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Clean Find: 1963 Corvair Monza

1963 Corvair Monza

Thanks to reader Robert R for this find! This plain but clean Corvair is just northwest of St. Louis, Missouri and is advertised here on craigslist for $1,500. The ad shows a picture of the car being stored indoors, and while the pictures aren’t great, some corrosion on the rear fender lip is the only rust readily visible. Obviously a pre-purchase inspection would be a good idea. The engine is free, and it’s a good sign that the car has historic plates, implying that at least one previous owner appreciated the car. A four-speed manual transmission would seal the deal for me, but it’s a long ways from North Carolina! This looks like one find that might go back on the road quickly and provide enjoyment right away. Any other air-cooled Chevy fans out there besides me?

Comments

  1. Avatar Bobsmyuncle

    I’m a big fan of Corvairs. Especially the early body style. The history itself is remarkable and the styling is beautiful.

    One of these will make it’s way into my garage soon enough.

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  2. Avatar JW

    Nice find for $1500, just on the other side of the state from me.

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  3. Avatar fred

    I was a card carrying member of the Corvair club at age 17 (1974). Unfortunately, it left me beside the road multiple times with fuel pump problems and ruined me for Corvairs.

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  4. Avatar Another Bob

    Corvair owner since 81′ . Great cars. very reliable too.

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  5. Avatar Geoff

    A fuel pump is about the easiest thing to adjust/repair/replace on a Corvair. I think it’s a really good thing you & the Corvair parted company, Fred. A nice car like that should be in more capable hands.

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  6. Avatar dalesdeadbug

    Sweet cars, most reliable air cooled automobile i have ever owned. I had a 63 monza 900 coupe just like this except mine was white. The flags on the decklid denote that this one is a 102hp model.

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    • Avatar Larry

      Good looking cars. I had a 63 Monza 900 102 hp 2 door coupe. It was teal blue. Got the car cheap, not running. Sadly never got it running. Sold it. Hope to have another someday.

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  7. Avatar charlie Member

    By ’63 GM had put the anti sway bar (actually a bar that kept the rear wheels from hiking up) in the rear suspension, and the “unsafe” part was cured. My mother had a l960 without the bar, but it never spun around but I came front bumper to front bumper with a ’61 that did – dry day, straight road, 50 mph, crosswind, and the rear hiked up, and it spun around, a complete 360. Saw a Renault Dauphine do the same thing. Otherwise it drove like a Porsche of the time, only far more tractable. Cornered like it was on rails. I had what I thought was a fuel pump issue, but it was a clogged fuel filter in the gas tank, once replaced, it ran like a champ. Now the gasoline heater under the hood was a problem, but otherwise a great car. By ’64 with the more powerful engine it was even better.

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    • Avatar dalesdeadbug

      You are incorrect Charlie. GM didn’t start putting the anti sway bar in the rear until after ’63. If i pushed mine too hard the rear end would get loose. Not a bad thing once you get used to it and figure out how to use it to your advantage.

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  8. Avatar Joe Howell

    Love Corvairs, had 63 Turbo Spyder over 40 years ago.

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  9. Avatar Charles Hammond

    I have owned more Corvairs than most people have ever seen!!

    I also worked at two different Chev Dealership’s when We lived in Illinois! My best Friend & I specialized in them! We worked on them for 9 neighboring dealerships!

    The OLD timers at that time did NOT want anything to do with those XXXXX things!

    Quickhall
    Santa Rosa, Ca.

    Like 0

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