1973 Monte Carlo Landau

[hetman]

Posted November 16, 2008:

This is a yellow-beige (code 81) 73 Landau I picked up nearly a month ago from the port.

First, here are some technical details, starting with the trim tag:

ST 73 1AH57 R 161566 BDY
TR 731 A52 81 F PNT
03A 030527

VIN: 1AH57K3R458042

Build sheet:



This car was bought on March 15, 1973 from O'Reilly Chevrolet in Tucson, Arizona, and spent its entire life there. According to the build sheet, it was a special (customer) order car, but I have no way of knowing of the first owner was the one who ordered it, or if it was ordered by someone else and rejected. The reason I say this is that it was picked up 4 days after signing the bill of sale, and I don't have any evidence the car was ordered by the first owner (it might have been, however). I have all the original documentation, including the original bill of sale, all the registration documents from 1973 onwards, warranty information, and all receipts for the lifetime of the car. The dealer's stock number and date of sale are still marked on the radiator cover! The first owner even kept a log of fill-ups, and noted gas mileage (9-11 mpg!! He must have been flooring it all the time). He took meticulous care of the Monte and wrote down all the details. He was 61 when he bought it and 93 when he sold it to the second owner, a college student in Tucson, from whom I bought it. It is extremely original, in my interpretation of the word, because it is practically as it was when it left the dealership, of course with routine maintenance including a rebuilt engine, transmission, and other mechanical parts, all of which is documented. The paint was still 100% original when I bought it, but before replacing the vinyl top, I had the rear cowl repainted. This is a 6 inch wide strip along the rear window in front of the rear trunk lid. The Arizona sun wasn't too easy on the interior, which shows damage to the dash (cracked) and seats (slightly faded and small tears). Plus, some of the window gaskets must have dried out, since there are some small water leaks when it rains. But, I'm not complaining. A 100% original, undamaged, unrusted, well-maintained Monte with all service records since new. My favorite year Monte. Hard to lose on this one. If I could just convince the wifey not to sell it. I had to "give" it to her not to get into trouble...LOL But even if she does decide to sell it, we'll either use the money toward the house fund, or buy another car and import it. In any case, I have another 74 Monte on the way, which will be mine and I will fight for it, since it's closer to what I've always dreamed of finding: a factory Y-code 454, electric sunroof, bucket seats car. Anyway, back to this 73.

The second owner is a big car nut and already owned a 77 in perfect condition, his first car. He's now 23 years old. He bought the car 4 years ago, and had done lots of improvements to it, such as installing a new carpet, new door gaskets, a new Alpine stereo, and keeping it in perfect mechanical condition. He installed a new power steering pump and dual Flowmasters, along with a new exhaust system on this factory dual exhaust car, from the exhaust manifolds back. He is a fellow member of the yahoo.com 73-77 A-body showcase, and the car had been offered for sale there a year prior to my purchasing it. First I bought the white 73, then eventually decided to buy his after several potential buyers fell through. Ironically, my wife saw the ad and gave me permission to buy it (with the aim of selling it later, I guess). So I negotiated the sale, paying his asking price of $4000 in installments, and in the meantime he also hooked me up with various parts and tools, for which I of course paid extra. It is really hard for me to find people to help me get parts and tools over here, so it was a blessing that he donated his time to helping me in this regard. He is a big car fan, as I already mentioned, and his dad owns a fantastic black 73 as well, but he didn't want the car to go to just anybody, and has refused many offers from the local Mexican (legal, or illegal, I don't know) crowd, as well as anyone he didn't think would take care of the Monte down the road. So I had to qualify to get this car, and I'm glad I did because it is awesome.

Here are some of the documents I mentioned:











Here's the car in Tucson prior to getting the vinyl top repaired, in August:



Here it is prior to shipping, September 2008:







With brothers and sisters prior to shipping:



On the truck ready to ship to port:



Now, at the port in Gdynia, Poland on October 16:













Of course, the battery was dead and we had to change the original side post cables to top post cable ends for our spare battery. It fired right up after some gas in the carb:



We couldn't get out of the parking lot without a crowd of admirers:



First stop, pit stop!





...where we were assailed by a group of pint-sized Monte fans:



On the road for the 300 mile ride home, colors flying!



Roadside stop for dinner and to collect a small debt from a friend...





The salty air from the voyage over got under some weak spots in the original paint. I will have to do some touch up work here:



Another pit stop:



Safely at home (the next day) for the weekend, then off to the garage:



I'll have more pictures in another post. Got to feed my son now!

