We here at Muscle or Performance Auto Restoration have always wanted a real 74 Monaco Bluesmobile. That has proven to be the toughest car we have ever had to find. After 14 years of searching, we finally found one in North Carolina.

This Monaco started life as a fleet vehicle in Charlotte North Carolina. Once the government was done with her, the car was auctioned and spent the next 20 years shuttling civilians around the countryside. Parked in 2005 due to “using too much gas” she sat in a field to rust away.

Saved by a local Blues Brothers enthusiast, we purchased the car from him in 2016. Once at Muscle or Performance Auto Restoration, the transformation into a correct Bluesmobile started. A new fuel system, brakes, tires and ignition was installed. The fluids were changed and the 400 big block fired right up. A new dual exhaust system was installed, of course to police specifications.

A correct CHP push bar was fabricated from original blueprints, a correct police trunk lid, the correct spot light, correct police rubber flooring instead of civilian carpeting, police spec steering box, torsion bars, sway bars and shocks were all installed. The interior received new seat covers, correct to 1974 police cars.

The body didn’t receive the usual Muscle or Performance Auto Restoration paint job because the original Bluesmobile was supposed to be a decommissioned Chicago police car. The movie car was dirty, beaten up and featured faded paint which is quite hard to reproduce. Doing very little bodywork, the correct paint scheme was applied with much trepidation from Matt.

Correct Mount Prospect decals were applied and the correct BDR 529 license plate was registered which completed the transformation.

We are currently looking for another 1974 Monaco for a friend. He had a decommissioned 74 Monaco police car in High School and has tasked Muscle or Performance Auto Restoration to finding him one so he can relive his youth. Everyone keep your eyen open for us, let us know what you find!