Monkfish cars

[stu vxr]

My car was one of the last Monkfish cars to be supercharged amongst other mods which was carefully planned and executed over a period of many years.

I own a Monaro, it's been a while now since the fish closed but I wonder how many of us appreciate just how good Roger and Andy were, today my car is still perfection and everything I ever wanted from a car, it was worth every penny because every mod I chose worked, but more importantly developed and proven by the fish.

Thoughts please as I own a very special car, and without the fish it wouldn't have been possible.

[Lincsls1]

Glad to hear you're still so pleased with your car. Is yours the 5.7VXR like mine? Tell me your cars spec so I can shamelessly copy you!...
Monkfish are certainly missed, really wish they would return. The drive in drive out solutions they offered were great.

[stu vxr]

Lincsls1 said:

Glad to hear you're still so pleased with your car. Is yours the 5.7VXR like mine? Tell me your cars spec so I can shamelessly copy you!...
Monkfish are certainly missed, really wish they would return. The drive in drive out solutions they offered were great.

I have 6.0 litre VXR ls2 spec is
2300 magnacharger
LS7 clutch with remote bleed
AP brake kit with braided lines
Wortec headers, sport cats, cat back system
Quick rack, front end pack
Rear end pack
Pedders coilovers
Ripshifter.
Wortec map

Have missed a few bits am sure, and they did many cars which were better Speced than mine, was going for a cam but was to late as they were closing, that would have just given me the best for my set up, otherwise very happy.

[Lincsls1]

Sounds sweet!
Would love my car to get to something like that stage. Could easily blow £10k on it.

[Yertis]

I think I miss Monkfish even more than the Monaro. The most professional specialists I've ever had to deal with – I wish there was someone like them for Audis.

[vxr2010]

I totally agree , big shame their doors have shut , it was a one stop shop to sort all issues

[JimV8]

Awesome online store for parts too and quick delivery. Shame the other place (that has its online store ready to go) won't put it online.

[ARAF]

I have much to thank Monkfish for - including replacing the engine and gearbox on our VXR8 in under 2 weeks, after the very public blow-up at Cottesmore.

Their closing is one reason why we no longer have the ute. No disrespect to the work Neil Johnson at NWJ has done for us, we had also reached the end of the journey. Supercharging was the only way forward and we really didn't want to start on that road.

[stu vxr]

Completely understand why they had to close, think it was journey end for them to for the right reasons.

I was one of the late one's to get to know them as it took years to save up to go and visit.

Bought loads of bits early on via online order which by the way was superb.

Would love to see all the cars they have ever done in one place.

[JAMESHSV1]

ARAF said:

I have much to thank Monkfish for - including replacing the engine and gearbox on our VXR8 in under 2 weeks, after the very public blow-up at Cottesmore.

Their closing is one reason why we no longer have the ute. No disrespect to the work Neil Johnson at NWJ has done for us, we had also reached the end of the journey. Supercharging was the only way forward and we really didn't want to start on that road.

That's a shame you sold the ute ian

[selondonman]

so would you buy a monaro or an old e63 ... the servicing and parts seem to be the big concern for me

should any decent local garage be able to service a monaro ?

as i want to buy a supercharged version .. ongoing maintenance seems the issue

i am se london / kent borders .. any suggestions

[SturdyHSV]

selondonman said:

so would you buy a monaro or an old e63 ... the servicing and parts seem to be the big concern for me

should any decent local garage be able to service a monaro ?

as i want to buy a supercharged version .. ongoing maintenance seems the issue

i am se london / kent borders .. any suggestions

Anyone would be able to service a Monaro, they're blody simplistic under there As for an E63... I mean I don't know this for sure, but if I was a betting man I'd wager servicing an old £90k Mercedes is going to cost you a LOT more.

[RipGMH]

SturdyHSV said:

Anyone would be able to service a Monaro, they're blody simplistic under there .

I agree, plus lots of parts in Oz. Not too much goes wrong. Worse thing seems to be the insufficient rust protection for UK roads.

