vehicle, and it toured the country in support of the show. It was identical to the first vehicle except it came from the factory with air conditioning. It was displayed at shopping centers and fairs to help promote the show and the Monkees’ merchandising machine. It was not used in the filming of the show because it was always on the road. That one was recently sold at auction by customizer George Barris, who was not involved in building either of these two originals. B etter yet, read this-------> www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/1403-1966-pontiac-gto-monkeemobile/ Keith Gaines

[@johngrepo9976]

No, Dean Jefferies started with a original stock bodied car..

[@dakotalayinlow]

Keep it stiff Mel!!

[@showgirlsaroundtheworldada4484]

Great vlog

[@showgirlsaroundtheworldada4484]

Wild

[@dementedweasel1]

Then I saw this car, Now i'm a believer!

[@alanhumphrey4198]

I get it....

[@jlsspartan]

I am Happy to say Mel is a friend of mine, I have ridden in and driven this iconic car , Mel's enthusiasm is just as this video shows , he is excited to talk to anyone that has questions about his prized possession. He is as real as the car is , you won't find a nicer car guy to talk to. He has this car on the street all summer long in the Detroit area. Especially at the WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE. name doesn'tcome across on here correctly , but I am better known as T-Bucket

[@chado3000]

He reminds me of Tom Bosley.

[@FSEVENMAN]

That's awesome to know thank you for sharing...

[@janbaer3241]

He is the perfect one to own this car.

[@nydeco1234]

Absolutely iconic car from my childhood. I even had the matchbox car with the four monkees figures holding guitars sitting inside. Oh, how I wish I still had that car. The only car that surpasses this is the original Batmobile, but the Monkeymobile comes as close as any other car in the world could possibly come.

[@tompastian3447]

Yes, the Batmobile is the coolest car. There is a reproduction Batmobile in Ohio that came out this year (2023), which is the ultimate TV version of the Batmobile, a "must see video" on youtube. The owner must have spent many thousands of dollars to perfect so many aspects of the original TV series Batmobile, making many of the devices functional. Retractable parachutes and the hidden machine guns behind the bat emblem on the car doors are just some of the refinements.

[@michaeldonlon4312]

Mike Nesmith is a bitter old man. I do hope that he finds peace. He preached it, now Mike let it go and live it.

[@dralfredcarroll9567]

Michael Donlon Did he preach it?

[@jimmysapien9961]

Exactly

[@tinman5322]

@Moon Pie If so, better late than never I suppose. I saw Davy, Mickey and Peter on a handful of tours and it was always a blast. Just a shame that Mike passed all those up.

[@LyraKeltica61]

@@tinman5322 He passed them up because he was never in a band, e found out te hard way and he's embarrassed about being a part of the monkee thing

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Mike disowned the Monkees a long time ago. Sad.

[@michaelcuff5780]

Mike Nesmith has always acted like he was too good for the Monkees. That show made him famous. Some people forget how good they have it. Or where they began.

[@jimmysapien9961]

People forget their roots that’s what it seems like with Mike may he wake up one day I hope it’s not too late!

[@hawkdsl]

Mike Nesmith's family was rich (The creators of "White Out"). He's always had it good.

[@LLS761]

@chris younts The others were lied to as well, but they didn't turn into jerks.

[@kennethbutler1343]

@chris younts EVERYONE in show biz is lied to all the time. Nesmith has had a chip on his shoulder his whole life. I love his songs and he was a good actor in the show, but was and always has been a complete ass as far as being a Monkee goes.

[@stephenbirks6458]

Thats a great car ?..But the dash looks pretty ordinary ?

[@ComputerLearning0]

Looks like the car is in good hands.

[@backroom12]

Why wouldn't he sign the car for you ? What a jerk !!!

[@samdorsey4590]

@RAY DORADO yeah Ray! Thanks to Michael Nesmith's Mother he became well off!!🤔

[@regaltip8A]

@@samdorsey4590 Exactly but he is a loser at heart. Arrogant prick.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

You can hate on Mike but I like the Movie he Directed "Time Rider"

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Mike Nesmith has no obligation to sign the car. Why do you act like he does ???

[@starspangled2206]

@@davidhollenshead4892 , lol...

[@shinethelight01]

This Monkeemobile looks like it was designed by Hanna - Barbera. I could definitely see the cartoon version of this car on Waky Races.

[@tommitchell8425]

The most UNDERRATED BUILDER THERE EVER WAS -MR.DEAN JEFFERIES-RIP

[@jeffking4176]

Second coolest car ever. ( sorry, MunsterMobile beats it). 👍🙂

[@gerrywatson261]

Nah! original Bstmobile does it for me -call tho the Munster mobil is!

