At the weekend I successfully delivered my Montrose to a happy buyer, who will hopefully restore that car back to it's former glory. The only reason i fancied a change in cars is because i felt i had done what i could for the Mazda, and would like it to take it on and carry on the restoration. Hopefully we'll see her back on here if the owner decides to post progress.
Back in around 83 my old man purchased a brand new Vauxhall Cavalier SRI in lipstick red, complete with the red striped 'SRI' in the back window. Good for 140mph it held the road well and was my first taste of performance in a car. He had the choice of the SRI or the Scirocco Storm but he didn't like the rear view out of the Scirocco so went Vauxhall. We had the car for many years before selling it for almost scrap i think when the electrics started packing up. During that time I remembered seeing and being in awe of, the Opel Monza. Out of the price range, too thirsty, my dad used to chuckle when i got excited about them on the road.
Friday i picked up a Monza, bought on an impulse, this one came up on Ebay at rock bottom price and no one bid on the thing.
I jumped in the car on the Sunday, travelled, took a drive in it and put my deposit down. Butterflies in my stomach, I didn't know what i had let myself in for as the story behind the car was a little vague.
I took the folder of paper work home and the car, sat down with a cup of tea and began reading.
She's had an almost full restoration, with some impressive body and paint work carried out when she spent four months in a Jaguar specialist workshop. Also to note, a full engine rebuild complete with photos (well, two anyway). The engine sounds gorgeous, smooth, satisfying with a low rumble as you cruise. Under the bonnet it's clean, wiring is tidy and the chassis is solid. Chassis wise she looks solid all round, there has been welding in the boot floor, I think a lot of it but the work is impressive, if i'm right in my estimations. The seller didn't know much about the car as he took it in P/X with a camper. The car has a lot of history and i imagine someone online could tell me more about it than i know. The wheels are from a GSE apparently, it's sat on Blistien shocks and GSE spring I think. The inside was mucky, really mucky..anyone who followed my previous thread saw that the seats in my Montrose were brown before they came up blue again!
I'll do what i can to get the interior back to a good standard, she goes in for a service and a once over this week.
The rest is in the photos!
On a side note. Could any of the enthusiasts tell me where i can go to find parts and perhaps help me with a few bits i need now.
Thanks
Back in around 83 my old man purchased a brand new Vauxhall Cavalier SRI in lipstick red, complete with the red striped 'SRI' in the back window. Good for 140mph it held the road well and was my first taste of performance in a car. He had the choice of the SRI or the Scirocco Storm but he didn't like the rear view out of the Scirocco so went Vauxhall. We had the car for many years before selling it for almost scrap i think when the electrics started packing up. During that time I remembered seeing and being in awe of, the Opel Monza. Out of the price range, too thirsty, my dad used to chuckle when i got excited about them on the road.
Friday i picked up a Monza, bought on an impulse, this one came up on Ebay at rock bottom price and no one bid on the thing.
I jumped in the car on the Sunday, travelled, took a drive in it and put my deposit down. Butterflies in my stomach, I didn't know what i had let myself in for as the story behind the car was a little vague.
I took the folder of paper work home and the car, sat down with a cup of tea and began reading.
She's had an almost full restoration, with some impressive body and paint work carried out when she spent four months in a Jaguar specialist workshop. Also to note, a full engine rebuild complete with photos (well, two anyway). The engine sounds gorgeous, smooth, satisfying with a low rumble as you cruise. Under the bonnet it's clean, wiring is tidy and the chassis is solid. Chassis wise she looks solid all round, there has been welding in the boot floor, I think a lot of it but the work is impressive, if i'm right in my estimations. The seller didn't know much about the car as he took it in P/X with a camper. The car has a lot of history and i imagine someone online could tell me more about it than i know. The wheels are from a GSE apparently, it's sat on Blistien shocks and GSE spring I think. The inside was mucky, really mucky..anyone who followed my previous thread saw that the seats in my Montrose were brown before they came up blue again!
I'll do what i can to get the interior back to a good standard, she goes in for a service and a once over this week.
The rest is in the photos!
On a side note. Could any of the enthusiasts tell me where i can go to find parts and perhaps help me with a few bits i need now.
Thanks
it'll do about 30mpg at 90mph (where permitted).