Bowing for the 1960 model year, the Chevy Corvair was Chevrolet’s new economy car. The Corvair name, a contraction of the Corvette and Bel Air monikers, had previously been used for a 1954 GM Motorama concept car based on the Corvette. The new Chevy Corvair came with an air-cooled flat six mounted behind the rear axle, much like the Porsche 911 would have in 1963.
The only mass-produced American passenger car powered by an air-cooled, rear-mounted engine, the Chevy Corvair was unique in both design and execution. The first-generation Corvair was available as a four-door sedan, four-door wagon, two-door coupe, two-door convertible, pickup truck, passenger van, and commercial van. All variants were powered by the flat six-cylinder overhead valve, aluminum air cooled engine. The initial displacement was 145 cubic inches. That displacement eventually grew to 164 cubes. Peak performance came in the 1965-1966 turbocharged Corsa variant, which yielded 180 horsepower. Not bad for a car that weighed just over 2,000 pounds.
Second-generation Chevy Corvairs bowed for the 1965 model year. They could be had as two-door convertibles, two-door coupes, or four-door sedans. Cleaner styling resulted in the elimination of the B-pillar. The new Corvair had fully independent suspension, utilizing coil springs at all four corners rather than the previous generation’s swing-axle design.
What did more to kill the Chevy Corvair than anything else was Ralph Nader’s book Unsafe at Any Speed. In the book, Nader, who was not an engineer nor did he possess a driver’s license, greatly maligned the 1963 Corvair’s handling characteristics. This devastated Corvair resale value. A 1970 U.S. government study of the first-generation Corvair and five other domestic economy cars found the Corvair’s handling on sharp turn-in failed to “result in abnormal potential for loss of control.” Additionally, the Corvair didn’t exhibit a rate of rollover greatly different than the other cars in the test. The government’s conclusion was Nader’s assertion was “a shoddy, internally contradictory whitewash.” A subsequent study by Texas A&M commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found similar results to the 1970 U.S. government study. The Corvair’s reputation had already been damaged, and both generations were greatly devalued. Chevrolet ceased Corvair production with the end of the 1969 model year.
Our featured 1965 Chevy Corvair Corsa Turbo convertible is finished in Tahitian Turquoise over a Bright Blue vinyl interior. Power comes from the 2.7-liter turbocharged flat six that produces 180 horsepower, and is backed by a four-speed manual gearbox. The Corvair is equipped with a Delco pushbutton radio, simulated woodgrain steering wheel, heater and defroster, steel wheels with wire wheel covers and whitewall tires.
Comments
One of the most interesting, fun to drive, and beautiful cars ever built by GM. I do prefer the looks of the hardtop, but this one is righteous on its own.
I ‘ve owned a ’65 110hp 4-door Monza sedan, and two ’66 140hp Corsa convertibles. I agree, they are fun to drive. The ones I owned ran flawlessly and all had over 100K miles when I sold them. Handling was great with the second version. I’d buy another if they were still made.
Corvair (monza) started the bucket seat trend , 4 speed (lot cars had 3 speed) one the first cars to offer turbochargers, monza model best seller sporty compact until the 64.5 mustang
I have wondered at times if Nader was on a retainer of sorts with Porsche or VW. My ’63 red coupe was a great car that I drove like I was in a race most of the time. With modern advancements in design and performance I think they could be a great competitor against the remaining sport type cars.
Seems to me there was a Monza Spyder convertible. If I remember correctly a wealthy nearby farmer bought one for his son in sort of a Maroon color. My neighbor rode in it the night he got it and said it was scary fast for such a small car.
When I was growing up a neighbor had a 63 ragtop
I remember driving to Niagara Falls from Cleveland in 1968 with my first girlfriend in a ‘64 model. Three years later I met my future wife who owned a ‘68 Corvair.
If I remember correctly at that time a 1965 Corvair was mechanically superior to a 911 Porsche (Porsche owners don’t get mad at me I am a true multiple Porsche owner).
Thinking about it I remember pissing off the owner of the earlier mentioned 1964 Corvair. While we were in high school my friend and I used to lift up the front end of the ‘64 and turn it sideways in wider parking spots. The front ends were really light on those cars.