Dodge St. Regis et al.

[stanhas87]

Dear All:

I know that is a bit after Christmas, but the issue was that - spelling.

I stated that I either wanted a real (1 / 1 scale) Dodge Saint Regis or one of their brochures as consolation prize. I had ebay search for both, and up to this month, nothing was being announced. Hence I did a search on the auction place, and discovered that Saint Regis is also spelt as St. Regis. Consequently, I found all of the car's production (1979 - 1981) literature, and today I received the 1979 year one. Next, the 1980 and 1981, as I wait for the real car to pop out..........

[hemicuda]

Did you ever look into that craigslist ex-CHP Monaco I linked for you in OC? AS close to a St. Regis as you can get, plus the Regis was a pretty weak police car

[stanhas87]

Dear Hemicuda:

I really appreciated your input on the CHP Dodge. The Saint Regis is of interest for me due to the following:

1. Ergonomically speaking, it was one of the best Chrysler Police Vehicles;

2. Is not seen in the streets any longer which makes it a scarce unit;

3. Historically speaking, it was the last real full size sedan ever done by Chrysler, albeit, being as the same size as the 1978 Monaco, it was more of a mid size, but the Diplomat was smaller;

4. It came with a 360 cubic inch, but the State of California, in all of its wiseness, stated that only the 318 cubic inch had to be used, which was a handicap for a such large unit (it was perfect for the Diplomat, albeit some of the latter also had a 360 cubic inch engine choice); hence, the CHP made everything to get rid of them as fast as possible and created the CHP spec Camaros and Mustangs. By all good or bad, it was a vehicle with lots of Historical significance. Canadian RCPM did appreciated their Saint Regis packages, as did other Police Agencies.

The 1974 Monaco and specially the 1977 - 1978 Monaco do rank also very highly on my list as well. So does the 1971 - 1975 Coronets and the Plymouth Sattelites, which I have the pleasure to see in flicks such as Emergency! and Adam 12.

[hemicuda]

OK, now I understand why you like them so much, even if I don't agree with you I prefer the Diplomat or even the Plymouth Gran Fury over the St. Regis...watching old movies such as the original Blues Brothers and all the old cop cars they destroyed makes you think about the "what if?" scenarios. Alot of the old Monacos they destroyed probably had 440 engines--my friend abandoned his '74 Monaco ex-CHP car ("with the cop motor, cop suspension, etc) when it broke down on him.

[stanhas87]

Dear Hemicuda:

Mind you, I also do like the Diplomats (both F and M bodies). I happen to have - as inheritance from my late Uncle - a 1980 Volare (F body) and 1987 Fifth Avenue. Volare has to be rebuilt, and it was 'cured' of its stalling issues, which in real life was never resolved by Chrysler.

It is to be stated that the Diplomat - and the M bodies - are 'Da Rock' kind of vehicle - so tough in fact, that they were barred from Demolition Derby competitions.

CHP just loved theirs, despite being smaller than their accepted minimum size in wheelbase, which at some point it was 122 inch minimum. They got theirs up to 1988 model year, and made a request to Lee Iaccoca to continue production of this unit past the 1989 model year, but the Company's official statement was that they were a fwd company - not really the truth, since they were developing the Viper at the time. Is also to be noted that this vehicle continued up to 1989 with no improvements of any kind, such as fuel injectors and other up-to-date devices that the other Chrysler units had at the time and the controversial front suspension was prone to breakdowns, but that at least was fixed down the line. Alas, History is repeating itself with the Vicky - Police wants its life extended, but at least the Panther Platform saw several improvements, major ones in 1998 and 2003.

There is a M body which also is extra rare in Police Version; the last of the rear-drive Chrysler Le Baron sedans (up to 1981). If my memory do not fail, the Police Version lasted only two years, and was the last Chrysler Make to wear a badge. One can be seen on Ghostbusters II - when the Ghostbusters are digging a (New York) street to find the sludge that is running below the Metropolis. That unit can be seen at least three times in the movie. New York also adored their Diplomats, and had the odd tendency to order cars and parts (such as doors) for them. They got the Diplomat up to 1989 model year.

I am a Chrysler man, yes, indeed.

Nick K

[hemicuda]

I like the Diplomat due to its boxy police car styling. Here in Arizona, I see them going for $800 to $900 on Craigslist, although some people are asking a few thousand as 'collector' itmes.

Personally, I would like to take one of the smogged out 80's cars (even a St. Regis) and drop in one of the many crate motors available from Mopar. An ex-cop car Diplomat would be way cool...I live in Yuma, AZ where there is no smog check so doing so would be possible.

I had a '78 (or '74 ?) Ramcharger with a 440 and 4-speed back in the early 90's which was able to keep up with my '86 5.0 Mercury Capri despite the huge winch on the front. I paid $1000 for that beast (the Ramcharger), and I still regret selling it I ended up trading the winch for a .44 magnum Ruger, and sold the truck for $1000, so i did come out ahead, but also came out behind looking at it philosophically

[stanhas87]

Dear Hemicuda:

In California, a 30 year old vehicle does not need to be smogged, and thanks God, the Volare is one of them. The Catalitic Converter was literally suffocating him, hence the stallings. I got rid of the Catalitic, added duals so it can breathe better and now I have to fix the body since my late Aunt had a collision with it, but is a minor issue. I also will treat it - as I did with my 1975 Coronet Wagon - for rust resistance, since these vehicles are prone to it. The Fifth Avenue is a blast to drive; no mods on it; not really needed. They are really fun vehicles!