[x]

*grins*

I like that color, Mike .



Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...RT 66 drive = Sept '09
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree" ... Elvis Presley ... 'Blue Christmas'

[87 Monte LS]

Sweet looking monteand with all the documentation to

[hetman]

Thanks, guys! And Cort, I also have begun to really like this color. I bought the car mainly for its attributes of originality, excellent maintenance, and rust-free Arizona body. But the color has grown on me and I do think it's beautiful, in fact.

[x]

GOOD! Glad the color has grown on you, too!

[hetman]

I got this Monte and the red 74 registered on Friday, with consecutive numbered yellow (historical) license plates.

[twomanymontes]

Cool! Have fun, Mine is still burried

[hetman]

Buried in the garage, or in the snow? I can't believe you'd let your baby out of the garage, but if it gets caught in a snow drift, be careful while digging it out - white cars are at a distinct disadvantage there! LOL. But yes, the day after I got the 74 inspected, it started snowing for days, and now it's in the low teens with salt everywhere, so I got lucky to have all that done with that break in the weather. Generally we can count on winter, even snow, till early May sometimes.

[twomanymontes]

In the garage! My 86 rarely sees snow, Every so often, I have had to pull it out because I need the garage for a repair or something and Last year I took it to a show.

And we have been living ina frozen wasteland for the last few weeks! We got to 38 degrees this last weekend and it was like a heatwave!

[x]

Feb 3, 2009 11:28:15 GMT -5 hetman said:

But yes, the day after I got the 74 inspected, it started snowing for days, and now it's in the low teens with salt everywhere, so I got lucky to have all that done with that break in the weather. Generally we can count on winter, even snow, till early May sometimes.

Ouch. Sounds almost like here....

We FINALLY had some nice temps this past weekend ... and will be in the 60s tomorrow (Tuesday). That'll be nice. I got the '87 MC LS/CL washed en route home on Friday ... and did the same thing again today (Monday). Probably won't stay clean for long, though ... .



Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...Chitown #2 = 07/25/09
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Relight the flame when it's cold"...Godsmack...'Serenity'

[drix76]

I just found this thread, that car looks familiar!! haha

To be totally honest, I miss that car, and often wish I didnt sell it. But it kept coming up, and eventually I found a good new owner! But dammit if I ever come across another car like that one, it isnt ever leaving!!! lol.

I hope you can hold onto it, the wife just needs some convincing!

[hetman]

Thanks for responding, Mike. I know the car is very nice and if things had been different you wouldn't have sold it. It is a rare time capsule with no rust and all original paint. That alone keeps me from ever wanting to paint it, since it's only original once. I also appreciate all the love and care you put into it over the years with all the improvements. You will have to help me convince my wife not to sell it!! She really wants to do that to put a down payment on some land later this year. I will not let it get into the wrong hands, no matter what. In fact, I just turned down an offer this week of $8000 to sell the car because I know it's worth more than that since it'll be next to impossible to find another one in this condition. I can't wait till the zero degree temperatures warm up and all the ice, snow and salt melt away so I can bring her out of her garage again!!

[drix76]

I bet once the sun comes out, and you can get it ready to cruise again, you can change her mind. There are always other (even legal! lol) ways to make some extra money. I guess the only good out of having just one Monte now, is that I can put all my focus on just the one, which is why I'm able to get done what I'm getting done now. I'm excited for that!!

[twomanymontes]

with you three guys and your second gens, I'm wanting to start looking for one! But Moneys tight right now, Hopefully after taxes, I can free up some cash. But then again, I might have to wait until the 01 is paid off in 2 years and Matt's SS is done sucking my wallet dry!

[hetman]

Mike, you'll have to let me in on your secrets of "legalizing" your income.... LOL To tell you the truth, at $8000, I'd be losing money on the car since I paid $3000 for shipping and another $1500 for the importation and registration process.

Dave, your excuses are wearing thin!!! LOL. Besides, you've probably owned more 2nd gens than both of us combined. So there's no legitimate reason (besides your desire not to become a eunuch at the hands of your wife) not to go out and buy one!! Just visit your neighbor across the street and pick up that 73! You must be some kind of wonderful father too, to spend even one dime on the car for your son. My dad never ever spent a dime on any car (or anything else, for that matter) for me. If I wanted it, I had to earn the money myself and pay for everything myself, including the car, parts, gasoline, insurance, etc. But anyway, good luck with your 2nd generation Monte quest. They're really the only generation that counts...