[mfp4073]

selondonman said:

so would you buy a monaro or an old e63 ... the servicing and parts seem to be the big concern for me

should any decent local garage be able to service a monaro ?

as i want to buy a supercharged version .. ongoing maintenance seems the issue

i am se london / kent borders .. any suggestions

These cars are really polar opposites to each other. These days the Monaro is an old car, no matter when it was actually registered the cars were built in 04- 06.
The technology in the Monaro is basic to none existent. The main issues you will have is trying to find one that's been looked after and isn't rusty underneath.
Spare parts for the interior and body as well as some glass are very difficult if not impossible to source. Mechanically the parts supply is good, apart from the T56 gearbox which can be difficult to obtain some parts.
I don't know a lot about your other option, other than the fact it was expensive when brand new and the parts will be expensive now. I would imagine only a well equipped workshop could service or repair an e63.
I seem to recall that cars built before 2012 had cylinder head bolt issues? causing engine failure. You would be better asking on the Mercedes forum before making your decision.
I suppose it depends on your budget, but I really wouldn't bother with a cheap version of any of your intended cars. You have to do a lot research on cars like these, they are likely to have been driven hard.
Good luck.
John

Edited by mfp4073 on Friday 30th August 15:06

[Aitch H]

selondonman said:

so would you buy a monaro or an old e63 ... the servicing and parts seem to be the big concern for me

should any decent local garage be able to service a monaro ?

as i want to buy a supercharged version .. ongoing maintenance seems the issue

i am se london / kent borders .. any suggestions

As others have said Monaros are very simple engines, it’s a small block Chevy that uses push rods, essentially 1950’s technology, and you’re in close proximity to Neil at NWJ Autocare in Rochester. He built my first Monaro and looks after my current one and knows these cars well, he also bought a lot of Monkfish’s old stock when they closed down so has bits, and knows where/who to get bits so you’d actually be well catered for. As for the E63....I’d be more concerned about running one of those than a supercharged Monaro.

[Aitch H]

JAMESHSV1 said:

ARAF said:

I have much to thank Monkfish for - including replacing the engine and gearbox on our VXR8 in under 2 weeks, after the very public blow-up at Cottesmore.

Their closing is one reason why we no longer have the ute. No disrespect to the work Neil Johnson at NWJ has done for us, we had also reached the end of the journey. Supercharging was the only way forward and we really didn't want to start on that road.

That's a shame you sold the ute ian

It’s a shame you sold your Monaro James, If I hadn’t just bought my second one at the time I would have had that without a second thought, I couldn’t have bought the parts for what you sold it for let alone actually build it.

[jet_noise]

I went from Monaro to CLS63 (then C63).
Monaro is your Aussie mate who takes you down the pub, gets you drunk then chats up your girlfriend.
Mercs are very, very fast German accountants.

i'm pleased to have experienced both cars. CLS marginally my favourite for the steroidal yet smoother-than-Joe Smooth-in-a-smoking jacket-sitting-in-his-armchair-quaffing-Armagnac-&-smoking engine in a discretely handsome body.

On maintenance. None of the cars failed to proceed. Monaro had more niggles but were sorted as they were cheap. Mercs could have been very expensive had I not lived with theirs.

[JAMESHSV1]

Aitch H said:

It’s a shame you sold your Monaro James, If I hadn’t just bought my second one at the time I would have had that without a second thought, I couldn’t have bought the parts for what you sold it for let alone actually build it.

I spent a fortune on it

[hammo19]

As most of you know we lived 1 mile away from the Fish and had the CV8, R8, Ute and GTSR looked after by the chaps. They were brilliant. We used to hear you lot driving to the Fish along the A421 early in the morning and I would often wave to some of you when I was on my way to work.

We were so traumatised by the Fish closing we moved to the North East. I still have the Ute and GTSR but they are stored away at the moment.

I am currently getting my kicks from a W12 but I do miss the old days of MK and the Fish. You never knew what might be parked out the front and it was fun to put the cars/registration numbers to Pistonheads profile names.

[ARAF]

JAMESHSV1 said:

That's a shame you sold the ute ian

The time was right and an Aston was calling / finally affordable so my efforts of the past year have been to reach that point. Still got some vehicles to sell but I keep putting that off....