Nick K

[jim68cuda]

Nick,
Is this what you're looking for? Its not mine. Just passing along the link. Its in Tennesee and its white.

memphis.craigslist.org/cto/2216689671.html
1979 Dodge St. Regis - $2500 (Millington, TN)

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Date: 2011-02-15, 6:41PM CST
Reply to: [e-mail] [Errors when replying to ads?]

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1979 Dodge St. Regis. 39,000 miles,318 Auto. PS, PB, Electric door locks, Electric windows, eletrick sun roof ,stereo, good tires, nice interior, new exhaust pipe and muffler new brake pads and rotors have been turned .Just changed the oil .This car has only 39000 miles on it . Would make a great daily driver 901-351-8016


Location: Millington, TN


Or maybe this one. Its in Virginia and its maroon.
..
roanoke.craigslist.org/cto/2214897514.html
*****1981 dodge******trade! - $1200 (salem)

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Date: 2011-02-14, 7:58PM EST
Reply to: [e-mail] [Errors when replying to ads?]

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1981 Dodge St. Regis
318 auto, runs good!
under 130k miles
everything works
in really good shape, just paint faded
good on gas!

call/text 540-553-5872
have more pictures if wanted
******interested in trading for a manual trans car/truck/suv but open to all offers********

thanks, God bless!



Location: salem
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

[Christian]

Hope you don't mind that I have separated these posts from the original thread for better readability.

[stanhas87]

Dear Jim68Cuda:

It is perfect, really, I will contact these people and see what happens. Happy to see one of these for sale.

Nick K

[stanhas87]

Dear Christian:

Thank you, really. It is now a very nice thread and not an off-topic issue.

Nick K

[jim68cuda]

Nick,
If neither the one in Tennesee nor the one in Virginia works out for you, just keep doing a seach on the Jaxed Mash site every week or so. Eventually one will turn up for you.
www.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/mash.cgi?cat=cp&itm=dodge+regis&loc=&fil=&ys=1976&ye=1985&ps=&pe=&pgs=100&submit=++++go++++
The seach pulls up most ads nationwide on Craigslist, Kijiji, and e-bay in a single search. The white one came up with a search for Dodge Regis or St Regis, but the maroon one only came up using a search for Dodge for a particular model year. I noticed the maroon one about a month ago, but it was after the ad expired, so it looks like its back on there.
Jim

[hemicuda]

Sorry that my off-topic banter got us kicked off the main threads down to here ;D

It's interesting seeing that old pre-demolition derby/future junk yard darlings are now asking semi-collector car sums, LOL

Coincidentally, two of the cars I keep an eye out for on both and L.A.'s and Phoenix's Craiglist are mid to end of the line Diplomats and Gran Furys-the Fury's mainly because the name sounds so cool I saw one ad for an '87 Gran Fury last summer for $700 out of Phoenix, but it wouldn't pass smog ('I don't need no stinkin' smog-check' so was to my advantage) which I 'lost' out on due to me having the summer off (teacher) and traveling back to L.A. to see family for extended time periods. There was a white '85 Fury out of Tucson that had been used in a movie as a police car which was advertised for $1000 2 or so years ago which I should have bought...

I missed out on one of those rare '86 McLaren Capri convertibles for $1k over Thanksgiving out of L.A. so I need to adjust my tactics!!

And yes, I still look out for any year Ramchargers--especially the $800 ones that won't pass smog. If I had a spare $3k, I could have even bought a '74 440 4-speed version about 6 months ago

[stanhas87]

Dear All:

Oh, look, Ma, this video made me want one..............

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sniBCAj0aOs

Is interesting to notice that some pictures from this videos comes from the Saint Regis Brochure, T.J. Hooker and other flicks, Indiana State Museum and there is a shot of the Canadian version of the Regis.

Honorable Mentions includes shots of my personal favorite, 1978 Dodge Monaco; there is also a 1970 Coronet Police sedan which is also impossible to see in real life and the blue 1974 Monaco in the end of the video is participating in a Vintage Police Car Parade.

Very nice video!

[cny187]

I had a '79 Chrysler Newport, it was a nice car, actually a great car, I got it in 2000 with 60K on it from the original owner that was in his 90's. I only drove it a few years before it rotted out, the winters here in "upstate" central New York are terrible on older cars... Loved the hard top, it was my winter car while i stored my '72 Dart sedan, which wasn't really worth storing. it had a 318 and as my buddy once said, "the sun under the hood" for head lights. Paid $1,600.00 for it and ended up selling for $100 to a guy that wanted it for a demolition derby... Got stolen once out of a strip joint parking lot, the only drove it around the corner and left it... they tried to open the trunk with a screw driver and hammer, but didnt get in... If gas wasn't 3.40 a gallon here, I would get another one for a daily driver...