If you own a Corvair, SPEAK UP!

[SpitAndDirt]

My Corvairs (65' 110hp PG and 66' 110hp 4sp) are the first vehicles I have ever owned. I started learning how to work on cars beginning with my 1965 Monza 110hp Auto. It was my first attempt at rebuilding a motor. Some would say that I'm crazy for doing so, but people don't realize the whole story behind the car. In fact, die-hard Camaro owners will cringe at the fact that the body lines of the first Camaros were taken from the lines of the 65-69 Corvair. The designer Larry Shinoda was responsible for this. I could throw out some more interesting facts, but I want to see who responds to this forum first. One myth that everyone should know as being false is that the Corvair is a dangerous driving car and Nader was the SOLE reason the Corvair was discontinued. I wave the BS flag here. Nader had a part in that he brought about bad publicity with his book(Unsafe at Any Speed) concerning the fact that GM underdesigned the suspension on the 60-64 model Vairs' . His book did not solely badmouth just the Vair' as he actually cited problems with other manufactures vehicles as well. For those that have not read the book, YOU HAVE NO REASON TO TRY AND TELL ME THAT MY CAR IS DANGEROUS. I would say that his book, and the reaction to it, is directly related to the creation of the NHTSA. The truth is that the car was not designed to be driven like a hot rod, it's was originally brought about to be America's answer to the hot selling VW Beetle. To be sold with economy and dependability in mind. As for the real cause to the demise of the Corvair, FOMOCO had introduced the Mustang and it's sales were tremendous. I believe that the highest selling years for the Corvair was 64-66. Corvair sales numbers severely dropped after buyers rushed to buy Ford's hot new convertible. GM knew it needed to provide a competing product. So in 67 the Camaro was introduced and so the feud begins. Combined with rising sales of the V8 front engined Camaro, stiff competition with the Mustang, AND bad publicity from Nader's book, the Corvair's last year of production was in 1969. In 1972 or 74( I can't remember), GM was absolved of any liability for the Corvair. It was proven through that court case that the Corvair was as safe as any other car produced during that period by any other manufacturer. Too little, too late. But the Corvair will always have a following cult of enthusiasts. The fact is that the car is actually a very fun drive, and it is unique. I can't tell you how many times that I have driven by people with confidence, as they slide about on an icy road on a cold winter's morning. With all the fancy features we have today(ABS, traction control, push button four wheel drive) nothing substitutes good driving skills and knowing the limit of your vehicle. I believe the Corvair was given a bad rap because it was a different car, with different handling characteristics. It was an experiment in automotive design and manufacturing techniques. I belive that I can say that without the Corvair, we may not have certain cars that we drive today, not just the Camaro. Anyone ever heard of the Monza GT? or the Astro 1? Ever thought about having a mid-engine V8? Did you know that the Corvair is the FIRST MASS PRODUCED automobile with the use of turbocharger, a factory option on Corvair Corsa's and Spyders? And you thought turbocharging was some new idea! Owners of Corvairs are definitely considered to be Die-hard car nuts. As an owner myself, and I think I can speak for others, once you own a Corvair, there will always be a second one on the way. We can't just own one. Long live the Corvair! Thanks for reading. -Chris


-Ralph doesn't drive.

[bestoil]

i really miss my old vair. the things i would do with mine would make most people curl and cry like babys. no pain no gain great car. my dad has a van with turbo spyder . love to play with vets when he see them on the road.

[MagicRat]

I never owned a corvair. I nearly bought a perfect 4 dr 110 hp PG for $1500 about 6 years ago, but I was an idiot and bought a 4 cyl Fiero instead (Doh!!)

Has anyone hear actually READ Unsafe At Any Speed?
I have, cover to cover. In it Ralph complains about the power brake booster in the early '50's Buick Roadmasters, too. His point is that the arrogant large corporatios knowlingly sell unsafe designs - and if you know about the exploding Pinto debacle, you would agree.

As we know, Ford knew in 1970 that their gas tank placement on the Pinto left it vulnerable in a crash, but the cost to make it safer was about $2 per car, and that it would be cheaper to pay off the lawsuits from the predicted amount of crash burn victims than to actually make the cars safer.

The problem with Ralph's book is that the Corvair's handling problem that he writes about was fixed a couple of years before his book was published.

Furthermore, about 4 or 5 years after Ralph's book, another one was published called "The Unsafest of All; the VW Beetle. "
I forget the writer of this book, but he makes the case that the Beetle has the same handling problem of the early Corvair PLUS many other critical safety problems unique to the Beetle.
Also, he writes that the unsafest of ALL is the VW Microbus.

Now, why did Ralph go after GM when VW made far more dangerous cars and never corrected their problems?
Because attacking huge GM was a better launch pad for his career as a high profile lawyer and consumerist sh*t disturber than attacking a much smaller VW.
To summerise, while Ralphs book was reasonably correct, it was mostly self serving, to get his career going.

[SpitAndDirt]

AMEN fellow enthusiast!!!!!

[sunday_driver]

Ditto, Corvair!!!

[500]

Oldsmobile F85 Jetfire was available with a turbo in 62 same as the Corvair.

I learned to drive in a 63 Corvair automatic.

