Spyder, In Situ: First Look

Personally, I know next to nothing about cars. This is changing with the 1963 Corvair Monza Spyder. When I was a child all I knew was that there was this beautiful green car sitting in my Great Grandma's garage. I was always told not to mess with the car, and for the most part I listened, but that didn't stop me from randomly and gently brushing off dust and peeking in the windows at the immaculate old interior.

And watching, somewhat confused, as boxes, tools, and other storage bits were piled on top of this glorious car.

When my Granny passed away, I was an adult. I learned that the car actually belonged to my grandfather and had once been my uncle's car when he drove it as a teenager. It was about this time that the car disappeared from my orbit.

Honestly, I didn't give it much thought, where it went, what happened to it, if it was even still in the family. It wasn't mine; it wasn't my decision. I do remember talking about it on occasion. It was always a fond memory.

Grandpa died last year. The day of his funeral my husband was asked if he wanted a '63 Corvair.

Remembering that this is the car I talked about on more than one occasion, he, of course, said yes.

That was several months ago. Yesterday, I was finally taken to see the Corvair for the first time in probably twenty years.

There. There she is.

I am angry.

She deserves better

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But optimistic.

Sitting in a barn for almost two decades, after sitting in a garage for almost another two decades, this 1963 Corvair Spyder is in far better condition than she should be.

And now she's mine.

After all these years.

Finally.

I am not disillusioned that restoring her is going to be easy or quick.

But, it can begin now.

Her revitalization.