Info on old 1969 19' Monza Boat

[Hang Time 27]

Originally Posted by f_inscreenname

Here is something a little weird.
2 of the boats I own now were owned by people that posted in this thread.

wild.... technology makes for a small world, huh?

one of the few pics I have of the Monza - from early 90's - cold weather run, and somebody's grandfather in the passenger seat two weeks out of open heart surgery!

[lilabner]

When I left holman-moody in 70, I went to work for Monza and Elkind..The shop was in West Hollywood,near 58 ave and 26 street....In fact, it was also the So Fla Trailer Shop around 1990-91..My job was to assemble and rig..only other employee was a Cuban named Manuel..great guy, very good craftsman.I got a hull and deck and had to totally assemble them..We put h-m Volvos in all the ones I did..The boats were very well built, and Ken Elkind was pretty anal at the assembly..I remember the engine compartment and underside of the hatch were as nice as the deck..We used Chevy hood hinges on the hatch..Bilt Rite did the interiors, and they were the best..I thought the boats were better than a Donzi or a Champ..Maybe not as fast in stock trim, but very close..Just a nicer boat overall..Brownie is right on about Elkind and Aronow..I was at Magnum that day working on the Dreadnaught and saw the whole thing..The only part not in the book was Don's comment when Elkind started screaming "My boat, my boat, you wrecked my boat." Don said, "Kid, your boat's a piece of s#@t, Danny, (Danny Durrough) fix the kids boat"..No comment on Elkind..

[Hang Time 27]

pics of "Salty Dog" in the early 90's

[Hang Time 27]

Originally Posted by lilabner

When I left holman-moody in 70, I went to work for Monza and Elkind..The shop was in West Hollywood,near 58 ave and 26 street....In fact, it was also the So Fla Trailer Shop around 1990-91..My job was to assemble and rig..only other employee was a Cuban named Manuel..great guy, very good craftsman.I got a hull and deck and had to totally assemble them..We put h-m Volvos in all the ones I did..The boats were very well built, and Ken Elkind was pretty anal at the assembly..I remember the engine compartment and underside of the hatch were as nice as the deck..We used Chevy hood hinges on the hatch..Bilt Rite did the interiors, and they were the best..I thought the boats were better than a Donzi or a Champ..Maybe not as fast in stock trim, but very close..Just a nicer boat overall..Brownie is right on about Elkind and Aronow..I was at Magnum that day working on the Dreadnaught and saw the whole thing..The only part not in the book was Don's comment when Elkind started screaming "My boat, my boat, you wrecked my boat." Don said, "Kid, your boat's a piece of s#@t, Danny, (Danny Durrough) fix the kids boat"..No comment on Elkind..

Those car hinges worked great - except in the salt environment I was in - had to keep paint on 'em. The chromed cast "MONZA" side vents where one of the nice touches too.

[tommymonza]

I have one of the cast MONZA vents on my desk .Only thing left of my dads old 26.

[monzaman]

Hey Tommy, only one of the cast emblems was on my 73 so I need the one off your desk. I also want that purple 26 you have been hiding.

Originally Posted by lilabner

When I left holman-moody in 70, I went to work for Monza and Elkind..The shop was in West Hollywood,near 58 ave and 26 street....In fact, it was also the So Fla Trailer Shop around 1990-91..My job was to assemble and rig..only other employee was a Cuban named Manuel..great guy, very good craftsman.I got a hull and deck and had to totally assemble them..We put h-m Volvos in all the ones I did..The boats were very well built, and Ken Elkind was pretty anal at the assembly..I remember the engine compartment and underside of the hatch were as nice as the deck..We used Chevy hood hinges on the hatch..Bilt Rite did the interiors, and they were the best..I thought the boats were better than a Donzi or a Champ..Maybe not as fast in stock trim, but very close..Just a nicer boat overall..Brownie is right on about Elkind and Aronow..I was at Magnum that day working on the Dreadnaught and saw the whole thing..The only part not in the book was Don's comment when Elkind started screaming "My boat, my boat, you wrecked my boat." Don said, "Kid, your boat's a piece of s#@t, Danny, (Danny Durrough) fix the kids boat"..No comment on Elkind..

did you ever build one for the ny boat show in 1970? white bottem and white deck yellow sides and yellow deck stripe? 351w and volvo drive.

[lilabner]

I don't remember if it went to the show or not..Yellow was popular.

also if ken elkind just owned and sold monza`s, who designed them? who made the molds? it seems that they were built 1969 - 1973 that ken sold them. were there older ones that ken built? also where were the hull numbers put on the boat? thanks for any info you can give me. it is a honor to speak with you. you built a great boat.

[lilabner]

Brownie answered that earlier..Buddy Smith designed them..I'm sure he built the plugs and probably the molds as well..Ken owned the company..cute very nice wife..I think he later built a competition Water Ski inboard..I heard it was the best one out there at the time..don't remember the name. The HIN had to be on the transom, but I don't remember what year the law started..I built them around 70-71 for a short time..He didn't live up to his promise of two hulls a week..I was waiting around for FINO to start up..When they called me, I left..