500

[vairman65]

Just found this site so thought i'd throw my 'vairs' on here.
I drive (yes, actually drive ) a 64 monza 2-door , 110hp w/4-speed to work 1-2 days a week 40miles roundtrip. I pulled it out of a guys front yard in 1982 where it had sat since 1974. I worked on it off and on until about 1992 when I found a 65 monza convertible locally for sale for $500, which I of course bought. Interest in the 64 went away while I found a 140hp engine/tranny to rebuild to replace the 95 hp someone had put in the conv. After a year and $3000 I had the motor built and ready to put in, which I did. I had the interior redone and a new top put on about 5 years ago and have yet to put the seats in. I have a front end I saved from a parts car to put on. I've bought a couple dashes for corsa to install so that this will be a corsa clone. It runs like a striped ape, at least last time I drove it a couple years ago. Oh, back to my story on the 64. I put it in storage after I got the 65 going back in 94-5. Well, last October of 04 I decided to get it out of storage and drive it since my daily driver went out. I hadn't started it for at least 2, probably 3 years and after putting some fresh gas and a battery on it she started up after maybe 10 seconds of cranking! Noisy lifter quited down after the first 10 miles or so. Been driving it ever since and haven't even bothered fixing my broken supra. Just wish it had a 5th speed for the interstate as 80 mph she winds up pretty good.
First car I bought in 78 was a 64 monza with fact. air so I feel like i'm 16 again driving it. Plus its just fun! Hope to finish the 65 by this time next year! Corvairs Rock!
Oh, on the nader thing for those who are wondering what the problem was that was fixed in 64, it was the rear suspension on the earlier(63 and before) models. On hard cornering the rear wheels would 'buckle' so to speak, making the car unstable sometimes if the driver pushed to car to hard. I guess there were accidents because of this. Gm put a stabilizer bar between the wheels in 64 fixing the problem. I think it was more of a driver problem then a corvair problem
anyway. sorry for the ramblin'....

[CaliGirl007]

1964 Monza 900 w/ 4 barrell conversion, electronic ignition, headers, and new fuel pump.

I love finding new performance vair parts, Larry's Corvair is awesome and on ebay. I bought alot of powder coated parts from him.

I LOVE my CORVAIR, its so easy to work on! I just wish I had more $$ to spoil her

[ricesucks]

I dont own a corvair, but my dad does. Its a white 1964 convertable monza. 4 on the floor. Red interior. I love it! We got so many stares when I went for a drive in it. I live in the mountains of PA, I never had a problem with the handling. What motor does it have? I think it has the 110hp one? I'm not sure. I love the petals postion and the shifter. I love the clutch feel too. I really like my dads covair. The problem with it is, it has an exhuast leak, so it smells really bad when the top isn't down

[GPFred]

My first car was a 1965 Corvair 140 HP auto with overhead 4BBL ram air induction. Tried to convert it to turbo, but couldn't get it to work. My dad put a 3/4 Crane cam into it, and this car could sit up and scream. Loved the heck out of it. Had a problem with it popping the head studs. Eventually healey coils would no longer work and the tranny started slipping in second gear. Had to sell it when I got out of the Army. Bought a 4 door Montego fully loaded to replace it, but my heart still beats fast for a Corvair. Started restoring a 1966 Corvair 500 4dr 3-speed a few years back, but it became a money pit and had to sell it. But one day I will have another one.

[Corvair_Corsa]

I never liked a car so much as my Corsa -66 (turbo 180 hp)
I sold it about 20 years ago .... cause I needed money and I
was tired of the bad smell in it I couldnt get rid of.
It accelerated good, it was very beautiful (the worlds most beautiful car seen from the rear and some other angels to)
And it was very good in the bendings (curves or what to say in english, no special risc at all to drive it fast)
From 1965 the Corvair got not only the new body, it gor the rear-axle
with 4 parts as Corvette. And not heavy in the rear, the engine was made of aluminium. Easy to compensate a bit in the front (luggage)
and then only check the adjustings everywhere.
It was a dream to drive.
Earlier I had a Monza -65 and a 4-door 500 -65.
I got a member here today (owning an Astro now) and I will see if I can put a pic here of that Corsa.

NEVER FORGETTING THE CORVAIR

[animal2000]

i have 9..love them ..been triving corvairs for 25 years +no other car beats them...

[skooge]

My dad has a 1961 monza 2 door.

[ralfwho]

Own 3 of them and have experience with them dating back to '66.

They are terrific cars and Ralph was sort of correct. The problem is that if you are expecting a Corvair (early model 60-64) to handle like a 'normal' front engine/rear drive automobile, you're in for a nig surprise when you least expect it. Like getting on a freeway in a tight turn with a slick road.

But if you're a semi-conscious driver (that lets out about 60% of the driving public), its' handling quirks should be fine.

Much more dangerous is the cars' heating system which takes air that circulates around the engine and exhaust manifold and sends it into the passenger compartment. A bad gasket in a variety of places will give you a strong oil or gas smell and a bad exhaust packing or head gasket could kill you.

I use fresh air thru a remote oil cooler to heat mine.

[jsnova]

I own and drive daily a '63 Monza coupe 102 PG. My girlfriend owns and drives daily a '61 700 coupe 80 PG. Both of us have 30+ miles roundtrips to work and wouldn't drive anything else. We're taking the '63 to Buffalo for the National Convention this year. Anyone else going?