[1969] Group Status
marshmountain .
marsh.mountain at gmail.com
Wed Jun 11 12:57:40 EDT 2014
Good afternoon Steve,
As a late-comer to this party (relatively speaking), I will plead guilty,
as it has been nearly a year now since I had purchased my 1969 Monza
Convertible (140 HP, 4-speed), No. 4496, and I have not yet submitted to
the "powers that be" (you?) a history of myself, or my '69 Monza.
So I guess better late, than never:
I purchased my first Corvair, a 1965 Monza Convertible, before I could
legally drive in New York state (where I grew up, and currently live).
At my Dear-Departed Dad's encouragement, I bought my '65 Monza (Gold
exterior, black top & interior, 110HP, powerglide) at the age of 14, at the
princely sum of $100. (This was back in 1974, so it was a bit of cash for a
14-year old kid who worked cutting lawns to make money... at $5 a lawn it
was a bargain for the homeowners, not for me, however I digress...).
I should state for the record that my Dear-Departed-Dad was what I would
call a "major motorhead"... He owned at the time when I bought the Corvair;
an Amphicar (which he bought new in NYC when the company was going
bankrupt, in 1967), a 1967 Lincoln 4-door convertible, and a 1965 Plymouth
Barracuda. He had owned multiple Crosley's (Hotshot & SuperSports), a Fiat
850 Coupe, a Hillman Minx, a few Sunbeam Alpines, De Soto's, etc... But he
thought that the Corvair would be a perfect first car for me. My Dad was
(by the way) the original founder of the Amphibious Auto Association of
America... back in the 1970's I believe. During the "Jimmy Carter Gas
Crisis" years, he had a flag on the back (where the nautical flag would
normally be) which said: "ENERGY CRISIS SOLVED, THIS CAR RUNS ON WATER!"
But back to Corvairs...
The '65 did not run, and we towed it home (about 10-miles or so) with my
neighbor's (wait for it...) Ford Pinto. Luckily, the Corvair had working
brakes!
That was about the only thing it had going for it...
The motor was blown (I think hole thru the block, don't quite remember),
the front floor was rusted, the right front fender was quite bashed-in, the
top was ripped (and the interior was trashed because of the ripped top).
But is was all mine.
I quickly got a Clark's catalog, and after realizing how much engine parts
would cost me (not to mention all of the other required bits and pieces, I
started thinking about Plan B... another Corvair to get parts from.
Lo and behold, within a month or so, on the ride home from school on the
bus, I spied a blue coupe in a local car dealers back lot (Geis Motors,
formally on Old Route 6 in Shrub Oak, NY). I walked there during lunch one
day, and after inquiring about the car, I was able to strike a deal: $60
for the car, including having it flatbed to my house.
A week or two passed (I had to earn more money), and finally there is was,
deposited next to my gold Monza... a 1966 Corsa 140HP Coupe. Blue, with a
mint black interior. It had been an abandoned car, and Geis had a contract
with the Town of Yorktown Heights to pick up "junkers", so it had no
transferable registration with it, just a bill of sale/receipt. After a
week or so of tinkering with my friends (my Dad worked nights, so I really
only saw him on weekends), we were able to get the Corsa running. If I
remember correctly, I borrowed parts from the Monza just to get the Corsa
into a semi-running condition (plugs, wires, points, etc). Keep in mind, I
was on a real tight budget.
Once running okay, I then proceeded to swap the drive-train from the Corsa
into the Monza (learning as I went along), using nothing but a small floor
jack, jackstands, and blocks of wood for the engine/drivetrain swap.
I then swapped the wiring harness, and installed the Corsa dash, as well as
the rest of the Corsa interior into the Monza.
A set of LOUD headers from Clark's, as well as a new convertible top (which
I installed myself with help from a good friend - who is still a good
friend 40-years later), and by the time I turned 16-years old (on a
Sunday), I was ready to register the Monza the next day!
