This 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Coupe has been sitting in storage for over 30 years, but with its rebuilt engine and clean Southern body, it could be an easy project to get back on the road. Listed for $4,500 in Mount Airy, Maryland, the seller notes that it’s a Carolina car with no typical northern rust and that it runs from a gas can, though the brakes need work after decades of sitting. It’s currently listed here on craigslist. Thanks for the tip, Rocco B.!
The Corvair Monza was Chevrolet’s sporty compact, famous for its air-cooled, rear-mounted flat-six engine. By 1965, the Corvair had received its sleek second-generation bodywork, with sharper lines and improved suspension. This Monza is equipped with the desirable 110-horsepower, twin-carburetor engine paired with an automatic transmission, making it an easy cruiser once mechanically sorted. The seller claims the engine was rebuilt before being parked and still runs, though it’s been started only from a gas can rather than the long-stored fuel tank.
Cosmetically, the car appears to be in solid shape for a long-stored project. The seller stresses that it’s always been a Southern car, originally from the Carolinas, and does not have the typical rust issues found on many Corvairs that lived in northern climates. The body was repainted at some point, and while it will need cleaning and detailing after years in storage, it looks straight and presentable in photos. The interior is described as “nice,” which suggests it may only need a thorough cleaning rather than a full restoration.
As with any car that has been stored for decades, the brake system will need to be completely gone through, and the fuel system, particularly the tank, will need cleaning or replacement. The seller suggests this should be a relatively straightforward project, calling it “easy to make a driver.”
The biggest complication is the title. The seller has a clean title issued in 1982, but it was reassigned to a dealer that closed in the early 1990s, making it effectively non-transferable under standard rules. The seller claims the process to obtain a new title is simple, suggesting a service such as Classic Title LLC could handle it for around $400 and a 6–8 week turnaround. Buyers who are comfortable navigating that process will find themselves with a solid, well-preserved Corvair Monza for a reasonable price.
Would you tackle the title work and enjoy this garage-stored Monza as a budget-friendly weekend cruiser, or is the paperwork hassle enough to scare you off?
Well shucks, that’s the home of Andy Griffith!
Wrong Mount Airy 8banger, Andy was born in the one in North Carolina. There was a big billboard there announcing it, the last time that I passed through.
My ’65, maroon with black interior, spoked wheels, telescoping wood steering wheel and 4 on the floor was a blast to drive. Turbo exhaust helped free up some ponies and we gave the the Porsche and Healey guys a run for their money at the autocrosses.
Great candidate for an electric motor swap.
I remember, as a kid, my uncle having a 1965 Turbo Corvair. Our family had a 1964 yellow Corvair 700 sedan with black vinyl interior… punishment enough in the summer, even if you were well behaved.
Before filling the gas tank I would replace all fuel lines and clean out the tank. At least in the VW these lines were prone to being cracked by heat and ozone over time.
I owned 2 Corvairs of the early variety. I have worked on and driven a few of the later body style Corvairs and I really appreciated the improvements in looks and drivability of the 65 to 69s. If I only had the room and was 35 years younger………..
Corvairs are one of my favorites and I would quickly walk away from this one. The duct-taped hose is a get-by repair. The gas tank has been cleaned but the car runs on a gas can. The image of the frunk hood’s underside is nice but what does the rest of the frunk look like? Who knows what is underneath the early nineties paint job. The car needs brake work and an ‘easy to get’ title. If it had AC all it would need is a recharge. Service the little stuff and the asking price might seem more reasonable.
AFA the wheels, steelies with trim rings and first generation OE baby moon-like hubcaps embossed with Corvair are the best look according to me.
In 1974 I bought a 1964 Monza 4-door with buckets, fold down rear seat, and a powerglide for $50. The headlight eyebrows were rusty but the rest of the car was solid. I drove it 2 years and sold it for $50.
A.G. is right. Like it or not, Corvairs don’t benefit from the value swell that most classics have. You can get more Corvair (and less title hassle) elsewhere for this price.
If it really has minimal rust then I think around 4k is a good deal. I have a corv-8 project that I have never driven yet. If this was closer I would be tempted to check it out would love to have a stock vair to drive while I work on the V8 car. Brakes and mechanicals to me are way easier to deal with than rust. Could probably have this on the road in a few weekends.
Could be a fairly easy to get it up and running. Sometimes a “get it back on the road” project can be rewarding compared to getting bogged down in a long term resto or rebuild.
if it’s so easy why doesn’t the owner present any buyer with a clean title instead of his B/S story. that listing is 1 of the worst C/L ads i have ever read. hard pass
if getting a title is so easy why not get it and add a $1000 to the price?