[HardRocker]

I'll say it again... that is an awesome '73 !!
I'm wishing for the snow and salt to be gone so I can get back into the '75 again !!
And it is true, having more than one MC or 'project car' makes it difficult to stay focused on attention and money. I'm always trying to balance which MC gets the parts, or the time, etc. Still, the 75 I find more dear then the 76 right now. Maybe it's those big round puppy dog headlights !! LOL. Or the awesome metal-flake blue paint. But I sure love the rumble of the double glass packs on the 76. But that exhaust needs to be redone and welded this time (instead of the gazillion clamps that the previous owner used to put it together) and it's paint is getting so thin from years of polishing, I really want to repaint that one.... Ahh, and now the debate begins again... LOL

On my first car, my dad did buy me my first set of snow tires, battery, and brakes to ensure I'd be safe. The installation of those items and everything there after was up to me...

[twomanymontes]

Feb 23, 2009 4:09:43 GMT -5 hetman said:

Mike, you'll have to let me in on your secrets of "legalizing" your income.... LOL To tell you the truth, at $8000, I'd be losing money on the car since I paid $3000 for shipping and another $1500 for the importation and registration process.

Dave, your excuses are wearing thin!!! LOL. Besides, you've probably owned more 2nd gens than both of us combined. So there's no legitimate reason (besides your desire not to become a eunuch at the hands of your wife) not to go out and buy one!! Just visit your neighbor across the street and pick up that 73! You must be some kind of wonderful father too, to spend even one dime on the car for your son. My dad never ever spent a dime on any car (or anything else, for that matter) for me. If I wanted it, I had to earn the money myself and pay for everything myself, including the car, parts, gasoline, insurance, etc. But anyway, good luck with your 2nd generation Monte quest. They're really the only generation that counts...

LOL! Yes, I like my testicles where they are thank you! And that 73 is about a mile away, I just know where it is ;D

Yeah, I try to be a good Dad, But I also have a motive, It has been agreed, that if My son decides to sell the car, I have first dibs at it and I get to pay what he has into it, Not what it's worth, But what he actually spent. So there are 2 Folders with reciepts, His and Mine, He has spent just over 2K with the price of the car, I have spent over 2500 so far. So This car will not be leaving this family for a very very long time, LOL!

Plus, In a few years once my wife gets a real job as a nurse and starts bringing home some money, She wants to move to where we would have more land and I can have a Barn for my toys, Once that happens, Look out, I'll be stashing away lots of Montes and Parts ;D So no excuses, just delayed planning.

[x]

Feb 23, 2009 8:54:58 GMT -5 HardRocker said:

And it is true, having more than one MC or 'project car' makes it difficult to stay focused on attention and money. I'm always trying to balance which MC gets the parts, or the time, etc.

Boy howdy is that true!

Right now it is easy ... the '87 is the only one out and running through the winter, so it gets all the time and attention. Once spring comes, and the older 4 come out to play, look out!





Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...W Grill meal = 02/28/09
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"A friend of mine named Steve Goodman wrote that song" ... David Allen Coe ... 'You Never Called Me By My Name'

[hetman]

It is with great sadness that I report the sale of this original beauty. Due to lack of time, space and money I had to put her up for sale, and strangely enough, it took 8 months to find a buyer, though the price is exceptionally low and I am not making any money on the deal. I'm glad the Monte is going to a good home, and the buyer appreciates it for what it is and won't repaint it. I had to sweeten the deal by throwing in my only set of front bumper fillers. I hope Drix still has the set of fillers we were talking about a while ago in his for sale thread.

[twomanymontes]

Ouch! Sad to see it go, hopefully it goes to someone you know so you can get to see it occaisionally

[x]

Oh noooooooo..... Very sorry you had to sell this one, Mike....

How are things for you? OK, I hope....



Cort | 36.m.IL | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker
MCs.Caprice | models.HO.legos.CHD.RadioShows | RTs.us66 = www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Time is a natural healer" ... John Conlee ... 'Years After You'

[hetman]

Thanks, Dave and Cort. The buyer promised not to repaint the car and that I'd be able to see it in the future. But he could have just been pulling my leg. Obviously he knew the value of an unmolested, complete and fully original car like this.

Yes, it is with great regret and sadness that I saw it leave my possession. I couldn't have asked for a more fully original and rust-free example, with complete documentation from day one, literally hundreds of documents and receipts. Of course, all numbers matching and completely reliable; it drove like a new Monte.