I had a lot of enjoyable memories with that Monza, and drove it a few years
in High School. I eventually sold it, and went thru a progression of
numerous other LM Corvairs (mostly coupes), and a few EM Corvairs (a
4-door, a Monza Coupe with a 4-speed, and a Spyder Coupe (sans turbo motor,
but with a 110 HP motor, which ran great).
Eventually, after about 10-15 years of almost constant Corvair ownership, I
had sold my last Corvair, and drove other assorted, interesting vehicles
(Triumphs, Sunbeams, Barracudas, Izuzu I-Mark Turbo, Jeep Grand Wagoneers,
to name but a few).
But eventually, the siren song of the Corvair called me back, and last year
I finally brought another Corvair back into my life... my 1969 Monza
Convertible, No. 4496.
I purchased the Monza from a very nice gentleman from Northern New Jersey,
who had owned it since approximately the late 1980's, and who was a good
steward for the Vair, as I hope to be as well.
So now you know my Corvair story, from start, to, well, not finish, since
I'm not finished yet, so from start, to now.
I hope to make the Air-Cooled in the Orchid Event in Ct. later this year.
PS: Just picked up a 1966 Corsa Coupe parts car... mainly for a spare
drive-train, as well as the telescopic steering column, and numerous small
parts (the body is very rusty). Same color, Garnet Red I believe.
Attached is a photo of my 1969 Monza from the previous owner (pre-2001, not
sure of exact year), and from last fall, after I put on "new" old wheels
(Pontiac TA wheels)
Respectively yours... and a bit tardy with my "Bio",
Peter Marsh
Hudson Valley, NY
1969 Monza Convertible / 140HP, 4-speed
1966 Corsa Coupe / 140 HP, 4-speed
On Wed, Jun 11, 2014 at 12:00 PM, <steven at sashimi.org> wrote:
> Folks, I would like to dispel the notion that people are missing out on
> all of the group action because they're not on Facebook. The simple and sad
> truth is that there is virtually no group activity, here, on Facebook, or
> anywhere to my knowledge. A handful of us tried to keep things going and
> succeeded for a time but we have given up on trying to create a newsletter
> out of thin air. If any among you would like to take on the tasks I'm sure
> the most recent group of officers would gladly pass the batons. Dave, John,
> and Jim did a great job and we owe them our thanks for that. I think we've
> given it our best shot and I have no qualms about letting others give it a
> try.
>
> Steve Brown
> President (of record)
> 1969 Corvair Group
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Jun 11, 2014, at 9:57 AM, "Ron" <rlkolb at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> >
> > Hi All
> > I too want the email list to continue and I speek for my friend Will who
> has a 69 too.
> > This Saturday(june14) there is a big Corvair Show at Volo IL, sponsored
> by the Milwaukee Corvair Club and the Chicago Land Corvair club. I'm sure
> there will be a few 69's there. I'll ask them what they think.
> > Ron 4399
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Cavagnaro" <djcav at ptd.net>
> > To: <1969 at corvair.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 8:50 AM
> > Subject: Re: [1969] 1969 Corvair Roster (adding # 6000)
> >
> >
> >> Hi All, I am another vote for the E-Mail list. I do not use Facebook or
> other 'social' media sites...
> >> Dave Cavagnaro
> >>> On 6/10/2014 9:41 PM, David Newell wrote:
> >>> Hi Jim,
> >>> Thanks for your message. It's important that the 69 Group hears
> another vote for keeping email as the main line of communication as was
> promised. Making sure everyone's informed is more important than staying
> "relevant". I think many of us feel left out.
