They say imitation is the sincerest type of flattery, and right this moment’s Nice Price or No Dice Custom Cloud flatters Rolls-Royce like no person’s enterprise. Let’s see if this loopy customized Chevy comes with an equally flattering worth.
I Need A Fun And Fuel Efficient Ride | What Car Should You Buy?
Yesterday
While it might have been a uncommon version of a beloved and commonplace automotive, yesterday’s 1991 Volkswagen Golf Country didn’t tee off a lot enthusiasm for its $17,945 asking worth. That proved to be a rabbit gap few of you’ll go down, ending the day with an enormous 86 % No Dice loss.
Britain’s BBC as soon as claimed that the world’s two most recognizable manufacturers are Coca Cola and Rolls-Royce. In the automotive world, Rolls has lengthy engendered a lot reverence that when Lee Iacocca tasked his designers with the styling for the Lincoln Mark III, his path was to “Take a Thunderbird and slap a Rolls-Royce grille on it.” He might have, in actual fact, been sipping a Coke on the time; data from the period are fuzzy.
Today’s 1976 Custom Cloud, nee Chevrolet Monte Carlo, is one other automotive that went the Rolls Grille route as a option to sort of “lipstick the pig.” Once the makers took the automotive in London on the behest of Car and Driver journal, its creators had been efficiently sued by Rolls-Royce for copyright infringement. That resulted in adjustments within the customized automotive’s design in addition to a reputation change.
Despite these efforts, the planets by no means actually aligned for the Custom Cloud’s maker, and the corporate ceased operations after just some hundred kits and full vehicles had been constructed. There’s heaps extra to the background story, however that’ll all have to attend as we presently need to get right down to enterprise on this specific automotive.
![Image for article titled At $18,000, Is This 1976 Custom Cloud The ‘Full Monte?’](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_645/b5d2035664100822a15fd09b56420be3.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
First off, it seems to be in excellent form. The entrance and rear clips that search to emulate British aristocracy movement efficiently into the Monte Carlo’s baroque physique strains, and the adopted ’73 Buick LeSabre entrance bumper is definitely higher trying than Chevy’s manufacturing facility design. And sure, these are actual Lucas back lights within the again, the identical sort employed by Rolls on the time.
On the flip aspect of all that, this automotive’s Kermit-green paint and American Racing Torque Thrust wheels serve to lighten the temper considerably. Also, whereas general seeming to be in good condition, there may be one booger within the bodywork that the vendor laudably factors out. That is the de-lamination of the fiberglass fender from the door jam on the passenger aspect, which is creating a large crack that may solely worsen over time.
![Image for article titled At $18,000, Is This 1976 Custom Cloud The ‘Full Monte?’](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_645/354e2854a059ac1f6fa6b586488184eb.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
When the vehicles first hit the market, the Parthenon grille carried an interlocking “CC” badge and, above that, a knockoff Spirit of Ecstasy hood decoration. You’ll be aware each are lacking on this automotive. That’s seemingly owed to the lawsuit Rolls introduced towards the builder, which required the alternative of these parts even on vehicles that had already been bought. That additionally required a reputation change on the final of the vehicles to “Classic Coach.”
![Image for article titled At $18,000, Is This 1976 Custom Cloud The ‘Full Monte?’](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_645/9e3b6518584272f0baa1a0445c5bf1b9.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
Inside, tright here’s nothing about the cabin that will make this automotive out to be something apart from a Monte Carlo. It is, nevertheless, resplendent in its inexperienced and white vinyl and plastic. Everything appears to be like to be in glorious form and splendidly gaudy as hell.
A 400 CID V8 resides beneath the hood, sitting behind a comically-long fan shroud. The vendor says that the engine’s fluids had been modified final yr when the automotive had a minor tune-up. According to the advert, there are solely 6,000 miles on the clock, and the automotive comes with a clear title.
![Image for article titled At $18,000, Is This 1976 Custom Cloud The ‘Full Monte?’](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_645/c170750f6dc57447bfc1bd6d6b95153d.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
I’m sufficiently old to recollect the difficulty of Car and Driver that featured the Custom Cloud on the quilt. Hell, I nonetheless have it sitting in my dusty journal assortment within the storage. The automotive was splendidly goofy again then and nonetheless is right this moment. What may such smile-inducing goofiness rightfully be value?
![Image for article titled At $18,000, Is This 1976 Custom Cloud The ‘Full Monte?’](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_645/11b3b293ce29d6048b1f833644774b85.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
The vendor is asking $18,000 for this implausible little bit of minor automotive historical past, and it’s now time for us to all vote on how profitable they’ve been in gauging its worth. What do you all assume? Is $18,000 a good worth for this Rolls-aping Monte Carlo? Or is that an excessive amount of for the automotive equal of cubic zirconia?
You resolve!
Richmond, Virginia, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to More Cars Please for the hookup!
Help me out with NPOND. Hit me up at remslie@kinja.com and ship me a fixed-price tip. Remember to incorporate your Kinja deal with.
Source: jalopnik.com