[@boogeen1]

Yeah, but you could have a party in this. That what makes it a cooler for me.

[@SPCLPONY]

@@boogeen1 Could you imagine the original Monkees car, Batmobile, and both Munsters cars all at one gathering? THAT would be a party!

[@robertlongwill8856]

Sorry Jeff King the original Batmobile is the best in my view

[@tomryan914]

@@gerrywatson261 Saw the Batmobile at a car show as a kid. These men were driving a unpainted stainless steel Batmobile runner-up, giving kids free passes.

[@234dilligaf]

Boys never grow up. Their toy's just get more expensive.

[@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203]

Congratulations. The Monkee Mobile and the Bat Mobile are the coolest TV cars ever. Just mu opinion.

[@headshotsongs9465]

True. Both captured certain feelings.

[@ol59kafer92]

Dont forget the Munster mobile and dragula

[@downriverhawks12u71]

It's a nice kaaar, but I heard it has spongy brakes. 😀😀

[@terrysmith6428]

he always was an ass .but when his mother made a fortune inventing liquid paper i think it was an selling it to big company for big money he just got a little worst .but yea if he was there with the car he should have sign it .

[@1955Cal]

I remember daydreaming at Sunday mass, that The Monkees were waiting outside of church for me in that car. I always liked that show as a kid and would watch it after school and thought The Monkees were so cool! Brings back nice memories of my youth when times were much simpler and happier!

[@sidebarrecon2201]

I read that when Jeffries delivered the car to Screen Gems the blower actually worked and Mike Nesmith got in and blew past the producers , tires smoking and at a high rate of speed. They said call Jeffries back and tell him to get that damned thing off there.

[@martinharris5017]

True story! They also had NO rear suspension to make the car burn out easier. They took the thing back to Jeffries for a fake blower to make the car more manageable. When Barris acquired the car he (typically) insinuated that he was the car's creator!

[@donbrynelsen2157]

The story I heard was that Nesmith almost crashed the car when he lost control during a shot requiring the guys to pile in and take off in a cloud of tire smoke.

[@johngrepo9976]

All true stories, Dean told me the same story way back when I worked for him.

[@johngrepo9976]

I despised George Barris for taking credit for Dean Jefferies cars

[@johngrepo9976]

There are scenes of Dean Jefferies actually driving the car during the tv show

[@frisius99]

Dean Jefferies place was located at 3077 Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood. I use to see it often from the freeway going over the Cahuenga Pass on the 101 in the 60's. It was always parked out in front with his other custom cars. I have to say, this version and the logo look a little different.

[@johngrepo9976]

I use to work for Dean Jefferies, a great time in a young car guys life!

[@lordterra1377]

Makes me happy to see he actually drives it.

[@cybervision_1]

I've heard Mike Nesmith is a little spongy just like the brakes on this car.

[@stephendavidbailey2743]

I entered a contest to win this car in 1966. I won a pair of shoes. I love the Monkees.

[@stephendavidbailey2743]

@chris younts That was over 50 years ago. Those shoes are long gone and I remembered them only because of this Monkeemobile video.

[@johnnorris5014]

This isn't the one used in the show ....this is Monkeemobile #2 It was used in promo appearances ....Rebuilt by Barris ....and with the upgrades he did ....not very original The one ( Monkeemobile#1)used in the show is in NJ

[@TS-ef2gv]

I was just a kid in the '60s but remember this show well in its original run on NBC because of my big sister who was in high school at that time. She loved the Monkees, bought all of their albums, etc, and never missed the show. I thought they were kind of funny, but being a car guy even back then I mostly watched it hoping to catch a rare glimpse of the Monkeemobile. In general, being #6 of 7 kids, I would have been too young and missed out on most '60s pop culture as it happened if it hadn't been for my older brothers and sisters. I experienced and remember most of it because I got to see and hear it through their eyes and ears. The Monkees to this day remind me of my sister as a teen. We lost to cancer back in 2002 when she was in only her 40's.

[@jessec.459]

Barris doing an upholstery job and installing a stereo doesn't constitute a custom build! He took way to much credit for other peoples builds!

[@martinharris5017]

Agreed. Barris was a rogue.

[@Timeline916]

Happy to see you own that piece of automotive and rock history, it was obviously fate.👍

[@alibarakat2319]

I am very proud of this caeeeear

[@JOECANDELA22]

this guys gotta be originally from upstate NY. That is a central NY accent if I ever heard one.

[@johnmca5643]

He'd be a fun guy to sit down and have a beer with.

[@leee3880]

It looks like a great car to cruise in with some friends.

[@neilsarah48]

Spongy brakes

[@znrgybalance8703]

RIP Peter Tork. Thank you for the laughs!