> >>>
> >>> Yes, we all hope 6000 would surface. But to this day the only
> statements as to its fate are from my retiree interviews and I have several
> who say it was scrapped. Everything else written about 6000 is either pure
> speculation or has been written as April Fool stories :o(
> >>>
> >>> Thanks again,
> >>> Dave
> >>>
> >>> --------------------------------------------
> >>> On Tue, 6/10/14, jastranc at juno.com <jastranc at juno.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Subject: Re: [1969] Come see the Clipping I created on Newspapers.com
> >>> To: chevrobilia at yahoo.com
> >>> Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 6:17 PM
> >>> I refuse to get on
> >>> facebook and put up with all the junk and remarks that all
> >>> the people post so I only use email .It appears that new
> >>> trades in 69 continue and maybe number 6000 will surface or
> >>> a new story on it.Jim stranc
> >>> ---------- Original Message ----------
> >>> From: David Newell <chevrobilia at yahoo.com>
> >>> To: rmurray8996 at gmail.com
> >>> Cc: "1969 at sashimi.org" <1969 at sashimi.org>,
> >>> "1969 at corvair.org" <1969 at corvair.org>
> >>> Subject: Re: [1969] Come see the Clipping I created on
> >>> Newspapers.com
> >>> Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2014 19:26:29 -0700 (PDT)
> >>> Hi Rod,
> >>> I don't have any idea what the 69 roster status is, Rod.
> >>> I've heard that� they're coming out with a
> >>> revised version soon. They seem to do�most of
> >>> their�stuff on Facebook because it's
> >>> "relevant". I guess that makes us oddballs who
> >>> ignore Facebook "Notification" emails�or
> >>> don't do FB at all irrelevant�:o)
> >>> I'm used to�being
> >>> irrelevant�though!�Actually my middle initial
> >>> stands for Anachronism.
> >>> Am copying the two email addresses I have for the 69 group.
> >>> Dave���
> >>> ---------- Original Message ----------
> >>> From: Rod Murray <rmurray8996 at gmail.com>
> >>> To: Dave Newell <chevrobilia at yahoo.com>
> >>> Subject: Re: Come see the Clipping I created on
> >>> Newspapers.com
> >>> Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2014 21:27:30 -0400
> >>> Sure could use some info on 69's via registry (i
> >>> don't have a copy) or just breakdown of Olympic gold
> >>> coupes. Yes I have a lead on one I may go look at. Got
> >>> anything I could use?�
> >>> Mobile device...Have a great day!
> >>> �
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> This message was sent by the 1969 mailing list, all
> >>> copyrights are the property
> >>> of the writer, please attribute properly. For help,
> >>> mailto:1969-help at corvair.org
> >>> This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America,
> >>> http://www.corvair.org/
> >>> Membership in CORSA is strongly encouraged for 1969 Group
> >>> members.
> >>> Post messages to: 1969 at corvair.org
> >>> Change your options:
> >>> http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/listinfo/1969
> >>> ____________________________________________________________
> >>> Fast,
> >>> Secure, NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband. Try it.
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> This message was sent by the 1969 mailing list, all copyrights are the
> property
> >>> of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, mailto:
> 1969-help at corvair.org
> >>> This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America,
> http://www.corvair.org/
> >>> Membership in CORSA is strongly encouraged for 1969 Group members.
> >>> Post messages to: 1969 at corvair.org
> >>> Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/listinfo/1969
> >>>
> >>> -----
> >>> No virus found in this message.
> >>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> >>> Version: 2014.0.4592 / Virus Database: 3955/7661 - Release Date:
> 06/11/14
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> This message was sent by the 1969 mailing list, all copyrights are the
> property
> >> of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, mailto:
> 1969-help at corvair.org
> >> This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America,
> http://www.corvair.org/
> >> Membership in CORSA is strongly encouraged for 1969 Group members.
> >> Post messages to: 1969 at corvair.org
> >> Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/listinfo/1969
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > This message was sent by the 1969 mailing list, all copyrights are the
> property
> > of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, mailto:
> 1969-help at corvair.org
> > This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America,
> http://www.corvair.org/
> > Membership in CORSA is strongly encouraged for 1969 Group members.
> > Post messages to: 1969 at corvair.org
> > Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/listinfo/1969
> _______________________________________________
> This message was sent by the 1969 mailing list, all copyrights are the
> property
> of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, mailto:
> 1969-help at corvair.org
> This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America,
> http://www.corvair.org/
> Membership in CORSA is strongly encouraged for 1969 Group members.
> Post messages to: 1969 at corvair.org
> Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/listinfo/1969
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