If I were selling this very pretty 1962 Corvair convertible with a desirable manual transmission on Craigslist near Seattle, I would go into detail about the complete restoration it has undergone. But this seller is terse, just telling us that the car had “a new paint job, top, exhaust, carburetor, starter, heater, door seals, seat belts, etc.” Thanks to Curvette for this one.
What the car didn’t have during the restoration, unfortunately, is an engine rebuild. And that’s what it needs now. “Will need a new engine or rebuild the current one. Starting to use oil.” In that case, perhaps the indicated 30,000 miles is actually 130,000. There aren’t any engine photos, but the rest of the car looks pretty tidy, including an all-new red bucket seat interior. The front seat covers could fit a little better, but they still look good. There’s not much chrome on a 1962 Corvair, but what there is (the bumpers) looks shiny. Note the equally nice Rambler convertible in the background above.
I’m not going to say that replacing the engine will be cheap. I see a period 95-horsepower engine sourced from a Lakewood van for $5,000 on eBay, but I’m not sure that one would fit without modification. The Corvair Ranch was selling rebuilt long-block Corvair engines (with heads) for about $5,000, but the link no longer works.
The convertible was a mid-’62 offering. Also, that year, Corvair dropped the base wagon and the Lakewood name but added a Monza wagon. The Monza also got the cool 150-horsepower turbocharged “Spyder” option in 1962, available on the convertible. The Loadside pickup was deep-sixed at the end of 1962.
The most popular Corvair for 1962 was the Monza Coupe, with 151,738 sold out of 292,531 Corvairs. But the ragtop found a few buyers too, albeit just 2,574 (including an unknown number of Spyders).
Vintage convertibles like this tidy Corvair sell briskly and have value. Hagerty puts the 1962 Corvair Monza Spyder in good condition at $8,500, but the convertible is worth more than the hardtop. The numbers could add up, especially if you could rebuild the engine yourself.
These are not a hard engine to rebuild, may just need sealed up and the oil cooler cleaned, they are usually neglected. Engine runs hot oil thins etc..had my share of the air cooled wonder from Chevrolet. As far as interchangeable well it’s amazing what is doable. Pulled a 110 Monza engine from a 66 and made a van run great!
Try a 140 in a van. That’s a strong runner, especially with the van’s 3.89 gear.
2574 is the number of Spyder convertibles built. There were 16,569 Monza convertibles like this one, which Hagerty values at $10,400. Not sure what the value of a 1962 Sypder coupe has to do with anything.
The seller is a bit thin with details and images. This appears to be a 900 series Monza. The windshield washer and push-button radio suggest a well-optioned car. Probably featuring a 4 speed.
$10,000 is a long stretch. Two or three thousand would be my ballpark based on images and description.
I owned a few Corvairs in my day and believe me, the oil leaks were there in the show room.
The classic problem with Corvair engines is engine oil leaks. The O-ring seals on the tubes where the pushrod shafts pass cause oil leaks due to the overheating of the air-cooled engine.
Dependable factory external lubrication system.
My Dad bought a ‘61 Loadside. He was thrilled to offload it for 1/2 what he paid for it.
The area of puget sound this day is in its surrounded by salt water and salt air I would have to get it on a lift and check out the underside before putting any money on it, having lived in Ocean Shores Washington for 10+ years I know what salt air does to cars. I have always wanted to get one of these just to Tinker on the engine and learn about them I have old repair manual that covers these cars and many others from the 60’s and 70’s and I have never got the opportunity to work on a rotary engine. I just can’t get to the $10k ask but judging by the old Rambler in the background with the Mechum plate I’m guessing that’s how they got to this asking price.
I wouldn’t worry too much about salt air. Lakewood isn’t a coastal town like ocean shores and you don’t really have a high salt content in the air
i Agree but the add says the car is in Poulsbo
This does not have a rotary engine, it is a flat-6.
I had this exact car when I was in college in ’65. Gave $1,200 for it. White 62 Monza convertible, red interior 4 spd. Had a Bill Thomas built 180 cube turbocharged engine put in it. Drag raced it all over Memphis. Couldn’t get a higher numerical rear end for it, so got 10 inch Mini Cooper wheels redrilled to fit and Avon slicks. Looked goofy and the engine almost dragged the ground, but I won a lot of races with it…thought it was fast. Found a Youtube a few weeks ago of a drag race between a stock 69 Supercharged Corsa and a stock 1992 Miata. Miata ate his lunch, so maybe I wasn’t as fast as I remember! $10K seems a little steep, but if I had a place to put it I’d be interested.
For what it’s worth, I love these cars. I had a ’65 Corsa that was an absolute joy–fast, nimble, and a real looker. I found some (no doubt) flimsy reason to sell it, I suppose, which I’ve sorely regretted in the 55 years since. Come to think of it, I regret selling all too many of the cars I once owned and enjoyed. Live and learn, I guess.
Fun and under appreciated cars if well maintained at reasonable prices. !
$10K for this vehicle is probably a “no can do” price” given it requires a engine refresh to which would to a large degree consume the majority of the value of car. What should it sell for??. The seller will eventually find out. Best to them.
A car just like this, white with white top and a 4 speed, just finished on Bring a Trailer, but the $10,500 bid did not reach reserve. It had the 140 hp engine, but with only two carbs (so it probably doesn’t actually have 140 hp). It looked and sounded like it was ready to drive through. I do like Corvairs, although the only air cooled cars I’ve owned were VWs.
High school buddy of mine had this same white drop top. During college we’d load up the front trunk with beer and ice and hit the local drive in. Made lots of friends walking by with the trunk lid up.
The prices of these is indeed stagnating. These are a blast. Far from perfect, but a great snag.