One of the defining characteristics of any pickup is a bed with a tailgate. But what if you built a pickup with two gates, one at the rear and one on the side? This was part of the design genius of the Chevrolet Corvair Rampside.
The Chevrolet Corvair Rampside, also known as the 95 for its 95-inch wheelbase, was one of a number of Corvair models produced between 1959 and 1969. The trademark of all Chevrolet Corvair models was the air-cooled flat six-cylinder engine in either 2.3L, 2.4L, or 2.7L displacement. With pickup trucks, commercial and passenger vans, two-door coupes, convertibles, four-door wagons, and four-door sedans available, the Chevrolet Corvair was directly targeted at Volkswagen customers. This was done with the idea that the flat-six Corvair would be more powerful, and combined with a fully independent suspension, more appealing to the American market.
Our featured Chevrolet Corvair Rampside has spent the majority of its life in the dry climes of Arizona, ensuring a rust-free basis for the “no expense spared” restoration. The red and white paint job appears to have been done to a decent standard, with a good bit of shine to it. Chrome and stainless trim are in equally appealing nick. Glass is clear, showing no undue road rash, and the weatherstrip appears recent. The bed of the Corvair Rampside looks to have been shot with a matching spray-in bedliner. Traditional steel wheels have been replaced with Chevelle SS-style units painted a matching shade of red and wrapped in raised-white letter BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires.
Inside the Corvair Rampside’s spartan interior, the bench seat has been recovered in white and light gray vinyl. Red seat belts have been fitted, a lap belt for the center passenger, but newer shoulder belts for the outboard occupants. On either side of the metal dash cab, there are nicely stained and shaped oak panels, one for the glove box, and one surrounding the gauge cluster. The shifter for the four-speed manual transmission snakes beneath the bench seat to its linkage, rather than being mounted to the center of the floor.
The bed of the Corvair Rampside is a stepped affair, rising higher to accommodate the rear-mounted engine. Beneath the cover lies the 2.3-liter flat-six. The engine bay is reasonably tidy. The Rampside’s listing mentions upgrades to the 2.3-liter engine, but does not specify what beyond switching to four single-barrel carburetors. Readily visible is the weird but working fan belt that transitions ninety degrees from one pulley to the next.
This Corvair Rampside will soon be crossing the auction block at the Mecum Auctions’ Glendale, AZ sale going on from March 18th to the 20th.
Be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Corvair news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
So ugly they’re cute.
9′ bed, 1 ton cargo capacity, economical and rugged as hell. I know, I’ve own some (and want another!).
Tough little rig. Use to laugh when you would see the driver bouncing up and down when the front shocks were worn out. Lol
Corvairs came with 145 cubic inch or 164 inch engines. Horsepower varied from 95 horsepower to 180 horsepower. The engine pictured is a 140 horsepower 164 cubic inch engine. Definitely is an upgrade from the original equipment. The ramp side originally was equipped with a three forward speed manual. It appears this one has been upgraded with a passenger car 4-speed.
Mike- I can only work with the information they give me. The seller website listed it as a 140 cubic inch engine.
In the 63, 64 years, not sure about the later years a 4 speedd was optional in the 95. I’ve owned both. I’m sure this was put in with the 140 hp.
If you ever drive one of these now everybody will be looking at you it’s SO different! But in a third-world country, you’ll blend right in with nary a stare.
Buy it were soon very soon to be a 3rd world country!!
The 140 Cu. In. engine was only available on the 1960 Corvairs, and the top looked very different than what this Rampside has. The engine does appear to be a 140 Horsepower, not cu. in. The 4 carbs are a giveaway, and the magnesium fan with the vertical blades (as opposed to the original curved blades), pretty much makes it a 164 Cu. in. engine. Also, the alternator has replaced the original generator. All 140 H.P. engines had an alternator. I can’t see it from the picture provided, but if it has a harmonic balancer as opposed to a plain crankshaft pulley—that is another 164 Cu. in. item, with the exception of the 1964 95 h.p., which had a cast iron pulley.
I forgot to mention one thing–the 4-speed was an option on all Corvair models from mid-1960 to the end of production.