Brief History of Marchi-Fournier (Lindorfer) Monza

By Stacy Scharch

The Marchi/Fournier Monza was the creation of two talented men who felt they could do as good or better than DeKon and for less. This Monza chassis has a storied past and successful racing record by its second owner/ driver Tuck Thomas.

In 1975, Bob Lazebnick of Airmaster Fan Co. in Michigan commissioned Mitch Marchi to design a tube-frame Chevrolet Monza racecar and Ron Fournier to build it. 

Mitch Marchi, a retired Ford design engineer, also worked at Kar Kraft Engineering Inc., a subsidiary of Ford Motor Co. that developed racecars for their race program. Kar Kraft had a small workforce consisting of 6 engineers, some buyers and 30-40 skilled tradesmen including sheet metal workers, welders and mechanics. They also helped develop the Ford GT-40, still the only sports car built by an American company to win (overall) the prestigious 24 hours of Le Mans race in Europe. Kar Kraft was located in Detroit area at Livonia, MI, but closed their doors in 2009.

An interesting coincidence is that Lee Dykstra of DeKon Engineering also worked at Kar Kraft along with legendary driver Allan Moffat who drove Monzas. DeKon was responsible for building most of the 14 or so Monzas that competed in road racing in the 1970s and 1980s. There were also a few privateers that designed and built their own silhouette Monza cars. 

Together, Bob Lazebnick and race legend John Morton were co-drivers of the only Monza built by Fournier.  In general, there were more than a dozen of these machines that popped onto racing circuits with the intent and success of overturning Porsche dominance. This accomplishment was short-lived when IMSA GT rules changed and allowed Porsche to run twin turbochargers in their own tube-frame 935 cars.

Unfortunately, success for Lazebnick and Morton resulted with just one finish in 5th position, 2 did not starts (DNS) and 2 did not arrives (DNA) for their first year. This must have been a disappointing record for them and surely played a part in its immediate sale at the end of the 1976 season.

Lindorfer spent the winter of 1977 reworking the car from the ground up. He redesigned and rebuilt Lazebnik's old GT Monza but kept the original Marchi/Fournier tube-frame. “That greatly improved results,” said Thomas. The Lindorfer changes included an all-new suspension with a rear that could be raised or lowered and turned 17” wide tires on the rear. Even the brakes added a new twist, calipers that were water-cooled. It was given new body panels, which were more aerodynamic. The body was changed twice, but the original tube frame was kept. The first setup utilized a somewhat typical front scoop. The next upgrade used a box like front and incorporated ground effects that increased down-force, all designed and built by Mike Lindorfer. And, the engine utilized a slide port fuel injection system.  Tuck proudly stated that his old Monza was, “one-hundred percent legal.” And, “Extraordinary car… Lindorfer was a genius.”

Thomas' fiercest competitor was Jerry Hansen, who also fielded a purpose-built Monza.  The two frequently battled each other on the circuit and were often referred by track announcers as, "The Tuck and Jerry Show."

In 1980, the original Marchi/Fournier Monza was sold to Don Cummings of Florida who raced it a few years, but wrecked it quite badly then sold it. Interim ownership was with Bill Stone for almost 25 years until Lance Smith finally purchased the car in early 2007.

Lance Smith, owner of Racerods in San Diego, CA, admits the disassembled car which only has a carburetor setup is a “basket case.” But he has most of the original Monza parts for the Lindorfer/Thomas setup as well as the original Marchi/Fournier tube-frame.  Although Racerods would entertain offers on the car in "as is" condition, Lance prefers to restore the rare Monza himself to race-ready condition for its next owner.  It is estimated that a fully restored, original, race-ready IMSA AAGT Chevy Monza has a market value of up to $250,000.

About all that remains original on the Marchi/Fournier IMSA AAGT Monza is the tube frame and a Chevrolet Monza carcass from the original donor car.  In its present state, this racecar has the original "Phase 5" body setup as built by Mike Lindorfer for Tuck Thomas' racing effort. Together they were a formidable team.  Owner Tuck Thomas enjoyed the greatest results produced by this chassis, with more success that any of its other owners.

One thing is for sure about this car, if ownership remains in the hands of someone who is aware of the part Chevrolet Monza tube-frame racers played in IMSA history, it will be resurrected.  Hopefully, it will grace the track with its ground thumping presence once again as a functioning dynamic piece of history and not so much one of static display.

It seems fitting, if this racecar's eventual restoration is to be historically worthy, it would roll out of the shop in the Tuck Thomas livery of number 88 yellow.  There are just a few IMSA Monzas still running today.  Imagine the field with another beautifully restored machine such as this.

Results of Fournier-Monza Drivers