Monogram 1965 Cooper-Ford (Monaco) Assembly Sheet

1:32 Scale Modified Sports / Racing Car

The series of professional sports car races on the west coast in the fall of 1963 saw a new breed of modified sports/racing cars come about. Previously, this series of races was dominated by cars with European powerplants. Now old lap records were falling by the wayside as the American powered specials began to practice. The most notable of these cars was the Cooper Monaco. Four of them to be exact, one with a 4-liter aluminum Buick, one with a 5.4-liter Chevy, and two with 4.7-liter Ford engines.

The Cooper Monaco is an aluminum bodied car, which originally sported a 2.7-liter Coventry Climax engine in the rear, turning out around 240 bhp. The Cooper chassis is made up of mild steel tubing and although it is not a true space frame, it is similar, in that it makes up for triangulation with strength of material. The suspension is derived from the Cooper formula one cars and the stopping action comes from the Girling discs at all four wheels. All in all this was a very impressive combination, but someone always wants to do one better.

The Ford powered Coopers were fielded by Carroll Shelby, being dubbed "King Cobras". Shelby who needs no introduction to the road racing scene, had turned his undivided attention to the all-out modified sports car racing, after he had sewed up production sports car racing for the season with his AC Cobras. The Ford engines were of the Fairlane variety, 289 cubic inches, solid lifters, four dual-throat Weber downdraft carburetors, and tuned exhaust stacks. This combination, in its ultimate state of tune, produced about 370 bhp. Not bad, only 130 horses more than the Cooper was accustomed to. Power was transmitted thru a Huffaker 4-speed transaxle (a combination transmission and quick change rear end). Needless to say this combination proved to be extremely quick and the Cooper-Ford swept the two richest road racing events in the United States (Riverside and Laguna Seca) on two consecutive week-ends.

All of the fine details of this winner have been faithfully reproduced in your Monogram 1:32 scale kit. This kit includes additional plastic parts so that the model may be built in one of two ways. One as a scale display model and the other as a scale slot racing body shell. The display model features bucket interior with shift lever and steering wheel, complete underbody, plated wheels, and rubber tires. The slot racing body shell includes platform interior with driver and steering wheel, chassis mounts, and plated wheel inserts for that complete scale appearance. Also included for either version is a clear windscreen, clear headlight covers, plated racing mirror, and decal sheet with authentic race car emblems.

This Monogram Cooper-Ford was designed from photos and measurements of an actual car. All of the parts were scaled exactly to insure accuracy of detail. Follow the instructions carefully, apply cement neatly, and you will have a car which will be the envy of all your friends.

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