I first got interested in Monte Carlo SS's back in 1984. My buddy Rik Mentz needed a family car to get the family around in, but also wanted something sporty. He knew just the ticket to fill the prescription, an 83' Monte Carlo SS. The first time I saw their car, I fell in love Monte Carlo SS's .
I had an 84'Z28 that I had just purchased and thought that it was hot stuff. Well, I found out, the hard way, that my friend's 83' Monte Carlo SS could run circles around it. Wow, I thought, a family car that was sporty looking, could fit passengers in the back seat comfortably, and be quick also!.... He still has the 83'SS, but she's *really* tired now, and needs to be restored.
11 years later, and with a family of my own, I finally got my own Monte Carlo SS. I was actually looking for a 66/67 Chevelle/Malibu to restore, and ran across an add for an 86' Monte Carlo SS for sale. I thought that I would just go and take a look at it, just because I loved the way SS's look. To make a long story short, I ended up putting the Chevelle/Malibu hunt on hold and came home with what is now known as the Grim Reaper. The car had 113k miles, just been repainted and was *really* clean. The guy was asking $5700 for the SS, and I talked him down to $5400. He worked for one of the local Chevrolet dealerships, in the Parts Department, and as part of the deal, said he would sell me parts for the SS at his price.. :-)
I joined the 'original' Monte Monte Mailing list back in October of 1995, a month after I purchased my 86'SS. I was the 17th list member listed on the original members info section. Many list members kept asking for a web site for info on the Reaper, and well... 'better late than never'.... :-)
Oh, and the name 'Grim Reaper'.... The Grim Reaper was dubbed by fellow CA list member, Luis Bettencourt. Luis came down to my house when the SS was supposed to breathe new life with the 383 engine. When Luis entered the garage, the first words out of his mouth were "Damn... that thing looks totally menacing, that looks like the Grim Reaper!" Well, the car didn't breathe life that evening, but the name has stuck ever since... :-)
The Reaper is, California emissions legal, 383 fire breathing, proof that you can have your cake and eat it too. Many people are under the impression that you can't have a 'hot rod' and pass emissions. Well, I built the Reaper to be my daily driver, and also built it to be able to keep up with the Rustangs, F-bodies, and Vettes. I average 18-20mpg on the highway (if I can stay off of the go pedal) (best to date was 27mpg highway) and have more than enough umph to keep up with the muscle that's out there. I don't claim to have the quickest or fastest car, just a car that's quick and fast enough to hold it's own... :-) The Grim Reaper has run the best of 13.5 @ 102 mph in the quarter mile in full emissions/street trim. Some day I will uncap the Reaper and get some stickies to see what she can really do!