The advent of the VW Beetle shook the US auto industry to its core – but not right away. The car was tiny, tinny, and its tail was full of motor. Sales were slow until in 1959, VW’s “Think Small” advertisement reminded folks they were tired of girthy American fare. The first American car company with a competitor on the ground was Chevrolet, who was willing to copy the rear-engine configuration in a compact-ish package. (Anyone know what car Ford made, also in response to the Beetle, but which never saw production? Here’s a hint.) The Corvair was introduced in 1960; more than 1.8 million were sold before the model was phased out in 1969. Body styles ranged from the hip Lakewood wagon to the Rampside pickup, from a four-door sedan to the sexy Monza Spyder. Here on craigslist is a 1963 Chevrolet Corvair Monza, priced at $3000. This car has been plying the streets of Brooklyn, New York – a rough life for sure; Mitchell G found the ad for us.
It wasn’t enough to put the engine in the rear; Chevrolet also made it an air-cooled (but mind that oil level!) flat-six. This is the normally aspirated “Turbo-Air” 2.4-liter, 80 hp mill, breathing through twin Rochester carburetors. It’s a manual, but two were available in ’63 – a three-speed was standard and the four-speed was optional. The seller notes the gas tank and lines are new, as are the shocks. A dual master cylinder was installed and the tires were replaced in the last five years – which could mean they’re just about due again. The odometer quit working some time ago, and a new muffler is included with the sale.
The Monza was assigned the 900 designation to denote the top trim level; only this model provided individual seating up front, dual sun visors, arm rests, a Deluxe steering wheel, and other niceties. I’ll hazard a guess that the upholstery is worn under those covers; the rear seats are showing some age. The headliner is decent. The seller notes that the turn signals aren’t working correctly.
Rust, dings, and paint loss are showing throughout, but this baby runs and drives. I’ve always liked the graceful greenhouse and prominent waistline of these cars. The market prefers the second generation Corvair, when a facelift erased the body creases, the suspension was improved, and the engine displacement grew. Any convertible will tend to sell for more than the closed cars, and turbocharged examples will see premium prices as well. Low four figures is about right for a project car, though it’s difficult to justify a restoration when fine cars will barely breach $10k. How much would you pay for this Corvair Monza?
Lakewoods are cool cars. You will get more smiles and thumbs up than any other classic. Parts are plentiful and it’s the best bang for your dollar. Michelle you are correct it’s best to find one that nice rather than one that needs restored. Unless you want to build it the way you want it and don’t mind spending more than they are worth. Pictured here is my 61 Canadian build Lakewood. She’s a little rough around the edges but mechanically it’s all gone through. Right now building a new 110hp engine to replace the tires 80hp mill.
Maybe someone can tell me how to upload without the inversion!
stand on your head?
Thought that was a nod to Nader.
Do you live in Australia?
One would think 🤔
From the orientation of the picture, this car must be in Oceania, not Canada which is in the northern hemisphere.
Oh, to be serious for a moment, the other “Beetle-buster” was supposed to be the Ford Cardinal with a V-4 and FWD. Never made it here but it saw the light of day in Germany as the Taunus 12M.
This still has all the hubcaps, after all these years – ever through the ’70s?!
That battery looks decades old.
I would think a passenger door mirror was quite rare on these for ’63, since even the driver’s door mirror was optional.
I wonder if anyone who knew nothing about these cars threw a whole bunch of groceries, clothes, etc. bought from shopping in the rear engine compartment of 1 of these.
I think the Monza trim level got you two mirrors?
Reminds me of the old one about two women with VWs. One broke down, the other driver stopped. Got their heads together and decided to look under the hood. Opened the front, saw no engine and owner said, “Hey, there’s the problem; the engine’s missing!” Other one said, “No problem. I looked the other day and there’s a spare in my trunk!”
Looks to be a ’61.
It’s a 63. the embellishment on the front panel where the grill should be was changed each year, and this is the 1963 version.
I think it appears to be a 700, not a Monza. Bench seat under that seat cover? No Monza badging.
@Big time Charlie, This is a Monza with bucket seats shown in the listing, and the Monza badge on the front fenders behind the wheel on both sides.
Here is link to the 1963 Corvair brochure, which includes a rare image of the optional factory or dealer installed AC! https://xr793.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1963-Chevrolet-Corvair.pdf
It has the Eat Bertha’s Mussels bumper sticker from Fells Point in Baltimore!
“Eat Bertha’s Mussels” Tastes like chicken.
I remember as a teenager in the 70’s and going through wrecking yards. I would see more Corvairs than any other car. There would be ten or twenty of them and all in really bad shape. People must have drove them hard until they quit. Never saw one in good shape like it could have drove out
I like this, buy it and fix up just to run around in during the summer. You could spend very little getting this up to par and maintaining it. My childhood friends mother had one and I remember us riding in the back. Poor thing was rear ended by a delivery truck, not pretty. I was sure glad we were not in the backseat that day. Engine ended up on the ground and the back license plate in the backseat. Sad site in deed.
Beater.
I inherited a 61 almost like this when my dad passed away. He had bought it for something like $1 because no one was interested in it. It ran fine and was a fun car to drive. Unfortunately, I had no place to store it through Nebraska winters so I gave it to my nephew for his 16th birthday. His mom wasn’t pleased. But the Corvair is still in my nephew’s garage and he gets it out for a drive every once in awhile.
Club Coupe. One of the perennial best looking roof lines.
These were much better vehicles than the VW death traps, despite what Ralph Nader lobbied against
My oldest brothers only had reverse after some time of his ownership.
At that point, him and his friends would drive through the neighborhood backwards with one of them sitting backwards looking out the rear glass like he was driving with the arm motions and all. Hilarious looks from folks. 1970 was a great period for car loving youths.