The Corvair was Chevrolet’s first compact car, born in 1960 in unusual fashion. Its engine was air-cooled rather than water-cooled and resided in the back. After 1.8 million copies, the car quietly retired in the Spring of 1969. This 1965 Monza Sport Coupe was from the first of the second (and last) generation and is said to be largely original with very low miles. Located in Santa Ynez, California, this sparkling Chevy is available here on craigslist for $15,500. An attaboy goes to Rocco B. for this nifty tip!
A single engine was still offered in 1965 (2.7-liters), but it could be tuned to produce from 95 to 180 horsepower. The base engine came with a single one-barrel carburetor, but when you added a second carb, output went from 95 to 110 horsepower, and that’s the configuration in the seller’s 35,000-mile example. If that odometer reading is accurate, someone decided years ago to save this car rather than drive it.
Tahitian Turquoise paint adorns the exterior of this Monza, and it is likely a respray. But it presents well, and the car appears rust-free. On the other hand, the white and aqua interior uses the same materials that came with the car when it was built. It’s equipped with the Corvair version of Chevy’s 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission.
The seller has the car’s original wheels and covers, and they will come with the sale along with the 14” American Racing wheels the machine wears now. Overall, this is a survivor-quality automobile (except for maybe the paint) that should serve its next owner well. However, the seller may see little activity, as he/she only wants to be called or texted, yet no phone number is included in the listing. You’ll have to use Craigslist’s email system, which the seller says he cannot access via his cell.
“But I put it on the market like you said, dear”.
Really nice looking car! Glad its on the wrong coast!!
Ha!
I was just going to say the same thing but you beat me to it…
“Honey, I’m trying to sell it”!
But it is a beauty! The wheels look great. If it were only a 4 speed it would be perfect.
The base engine came with 2 single barrel Rochester carbs.
You beat me to it. As the owner of a1966 Monza convertible, with the 95 hp base engine, I can assure Russ there are 2 Rochester single barrel carburetors, one per cylinder bank…
Nope, base 95 HP came with 1 carb
and the 110 HP had 2 carbs, the 140 had 4 carbs and the 180 was turbo charged but the powerglide was a turd transmission, they tried to make up for bad gearing by using a looser torque converter. People back in the day used to use corvair powerglide converters on their hotrods, Vega also had about a 3000 stall when behind a cammed up small block.
Do you mean 1 carb per bank? I don’t believe I ever saw a manifold sporting only 1 single barrel carb to feed both banks. I have seen a manifold that had a single 4 barrel carb that fed 4 holes (2 on each side) on a Corvair engine. Maybe I just don’t remember seeing such an equipped Corvair. Beautiful, slow (because of the powerglide) car.
You’re showing how little you know about Corvairs.
Come on guys, the only one carb engine was the turbo. Do your research.
Ronald, you are mistaken. The ONLY Corvairs with a single carb were indeed the turbo cars. Every other Corvair engine produced (except the 140) came with two carbs, from 1960 up. There were no factory turbo cars equipped with the automatic trans. Zero.
Only the driver side is shown in pics? Hmmmm. Other than my cynicism, looks pretty clean.
I had a 65 vair.. like this coupe..nice car but very little power…still it’s a corvair..the little motor had twerks..but the power glide was good..60 mph…drove ok…not bad.car..
Had a ’66 180 corsa. Great car but GM didn’t spring for Teflon coated valve seals @ 6 bucks a pop. Then they just abandoned it. Never bought another g m!!!!
A flat six is one of my favourite 4-stroke engine designs. Kinda felt like Porsche was on a different level, compared to GM, though. I bet this could’ve been a contender, if it had been developed. I think it was popular in kit cars & planes.
And air boats!
I would be all over this if it had the 4 speed rather than automatic. My son had a 69 Cores all thru High School 20 years ago, told me he wished he never sold it. Has been looking for another one since, will find convertibles or Automatic as but hard to find with 4 speed in good condition or even at half decent price.
A 69 what?
Asking price is fair for how nice this one is, imo. Really gorgeous. 4 speed agree would be better.
I have to sell my 65 Monza Convt. 110/PG. I’ll take a third of this price today.
Always wanted a yellow corvair. When can I pick it up?
Anytime Doone I’m in Madison Wisconsin.
My dad restored 7 corsa, monzas only convertibles 4 spds 140/180 turbos at 17 I had fun with these cool cars in new england heat was not so good but summer fun was a blast not so fast but really fun to drive cars.
I had a 1966 Mazda 110 convertible. Red interior and originally white exterior. In mine, the spare tire was in the engine compartment and the battery was in a different location than the photo above. I had it during high school and I wish I had the money to replace the engine when it seized up my junior year in college.
My ’65 had the 110 and 4 speed. Nothing slow about it and a great autocross car. Nice one here. Put one of the 110s in a VW van that was our support vehicle for cross desert motorcycle runs.
These are such good looking cars, especially the two door hardtop. To me the first generation looked old from the start.
Maybe a stupid question but how hard is a 4-SP MTX swap for a Corvair?
really nice Corvair and the colors work really well on it. still wear the selling dealer’s badge from new. these have been selling right around this car asking price especially when they are this nice. this really looks good in the pics.
I autocrossed a 4 carb 4 speed back in the seventies when they were pretty new. With the 4 sp and Independent rear Suspension they really handled well and had good power. The turbo had more HP but with the turbo lag they were not great for autocross. They were cheap in the day, could be driven during the week and raced on weekend but they usually leaked oil from the pushrod tubes and the oil smell would fill the car. This one might have that problem. More modern sealants and gaskets would fix that but involve a lot of labor. And of course no Chevrolet Dealer will work on a Corvair !
The go-to fix for the pushrod tubes is using Viton o-rings. They have been around for a long time. I believe the first time I used them was 1971 or so in my mom’s 66.
I had a 64 Monza convertible white and black with red interior 4 speed
I bought at Bob Sharp Motors in 1967 for $800. I had to sell it in 1969 for a station wagon I needed for work for $200. Remorse to this day.
The 64 Plymouth Suburban was just what I needed and was a sturdy reliable car for many years before I traded it for a paint job on my truck.
Still love that Corvair.
Me likes…….
The only Corvair I’ve ever seen with only one carburetor was the aftermarket ram air set like I had on mine. 4 barrel Holley on top in place of the 4 single barrels. It was much faster than a stock 140 but not as quick as the turbo 180. Oh how I miss that car and would love to find another Corsa.
So, this owner is so old he/she is using Pony express or Carrier Pigeons for their preferred method of communication?
By the time you make earthly contact this little putt-putt will be due for another paint job.
Nice looking Corvair… looks to be in very good condition. I had a 65 Corvair Corsa back in the day with the 140 hp engine and a 4spd transmission… White 2dr with Red interior…Loved her alot and put many miles on her and she was quick and nimble and very dependable… I just might have considered this Corvair listed here if she had a bigger engine and a 4spd… but a true Corvair enthusiast will likely eye this one.
Nice car, looks to be in great shape, but way too dear.
I’m holding out for the 1961, White, Corvair 4-Door, so I can wear my SSSP uniform and play Ultraman.
I’ve had a bunch of Corvairs… I still have these two. The white 65 Corsa is a Crown based mid-engine conversion, the 66 convert is a 140 4 speed factory AC car that is a CA build. Just finished a bare metal repaint, and complete interior, every soft part has been replaced, all new emblems, etc.
Wow! Very cool! I’m really envious!