were already being planned. The end The Monica 560 makes its last public appearance at the Paris Auto Salon Paris Auto Show in October 1974. On February 7 of 1975 Tastevin announces the cessation of production and closes the company. Many factors contributed to the failure of the car. It endured a seven-year long gestation period. The car was remarkably expensive while lacking the kind of reputation or recognition enjoyed by other more established marques in this market. It faced competition from many similar-sized low-volume manufacturers. Finally, it had the misfortune to be officially released just as the first major oil crisis made fuel prices jump and large expensive motorcars less desirable. Five Monicas remaining at the LawrenceTune headquarters were sold by Lawrence to Cliff Davis and Bernie Ecclestone, the proceeds being payment for LawrenceTunes work for Tastevin. Lawrence was driving pre-production car #21 at the time. The Tastevins kept three Monicas for their own use. The production assets of the Monica company and as many as thirty cars in various stages of completion were sold to French race driver and Formula One team owner Guy Ligier. Ligier did not resume production. In April 1976 Motor Sport magazine reported an announcement by Bob Jankel of Panther Westwinds that his company and C.J. Lawrence and Co. would resume production of the Monica. C.J. Lawrence and Co. would manufacture sub-assemblies and Panther would assemble, paint and trim the car. Power was elsewhere rumored to be coming from a Jaguar V12 motor. Production would move from Balbigny to Surrey. Nothing came of these plans. Six production Monicas are known to exist. At least three of the prototypes are reported to remain in Britain. Chris Lawrence personally owned a production Monica for several years that was sold from his estate. Gallery Literature Monica - edited by Emory Christer Preston Tucker & Others: Tales of Brilliant Automotive Innovations Monica, automobile française de prestige by Frédéric Brandely. Hardcover (published June, 2012) Monica, automobile française de prestige by Frédéric Brandely. Paperback. Kevin Brazendale: The Encyclopedia of classic cars. Advanced Marketing Services, London 1999, (engl.). A to Z Of Sports Cars 1945-1990. Mike Lawrence by Bay View Books Limited, Published Hardback 1991 and Republished Paperback 1996 Reprinted 1997 and 1998. A Z Of Classic Cars Of The 1970s. Graham Robson by Bay View Books Limited, Published 1990 Reprinted in 1991. References External links http://blog.doctissimo.fr/phedor/monica-belle-oubliee-2266489.html http://www.automobile-sportive.com/guide/monica/560.php https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/a-rare-beauty-223823.html https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/monica-590-1973.304443/ Cars