63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

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pete
Posts: 47
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2014 10:23 am

63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by 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.
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Skrain
Posts: 510
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 1:49 pm
Location: Monticello, Kentucky

Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by Skrain »

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

:welcomeparty:

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!
Last edited by Skrain on Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.
1964 Monza Spyder Turbo Convertible.
1949 Ford 8N Tractor
2006 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4X4 Pickup
f3racer
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2014 1:33 pm

Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by f3racer »

thats awesome!
1968 corvair monza coupe

2010 VFR1200
09 SV650R

/G\ "Always Traveling East"

"Be water, my friend."
Bruce Lee
November 27, 1940- July 20, 1973
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Rons64
Posts: 86
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2011 7:42 pm
Location: Wellsville, NY

Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by 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
Posts: 65
Joined: Thu Nov 28, 2013 11:37 am

Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by Jimmyvonviggle »

Way to go! Good for you and thanks for saving the old girl.
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azdave
Corvair of the Year
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Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by azdave »

Cool! I just cross posted the story on CC forum too.
Dave W. from Gilbert, AZ

66 Corsa 140/4 Yenko Stinger Tribute
66 Corsa 140 Coupe w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR 140/PG w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR EJ20T/5
64 Greenbrier 110/PG, Standard 6-Door
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Skrain
Posts: 510
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 1:49 pm
Location: Monticello, Kentucky

Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by Skrain »

Something tells me we just might have a shoo-in for May's Corvair of the Month... :tu:
1964 Monza Spyder Turbo Convertible.
1949 Ford 8N Tractor
2006 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4X4 Pickup
Jimmyvonviggle
Posts: 65
Joined: Thu Nov 28, 2013 11:37 am

Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by Jimmyvonviggle »

I have to agree with Skrain, that shot of the front polished and the back still dirty is great.
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gbarron
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Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:12 pm

Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by 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!
Glenn B.
Vancouver, BC
1966 Corvair Monza 110/PG in Chateau Slate "Survivair"
joe moore
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Joined: Sat Oct 19, 2013 2:20 pm

Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by 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
1962 rampside #3957
4carbcorvair
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Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by 4carbcorvair »

Awesome!!! And welcome!!! More pictures are always welcomed! Congrats and enjoy. :)
1966 Corsa convertible, 140, 4sp.
1965 Monza Convertible, 110, PG.

Dirigo Corvair group.
http://www.dirigocorvairs.net/
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rv6aaviator
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Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:39 pm

Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by rv6aaviator »

That's the cats meow! Awesome. :tu:
Jeff Sandor
Prez Cincinnati Corvair Club
62 Convertible
63 Spyder Convertible
64 Spyder Convertible
66 Corsa 140 Coupe
66 Monza Coupe
pete
Posts: 47
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2014 10:23 am

Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by pete »

thanks for the great comments, more pics to enjoy, pete
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flat6_musik
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Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by 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!
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6T3EMVERT
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Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by 6T3EMVERT »

OUTFREAKINSTANDING :not worthy: !!!!
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Nickshu
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Re: 63 Monza on the road after 51 years sitting idle

Post by Nickshu »

6T3EMVERT wrote:OUTFREAKINSTANDING :not worthy: !!!!

+1000. Amazing and thank you so much for sharing those pics. Downright awesome!! :chevy:
Nick
1964 Monza Spyder Convertible #435 - Rotisserie restored - SOLD ON BRING A TRAILER 4/30/2019 - Check out my restoration thread here: [corvaircenter.com]
Thanks to all the awesome CCF, CF, COG, and CORSA members who helped me with the restoration!
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