Ronald G. Bratke

Personal Info:

2058 Devonshire Dr

Wixom, MI. 48393 USA

Member of CORSA
Local Chapter/Club:

1969 Monza Convertible White/Blue 110PG

I learned to drive in a 65 Corsa convertible when I was 14. It was a 140 4sp. I had to ride my bike about 20 miles to my uncles house becuase my dad was too scared when I tried to drive with him. I told myself that one day I would have one. The car I currently own was for sale in the local Trading Times. I bought it from the original owner. It came with the bill of sale, window sticker, owners manual ect. The woman who sold it to me was hesitant about letting me buy it because she said she took very good care of it, and was her very first new car. I was not that well informed about buying a old car, and I bought it without really checking it out. I knew it that the 69's were rare with only 6000 built. And being a convertible with only 521 made it very inticing. I was living in a rented house in Royal Oak, Micigan at the time, but did have a garage to put it in. I drove it all summer. I knew that the paint was bad on it, and the floor boards had "some rust" because the womans husband told me. But a few years went by and I got a better job, my own house, and finally a three car garage for all of my toys, I thought about doing a restoration on it. Well as soon as I started to take the interior out I knew the woman had pulled one over on me. Floorboards shot. Engine needed a total rebuild. The car was hit in the rear and the front at sometime, and had extensive bondo and spot welds in all of the quarters and front valence. In fact the front valence was almost all bondo!. Nice sculpting though. I knew with my limited ability I was in over my head. I called Cortrofelds in Vermont to do the restoration. In August of 98 the restoration was started. Tim Cortrofeld ended up replacing almost every body panel, as well as all of the floor pans on it. He redid the trans on it as well as the interior. The engine I had rebuilt a year after I had it. So what I have is a "new" 1969 convertible with just over 76,000 miles on it. And I have to tell you, I also own a 96 Viper GTS, but I find myself driving the Corvair more often. I guess when your 14, impressions last a lifetime.

Last modified on October 14, 2002