However, I had to let it go, for lack of space and a general prioritization of my goals in life. We want to buy some land to build a house, and those among us who are married can understand the pressure of a wife who has her mind set on certain things, so this car had to go, and the money will help as a down payment for the property. Looking on the brighter side of things, it's not such a devastating loss, since I am left with the white 73, though I'm still correcting missing and improperly done things from the previous owner, and the fully original red 74 with a skyroof and 454. Both cars should fulfill my Monte dreams for many years if not decades in the future. The white one is not fully original, so I won't mind beefing up the engine further or adding suspension upgrades or even a TKO 600 down the line. Being from Arizona, it is thankfully rust-free and has a perfect interior. So that's an ongoing driver project car that still looks great. The red 74 is 100% original, numbers matching and one of three known cars with the big block and skyroof, so I can't be unhappy having it. It will serve as an outstanding restoration project down the line (body-off restoration to remove surface rust and repaint), hopefully with my kids to get involved later on. And then there's the Polonez hot rod project which the Honeymoon Wagon will give its life for, to live on like the Phoenix in a super-fast road rocket sleeper. This is what I've always wanted to do for many, many years, and what everybody says is impossible (putting a V8 in a sub-compact communist car) and they laugh at me for having such an idea. This only gives me resolve to prove them wrong and have a super-potent Porsche-beater using American technology and innovation, and the hot-rodding spirit that we should all be proud of. A Monte is a fantastic car in its own right, and I will be only improving on it by putting it into a lighter body. As is, the blue 84 Monte is a rocket, and will be much faster and better-handling with many upgrades. So, all in all, it is sad to see this Monte go, but at the same time it frees up space, gives us some money to help buy a lot, and I have other Montes which I don't plan to get rid of, to keep the flame alive.

PS: I also harvested many useful parts off this car prior to selling: the Alpine stereo system, new stainless steel dual exhaust with Flowmaster 40s and chrome tips, nearly new set of Cooper Cobra tires, NOS Monte knight emblem on the front, "Monte Carlo" bars in the engine bay, small support bars for the lower front fenders, and a few rubber stoppers here and there, and coolant overflow cap. Most of these items were transferred to either the red or white Monte, and replaced with those on those cars, except for the Monte Carlo bars and fender supports, which were 73-only items. Now the red 74 sounds ultra-mean with its new exhaust system... ;D ;D ;D LOL. And the Monte Carlo bars and fender supports will reside on that car, improving it beyond factory specs.

[drix76]

If only I knew I'd have bought a house a year later, I'd have never let the car go. I didnt have room for it and I guess that was my "reason". I really do miss the car. I hope that some day another one like it pops up. Living out here in the desert they preserve very well. but most are either junked, or chopped up into half-assed lowriders. There is one in my neighborhood thats been sitting for years, but it has an Iowa dealer badge on the back, im sure its rusty.
I know it hasnt been my car in almost two years, but I still hope it gets taken care of. Too bad all that legal bs would have made it impossible for it to ever have come back home.

[hetman]

Hey Mike! I can understand your feelings. I will miss the car very much as well. When I bought it from you I never expected to have to sell it at all, much less so soon. I guess we sold the car for the same reasons - i.e. not enough room. But I think it's in good hands of a Monte Carlo fan who really values it and will take care of it well. I'll add pictures if I see it again. He said he'd get the seats reupholstered, and I gave him my only set of bumper fillers so he'll take care of that as well as repair the minor paint damage. Anyway, I am sure you will find another one if you keep looking, especially with this economy people will be selling their pride and joys. I sold it for about $9000, which is breaking even considering the cost of transportation and registration.

Mike, can we work on getting those parts to me? Not only the swivel buckets and window trim but also the parts you listed in your for sale thread a few months back. I really do need the front bumper fillers. Thanks!

[drix76]

I wish I could have sold it here for $9k, haha. Well I hope it makes someone happy, it was a great car. I will find another eventually. I love my 76, but my favorite body style is definitely the 73's, I want one for daily cruisin again..

I'm trying to get away from the band stuff for a while, im burned out, and because I need more time for other things, one was to definitely get all my car stuff boxed up and ready to ship to whoever I could get it to. If you still want the parts, you have first dibs! The fillers I have are for 74/75.. you know that 73 is unique, right? I hope thats not what you meant. The seats are still around, as is the window trim. The window trim definitely needs to be re-packed, and differently somehow. Those long pieces are hard to wrap up safely. I dont even remember what else I have, but I guess I'll find out!
Now would you find it weird that I'm trying to sell my Mustang? lol. But its ok, its not a classic Chevy, and its so I can buy a friends beautiful 04 Mach 1 Mustang.. its more like upgrading