Here’s a throwback to a different era: “For $1,000 and 40 hours of work, you can have one!” That was purported to be the marketing jingle for the Crown Conversions kit to transform standard Corvairs into a V8-powered rocket. This 1965 Corv-8 here on eBay seems like a cheap entry into a fun, fast and even somewhat historic classic car. The founder of Crown Conversions cut his teeth performing engine swaps with vintage Volkswagen dune buggies driven by Corvair powerplants, and the rear-engined Chevy represented the next logical place for him to work his magic: sticking a Chevy small block in the already toss-able Corvair. While this car will need a proper inspection before it rips down the road once again, this is a blissfully simple collection of parts with plenty of junkyard SBCs and Corvairs available to pillage from. Did any of you perform this conversion in your backyards back in the day?
no floor and a deafening roar.
I had a 65 Corvair Corsa – among others – it was a neat car. AIR – it was the 140HP version with extra gauges and suspension tuning – I think it had quicker steering ratio. Stock it ran well and handled fairly well. I remember the Stingers that ran SCCA back then… still a few around at Vintage Racing events.. For someone with the necessary body and mechanical skills this could be an interesting Retro-Mod for weekend cruises..
Of course a pure stock, original Corsa would be worth much more..
dis-Astro ventilation.
Could be a $5000 rocket if you are a little handy—go stoplight lurking…
would be nice to have more info…
I also had a 140hp Corvair, 4 carbs. It was pretty quick. This would be a rocket, but a fun rocket.
That 327 has the big harmonic balancer, which makes it a 340 horse or even 375 horse engine which means: Steel crank, forged pistons, 30-30 cam, fuelie heads etc. That engine could be worth $15,000 on up.
Oh hell yeah – what a sleeper. Move the radiator to the front for better cooling and go Mustang hunting…
Actually I did assist on a Corv-8 conversion back in the day in Montana. Moved away before I saw it completed. Wonder if it was.
Back in the early 70’s a friend built a 66 Monza mid-engine. He made his own mounts, brackets, adapter plate to trans from pictures of the Crown stuff. Only his power was a 392 Hemi, out 60 to 405, wild cam, custom headers. Rocket was a gross understatement. Seriously, the stripes on the road were solid and the telephone poles looked like a picket fence. 150-160 mph was a piece of cake !
Similar : Corvair Yenko Stinger 1965/66 #99 made into a Super Corv8. See Google on old pages site for Dick Bolt # 99. Long sold many yrs ago. & has been striped of goodies & sold 5 times W/O conversions!