The car that got me interested in Monte Carlo's driven by my alltime favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt.

Welcome to my Monte Carlo page! I got interested in Monte Carlo's around the age of 14 when I was watching the Daytona 500 on tv back in the 1980's and asked my friend, "what kind of car is that!" He informed me that it was a Monte Carlo SS and from that day, I knew when I was old enough to drive, I would have a Monte Carlo SS-just like the one Dale Earnhardt drove! Well, my first car ended up being a 1983 non SS Monte Carlo, but she was a great car and I loved it. After a few years, I sadly sold her, but much to my joy, I was able to buy a 1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe. Man, did I love that car. I drove it until she registered 285000 miles! I only had to replace the alternator and the radiator during all those years of service. What a super car that was, and I hope to have another one someday. I sold it for a great price and used the money to buy my current 1972 Monte Carlo. I paid 3100 for her back in 1997 and the rest is history!

This is my 1972 Monte Carlo. She's painted in a 1970 color Metallic Mint Torqouise and has a Sandlewood interior. The engine is a numbers matching rebuilt 350 V8 with a 4 barrell carb. The transmission is a rebuilt 350 auto with a shift kit.

I had always thought that the first generation Monte's had distinctive lines and in my opinion one of the prettiest cars that Chevrolet ever produced. My favorite part about the Monte Carlo's are the way the tail lamps integrate into the side body lines.

Thanks for stopping by!

My Monte Carlo's Humble Beginings...and the Road to Restoration...

This is what she looked like when I bought it in Stokesdale, NC. The owner had air shocks on it to hold up the sagging rear end.

Originally the car was golden brown with a tan top and a green/covert interior combo. The original owner painted it tan because in Florida, the brown got too hot. I bought the in 1997. She served as my daily driver for 3 years before being sent off for restoration.
It's been a 4 year frame off project that is nearing completion at last. Virtually everything on this car has been replaced.

Here's a list of whats been done to this car.

Media blasted down to bare metal.

Completely disassembled.

All body and suspension bushings replaced with Energy Suspension kit. Hotchkis springs added to front suspension.

New steering column from Columns Garlore

350 auto transmission rebuilt with a shift kit added.

All new brakes, stainless steel brake lines, and master cylinder with booster.

350 Engine rebuilt. Polished 882 heads added. Edelbrock performer cam and aluminum intake combo. New exaust from the manifolds back. New engine harness. New engine mounts. Miloden hi flow water pump. New radiator. New alternator.

Completely new A/C system including new lines and POA update for AC to run like a modern system. New blower. New AC hoses added to dash.

New interior-seat and headrest covers, door panels, arm rests, arm rest bases, all guages and clock rebuilt, new instrument cluster harness, all the old green int. pieces dyed. New carpet, and headliner. AM/FM radio added from a 1970 MC donor car.

New front and rear bumpers and bumperettes from Tri-City plating.

Remote mirror, and side window shashes re-chromed by Hanlon Plating.

All stainless steel professional polished to NOS condition.

Of course, I'm leaving out a TON of little things but I would estimate that about 90% of this car is either new, or taken off sandblasted, repainted and bolted back on.

Special thanks goes out to the guys in my car club, First Generation Monte Carlo Club for TONS of advice and direction. Also, to Classic Muscle, or should they be thanking me for the THOUSANDS of bucks I drop in their business on this car! And of course to Kelly Hartsoe of Total Perfektion body works in Greensboro, NC. We've lost count on the hundreds of hours he has put into this car. This guy pulled off some amazing things with sheet metal fabrication. Truely a jack of all trades when it comes to the old cars.

Now, on to the restoration...

Taking the trim off for prep for the restoration. Note, I had added a black vinyl top before a few months before the restoration.

Back from getting sandblasted, and a quick primer coat added. Starting to dismantle the car here..

Here's my Radiator support after the POR treatment.

Here was worst cancer on the car. The back window. Very typical amoung these old cars.

Back window looking much better...not done, but getting there...

Rear qtr rockers were cut out and fabricated due to rust problems..I POR-15ed the heck out of these, so they won't rust again in my lifetime!

Sail panels coming around again. Never to see the ole' rust trap (vinal top) ever again!