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Monica
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| Defunct |
Monica was a brand of luxury cars created in France in the 1970s by Jean Tastevin.
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. Final styling and trimming was by David Coward, -ex James Young (coachbuilders) and Motor magazine.
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.
The car 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 not completed.
See also
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