Monica (automobile)

Monica 560
Overview
Manufacturer Monica
Production 1973–1974
Body and chassis
Class Luxury car
Body style 4-door saloon
Layout FR layout
Powertrain
Engine 5560 cc V-8
Transmission TorqueFlite automatic
5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,770 mm (109.1 in)
Length 4,955 mm (195.1 in)
Width 1,820 mm (71.7 in)
Height 1,330 mm (52.4 in)
Curb weight 1,850 kg (4,080 lb)

Monica was a brand of luxury cars created in France in the 1970s by Jean Tastevin, a French industrialist whose wife's name was Monica.[1]

Monica was the last attempt (after Facel Vega) to create a luxury brand in France. Its only French competitor was the Citroën SM Opéra, the sedan which was built by Chapron.

Although intended to be built in France, design, development and prototype building was entrusted to Chris Lawrence at C.J. Lawrence Consultants of Hammersmith, London, England. The 4-door, 4-seat saloon featured a De Dion rear suspension.

The earliest prototype Monicas were powered by a Ted Martin designed 3.4l V8 engine but later prototypes and the production model were equipped with a Chrysler 5.6 l (340 in³) V8 engine. Advertised transmission options were the Chrysler Torqueflite system or a ZF 5-speed manual gear box.[1]

The Monica 560 was presented at the Salon de Paris 1972 and production began in 1973 at a facility located in Balbigny, Loire. Only 8 production cars (as well as 22 prototypes) were completed before the factory closed in 1974, a victim of the 1973 oil crisis.

A plan by Panther Westwinds to resume production in England was announced in March 1975[2] but never implemented.

See also

Gallery

Sources and further reading

  1. 1 2 Daily Express Motor Show Review 1975 Cars. October 1974. p. 30 (Monica). Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ "Motorweek: Three lanes to two". Motor. 22 March 1975. p. 24.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, January 08, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.