63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

[pete]

Hello, my name is Pete Borchert and I live in northern Arizona. I have been a "chevy guy" for over 30 years owning and driving mid-year Corvette's and 1st generation Camaro's. I have only owned and driven original/unrestored cars...I prefer these to restored examples. Last September I attended the Lambrecht action in Pierce Nebraska. If not familiar a brief history...The Lambrecht's had a dealership in the small town of Pierce Nebraska. They operated it from 1947 to 1995. For some reason they kept many trade-ins and left over new inventory. Most of these vehicles were stored outside on the family farm to slowly degrade over the many years (sad story) while a select few were kept indoors, untouched. There were about 15 cars that survived in the dealership back service area. about 10 of them being new. I was able to purchase one of these vehicles, a 1963 Corvair Monza. Note: there were about 10 new corvairs (one being a Corvan) being sold, only 2 were indoors the rest left outside to degrade over time, very sad.

This Monza was new and never sold with 17 miles on the odometer. It survived untouched inside the dealership for its entire life, never cleaned or run. This car was never dealer preped... plastic still on seats, no side view mirror installed, antenna not installed and front carpet not installed. This car had few options, 4-speed, L62 engine, WSW tires and manual radio. The car is fully documented with dealer invoice, car shipper, MSO, window sticker (still on car) and passenger car broadcast copy which I found under car between transmission and rear bulkhead.

I trailed the car home and started the process to get this car running and on the road where it belongs. It took me about 4 months to get the car cleaned and to go thru the mechanicals to get things going. I did find the new front carpet and dealer antenna kit in the trunk when I got home after having the car keyed. This new car can now be seen running around northern Arizona. I did document ( picture and video ) the complete "return to service" of this car. There were quite a few folks that indicated that it would take much time and money to get a car running and back on the road after 50 years sitting. Not in this case. There is no restoration done to this car, the exterior, interior and driveline are original, all coatings as delivered from GM! Car runs perfectly as new and is a pleasure to drive. It has no problems here in northern Arizona at 7500 feet altitude. I have proved some pictures of the "journey" over the last 4 months. I have over 1000 photos documenting this car, some unusual things found along the way. I am always available to discuss the process I used to get this car on the road for the first time . Good day.

[Skrain]

WELCOME to the Forum!
All I can say is...BRAVO!!!



If ANYONE ever needs to know what an EM Corvair looked like fresh from the factory, all they will have to do is to refer to your pictures!

[f3racer]

thats awesome!

[Rons64]

That's amazing. Thanks for sharing and thanks for preserving it. One wonders how they chose what stayed inside and what went out to rot.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

Way to go! Good for you and thanks for saving the old girl.

[azdave]

Cool! I just cross posted the story on CC forum too.

[Skrain]

Something tells me we just might have a shoo-in for May's Corvair of the Month...

[Jimmyvonviggle]

I have to agree with Skrain, that shot of the front polished and the back still dirty is great.

[gbarron]

What a great story...you are one lucky guy! It is great to see such a gem actually get used for what it was intended for and not laid up in a collection somewhere!

[joe moore]

Hi Pete I think your jewel of a car should becorvair of the year I totally envy you thanks for showing it to the fourm
Joe

[4carbcorvair]

Awesome!!! And welcome!!! More pictures are always welcomed! Congrats and enjoy. :)

[rv6aaviator]

That's the cats meow! Awesome.

[pete]

thanks for the great comments, more pics to enjoy, pete

[flat6_musik]

OHH, BRAVOOOOO!!!! As was mentioned, thank god you're gonna drive it. Seeing those pics of the brakes, interior and spotless cylinder head.....I'm in awe like someone seeing the 8th wonder of the world. Boy, that red interior sure "pops" doesn't it?! Cooooll!

[6T3EMVERT]

OUTFREAKINSTANDING !!!!

[Nickshu]

OUTFREAKINSTANDING !!!!

+1000. Amazing and thank you so much for sharing those pics. Downright awesome!!