Chevrolet entered the 1960s with an unorthodox compact car by Detroit standards of the day. That was the Corvair with its air-cooled, rear-mounted flat-six engine. By the end of the decade, demand had trickled off for a variety of reasons, and just 6,000 copies were built before Chevy threw in the towel in 1969. This Corvair 500 is from that last run of the interesting cars and has just 6,600 miles. Located in Federal Way, Washington, this ‘collectible” is available here on craigslist for $18,000. A tip of the hat to “Curvette” for the tip.
Besides negative press in the mid-1960s from safety advocate Ralph Nader, Chevrolet didn’t do a lot in the second half of the decade to improve the car past the 1965 redesign. So, demand declined, and Chevrolet decided the end was near for the car and made no further changes to the 1969 models. An example of things left off was the new locking steering column ignition switch that all the other Chevies had but this one. Only two models were offered, and only in 2-door hardtops and convertibles: the 500 and Monza.
We’re not sure if we’ve seen this 500 before. This one has less than 7,000 miles, just like the one we saw last year here on Barn Finds. The color is the same, but the wheels and tires are different, and they’re cross-country from one another. The seller is selling this 500 with an automatic transmission because of physical difficulties. The car seems to be in excellent shape, but only three photos are offered, and they cover mostly the same angle.
Without presenting the documentation to back up the sellers claim of low mileage it shouldn’t be taken at face value. By repeating the sellers claim without hesitation it becomes a tacit endorsement. It’s up to the seller to back up their claim in the ad, if they don’t, it should be noted.
Yesterday, there was an ad featured on this site for a basket case 1950 Ford convertible, that seller made a similar mileage claim. Mileage claims are typically used by sellers to justify a higher asking price, they should be treated as as such, a marketing ploy.
Steve R
If I didn’t know any better I’d swear this is my car that was stolen the day after I bought it in Miami.
Exactly the same car.
Do you have record of the VIN? Definitely worth checking into that.
Chevrolet planned to kill the Corvair after 1966. The Mustang was destroying it in sales, and their original plan was to drop the Corvair as soon as their new competitor for the Mustang (Camaro) was ready. However, they did not want it to look like they were caving to Nader, so they kept Corvair for a few more years. So, if you want to put the blame for the death of the Corvair on one man, look to Lee Iaccoca, not Ralph Nader actually extended the life of the Corvair. Please note that I have read that in numerous places, and it makes perfect sense, but I can’t offer stone cold proof of it. It’s almost certainly true, but I can’t guarantee it. What IS factual is that all of the suspension shortcomings that Nader pointed out in his book had already been corrected by the time his book came out. That is provable fact. Shortly after we bought our Corvair, my wife gifted me with a copy of “Unsafe at any Speed.” She complained that the sale mentioned the book coming with a dust cover that wasn’t there. When I opened the book, inside the front cover, I found something so much better. The book is stamped as being the property of the library of the GM desert proving grounds.
Where is the ’69 interior if this is indeed a 1969? Don’t try and fool Corvair enthusiasts, it just won’t work.
looks like a solid Corvair. a lot of these seem to be popping up for sale lately. this 1 of the better looking model years.
It doesn’t present as a 6k mile vehicle. Without verifiable documentation, the claim is worthless. While I like these last Corvairs, this appears to be a $12k unit tops. GLWTS.
It’s the best year been everything Ralph Nater didn’t like got fixed. It’s the year not the paperwork. Your not talking about a Rolls-Royce.
Corvair was before it’s time and not perfected.in any way..9 year.or 8 years of cars the gm kills it..then in 1973..the vega starts up again with small car because of gas crisis in 73 and nixon…it starts all over again..today its suv’s
This looks like a nice Corvair. If I had something that was supposed to be original, and low mileage. I’d most certainly have more the 3 photos of the same side up on a Craigslist ad. I’d love to see the interior, and under the hood and also the Frunk ( front trunk). I’d like to see some documentation too. These second generation ’65-’69 Corvair 2 door hardtops are very handsome cars, they wore those “Coke Bottle” lines very nicely. If the condition is just as nice on the drivers side and it doesn’t have any rust and is clean under the hood and has a great interio, that’s a fair price.
Being a 500 series car (base model) that only has 95hp he’s asking Monza convertible money for it. It’s worth no more than half. I still have the 65 Monza coupe dad drove as a company car that his mom (grandma Evelyn) bought new after the requisite 3,000 miles. I love Corvairs a ton! In all reality it almost looks like the one Linda Wall used to drive daily. Lon Wall ran Corvair Underground here in Oregon and they never owned another model car.
What does the driver side look like? All pics are of the pass side.
All of the above notwithstanding, I don’t love that color. Stock?
Doesn’t seem at all scammy to me :)
I would advise the owner to provide a lot more photos and some proof of mileage. No way I’m interested otherwise.