1978 C06 Monza Spyder

[mahoy78spyder]

Well, here goes... for the first time in over 10 years, my car is home (within a mile of me anyway as opposed to 90 minutes away), I can tinker on her from time to time, and anxiously await the new garage that will get built this year so I can actually move her onto "my" property once and for all.

At little history for those that don't know. I bought this car on Nov 5, 1985 - my senior year of highschool - after wrecking my other V8 Monza TC coupe while skipping school because I didn't want to attend the filming of the movie Hoosiers to be an extra. (long story) Twenty-nine years, thousands of fun miles and a nasty divorce later, I am "finally" back to being able to restore her 'again', but this time she doesn't have to be a daily driver. I can build her the way I want, and take my time and do it right. I've also spent the last 20 years amassing quite a collection of NOS parts for her. In fact, I'd forgotten how much I had until I went back to my Dad's garage recently and took pics of them for this project journal. At some point, I'll do a full inventory, of not only the NOS stuff, but the other parts I have that could just about build two more Monza hatchbacks from scratch.

But first.... the pics.

These were taken June 28th, 2014. This was the first time my Spyder had seen daylight in, I'm guessing, 12-13 years. It felt soooo good to get her out in the open to take a look at her again and not have to squeeze around her in that small, dark garage. It also revealed just how tired she'd gotten in all that time. Take a look for yourself - it's actually embarrassing for me to post these.

[mahoy78spyder]

I did a quick inventory of what she looked like, inside and out. And for some stupid reason, I had kept all my heavy front and rear sway bars in the hatch. (at least I had protected the carpeting) But all that weight for all those years I'm sure was not good on the rear springs. These front sway bars are all the Spyder and V8 Monza sway bars (2 Spyder and 7 V8 bars). I also had 3 V8 rear sway bars in there, along with Clyde's '75 dashboard and center console he wanted years ago. (Clyde, they're yours for the taking! I can send you pics of each.)

I was surprised at how much my white plastic interior pieces had yellowed while in storage. They were white when I stored it, and it was 'inside' all this time too. ((shrug)) Anyway, the mice had done quite a bit of damage as well! Grrr!!.... Take a look.

[mahoy78spyder]

We took a quick lunch break, and I took a few photos of all my parts I'd amassed over the last twenty years or so. Many cannot even be seen as they are smaller parts that completely fill my shelves along that entire wall in the poll barn. And yes, those black fenders, quarters, hatch, hood, etc. are all NOS. Every one of them.

[mahoy78spyder]

Finally, after a nice meal, we began to get her loaded onto the trailer to make the long jaunt home - FINALLY! It's hard to describe how giddy I was (a 46-year old teenager!) at having my baby loaded onto the trailer to bring her home. Even though I knew where she was, it was like bring a long lost friend home.

[mahoy78spyder]

On the way home that night, I had to fill up with gas. I pulled in, still proud of my cargo I was hauling, when someone pulled in beside me with something even more unique than my Spyder!

[cjbiagi]

Ken, can't wait to see you actually start working on it. I remember seeing it years ago, you already have a lot of parts and support from everyone here as well as your new wife. So, no excuses anymore LOL. We will all enjoy seeing the progress of your hard work, plus it's easier watching someone else do it rather than doing it ourselves

[mahoy78spyder]

Yup, no excuses! I've been tinkering on her a little the last few days. ...just getting her cleaned out. All the extra parts and junk is now out of her, the hatchback seats have been uprighted, and later today I plan on sweeping her out.

[bbcowboy]

Wow, what a collection of parts....thinking ahead buying what you could find and not loose anything ...

[mahoy78spyder]

I've sold almost as much as I still have in my inventory. Had to move some stuff...

[stage169]

Wow, looks like fun! My H body parts radar must be off with all those parts you have there I've should of known there was some kind of disturbance in Boone County

I remember seeing a bolt in chrome roll bar in another nice Spyder years ago. Maybe a Holley piece?

Gas station pic is cool! You still need to show me your car sometime. Brian

[cjbiagi]

Were those Hooker "Showbars"?

[cjbiagi]

Were those Hooker "Showbars"?

[mahoy78spyder]

Brian, the car was 5 miles from you for over 10 years.... now you'll have to drive 90 minutes to see it!

As for the chrome rollbar, yeah, it was an NOS Hooker showbar piece I got several years ago that I thought was cool. Still undecided if I'm going to keep it, but I mocked it up (it's not mounted) just to see how it looks. I know of one other Cosworth owner who's got one installed in his car, and I admit they kind of look cool, but you also bang your head on them too.

[mahoy78spyder]

Wow, what timing!.. Yeah, Clyde... Hooker "Showbars"... didn't see your post earlier.

[cjbiagi]

They are pretty cool looking but are pretty much fake as they don't really do anything for the structure. You won't fool too many people with those. I was tempted back in the day to get one but never did.