My '65 Monza Convertible project

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CarMel
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:03 pm
Location: Oconomowoc. WI

My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by CarMel »

This how it was sitting when I first saw it. It had survived a barn fire, with a lot of upper scorching, but still ran ok. The owner was offering it free, with a title to a good home, so I jumped at the chance.Image
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Scott H
Site Admin
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Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:21 pm
Location: Hesperia, CA

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by Scott H »

WOW..Holy Smokes (literally! hahhaa)...But it runs, that's more than I can say for my "as found" project.
Scott
1960 Monza Coupe
1965 Evening Orchid Corsa Turbo (project)
1961 Rampside (project)
1964 Spyder coupe (patina car, running)
1964 faux Spyder (project/parts car)
1964 Monza (parts car)
1963 Monza (parts car)
CarMel
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:03 pm
Location: Oconomowoc. WI

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by CarMel »

Right, extremely rough, but work with me here and you'll see things slowly get better. The first thing I did was add some fresh wheels and tires, just so it would be a bit easier to look at. You remember the '85 Buick T-Type wheels? They look pretty good on an LM and blend well with the design of the cooling fan, too.Image
CarMel
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:03 pm
Location: Oconomowoc. WI

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by CarMel »

It rolled so much easier with the new tires, that I was able to get it inside and up on the jackstands. I hadn't owned a Corvair since '77, so it was a real trip back in time, as I removed parts and got the body stripped down. It was originally built in Los Angeles, so it's probably less rusted than it could have been, located here in Wisconsin.
Image
CarMel
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:03 pm
Location: Oconomowoc. WI

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by CarMel »

By this point, I had decided that so much would have to be bought for the car to be 'as original', that I came at this from a different angle and decided to make it a project car, with an alternate body style. So the cutting began...
Image
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Scott H
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Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by Scott H »

WoW! Impressive! You've done a ton of work. This is going to be a very nice build, thanks for keeping us up to date!
Scott
1960 Monza Coupe
1965 Evening Orchid Corsa Turbo (project)
1961 Rampside (project)
1964 Spyder coupe (patina car, running)
1964 faux Spyder (project/parts car)
1964 Monza (parts car)
1963 Monza (parts car)
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Phil Dally
Posts: 817
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:47 am

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by Phil Dally »

Wow indeed..lots of work.

Are you doing a tilt nose?
CA Central Coast
Vairy V8 Rides Again.
LA Angels fan since 1978
World Series Champs 2002
Only Own 10 Corvairs Today
Been Associated With Fifty!!
CarMel
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:03 pm
Location: Oconomowoc. WI

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by CarMel »

I shortened the platform, removing 15" and butting the sills back together, since there will be frame tubes above and below, which will bear the main loads. At 93", it's basically the same wheelbase as a Porsche 911. The floor was rusty and I needed to sit lower anyway, so it was cut away.
Image
I got down to some foam body plug forming, using the Monza SS as my basic inspiration, but upsizing it to fit the width of the production Corvair chassis. The front and rear fiberglass clips will be removable, to make the chassis more easily serviced.
Image
Here, the body is pretty well shaped and I've moved up to 17" wheels and tires. The windshield plug will provide both the full-height and cut-down plexiglass panels. The 'roll bar' section will be a separate, bonded part, just like on the original car.
Image
CarMel
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:03 pm
Location: Oconomowoc. WI

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by CarMel »

You know the SS will never be available at any price we could afford!

The size thing worked out really well. In order to fit the LM track and stay in proportion, the entire body was sized 6% larger than the original, and that oversize gave me a wheelbase of 93", which will give the car better overall balance. As a bonus, the interior now fits full size adults, too!

Mel
b-vair
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:13 am

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by b-vair »

Another WOW!!!

On a side note did you take any close up shots of the front rockers, door/windshield posts? I've got a lot of work to do to my '66 vert.
4carbcorvair
Corvair of the Month
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Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by 4carbcorvair »

Wholy crap!!! :o

Awsome!!!
1966 Corsa convertible, 140, 4sp.
1965 Monza Convertible, 110, PG.

Dirigo Corvair group.
http://www.dirigocorvairs.net/
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SpyderMan
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:14 am
Location: Durham NC

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by SpyderMan »

Mel, I love the progress pictures. Do you think you might be up for a visit in person some time? It is going to be a long winter here in good old WI. :lol:
Sam Russell
1962 Monza Wagon
1964 Monza Spyder
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mlevair
Posts: 189
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:47 pm

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by mlevair »

Simply Amazing!!!

Michael LeVeque
Michael LeVeque
LeVair Performance & Restoration
Anderson,IN
765-617-9307
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Chrissy
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:54 pm

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by Chrissy »

Wow, and I thought my corvair looked pretty bad and rusted when I looked at it. But I'm sure it is now a beau! :D
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cad-kid
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Location: Kronenwetter, WI
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Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by cad-kid »

Wozer! :eek: The wheels are sharp. As is the body you have planned.

Keep up the great work!
Jeremy (cad-kid)
Kronenwetter, WI (Central Wisconsin)
SOLD 9-2016 65 Monza 4spd/140
My 65 Monza thread
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Trip
Posts: 940
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:59 pm
Location: Lake Ariel, PA

Re: My '65 Monza Convertible project

Post by Trip »

I saw this car in person, painted and beautiful in Detroit at the DACC homecoming... it is beautifully done.. the bodywork is straighter than a brand new Corvette!

Now that I see how he went about building it, I've got all kinds of ideas of my own.

Incidentally, from what I saw the whole body was done in carbon fiber!!!
Ray "Trip" Rodriguez III
Gouldsboro, PA
66 Corsa 140 coupe
65 Corsa 180 Turbocharged coupe
64 Monza Convertible
61 Air conditioned Monza coupe (Missy's)
See them here: https://tinyurl.com/ydc7txrf
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