71 monte ss

[Dans '70 Z20]

I know guys that choose to spend thousands of dollars every year on golfing. To each their own but I'm not much of a sports guy and only golf a couple of times a year through work in charity tourneys. I'd rather put the money in to this hobby as I really get a lot of enjoyment from it and this club. It is all about personal preferences and choices but is definitely not an investment IMO. I'll never sell the car so what it is "worth" is a non issue as well. One of my kids or my grandson will inherit a nice classic with a family history. They know what it means to me and hopefully will treat it accordingly....or I will come back and haunt them.

 

Same here. Its not going anywhere until the time comes where it changes hands to someone sharing my last name. I am restoring my car in memory of my dad after hearing a comment he made to his oncologist before passing over 25 yrs ago @ age 50.

 

I always preferred driving a nice old car than a plain Jane new one. Liked the classic lines & chrome. I had a Monte in high school I purchased off original owner who had just redone the body/paint in blk lacquer with show paint/body. Car looked beautiful but had some miles on her. After 1.5 yrs the timing chain slipped and I had the motor rebuilt, dropped it in …. a week later the tranny went, Now car was completely done!! The day after I installed the tranny a lady ran a stop sign and crossed three lanes of traffic and totalled the car. I then bought another Monte to move some of the salvageable parts to but it was never as nice. I was a kid with limited money and body/paintwork was out of my reach.

 

Anyhow, my father never said a kind word for my love for old cars or anything I did with them. He likely wanted to insure I stayed on the education-college path. Well after my Dad passed and I met his oncologist. He asked which son are you? I stated the older one. Thats when he repeated a statement my father made to him that has always stuck with me ……..

 

My dad stated " he was proud of me for all the work I did to that car …….. but better yet ….. that he loved that car!! " Hence my draw to the Monte Carlo …. my careless budget and the reason my car ended up triple black. Same as my old one. I want to think of Dad every time I take her for a spin.

 

Restorations are not solely for the investment potential alone, otherwise many of us would never go down that road, but rather for the memories of our past that we try to regain that make it a "priceless" heirloom for a different reason for each of us. For many of us, it goes much deeper than being just pile of metal with a price tag.

 

Dan

 

If I was:

-a big skier, a hunter, a big drinker or even a pack-a-day smoker I could have spent much more money with little or no asset of value to show for it today. I have no regrets and will enjoy every minute I get behind the wheel.

[Montemedic]

Well said, Dan !!!

[Hisalone]

Ummm....yeah, what Dan said. I'd like to expound on that.....but it's all been said.

[Rob Peters]

Dan, I know of many tribute cars built or restored, and built in memory of a deceased loved one or on honor of someone.

 

I guess you could say my Model A is sort of both. I was 15 when I got it and it was my first car and when I did my father told me his first car was a 29 tudor sedan. Now that he is gon it transformed from an In Honor of to an In Memory of.

Rob

[LostnFound]

Yup...well said Dan. My car being a fully documented Canadian 71 SS (through the GM of Canada Vintage Vehicle Services Dept and the cowl tag)is just a bonus to me. What matters most to me is that it belonged to my late Uncle first (who I was very close to) I even have full documentation that he was the first owner which was easy to get up here through the Dept of Transportation in Ontario. The "abstract" as they call it is a printed document showing all the previous owners of the car since day 1 and how long they owned it. His name and the VIN are hand written by him on the cover of the New Vehicle Warranty Booklet which is still in good condition.

Every single time I drive the car or even just when I'm doing something to it, I think of my Uncle Ron and that to me is priceless.

Like in my Uncle Ron's case, I'm so sorry that you lost your Dad when he was so young.

[LostnFound]

Dan, you could always do a tribute to your dad somewhere on the car. I chose to use a hard plastic spare tire cover off a Kia Sportage. I painted it, trimmed the outer edge with black door trim and then applied the decal which I designed, wrote and applied to the cover. Here's a pic in case you haven't seen it....

 

[ssmonte70]

Fatblock.....I'm sure this thread has run its course but I've been out for awhile due to personal issues -- but I'm back

 

Not all of us are blessed with having documentation to prove the SS package as some of Monte's were built at the GREAT Flint, MI facility (like mine)...at that plant I have heard that the build sheets were destroyed and no one at this time has been able to find a build sheet with a Monte from that facility (please correct me club if I'm wrong)..all my numbers (engine code and vin match up) along with the specifics that would come with the SS package like the air leveler system, boxed control arms, shock protector plates, etc. etc. Just do you homework and you will be fine, I'm sure you've taken the advice of many others in this club with alot more knowledge than I have, hope it all worked out for you and if not, it will in due time.