A passion for motorsports led modern renaissance man John Fitch to invent safety innovations such as the water-filled Fitch Barriers seen today on race courses and public highways around the world. As an engineer and accomplished race driver, Fitch appreciated the innovative design of the Chevrolet Corvair, and sold an improved version of the air-cooled rear-wheel-drive coupe and convertible. This 1965 Chevrolet Fitch Sprint Corvair Corsa convertible near Menlo Park, California seeks a new owner here on craigslist where $18,000 can make this unique slice of automotive performance history yours. Thanks to reader Ikey H. for spotting this interesting alternative to ’60s muscle cars.
Jeopardy Category: “Rear-Engine Flat-Six-Cylinder Performance Cars known for performance and handling.” Many enthusiasts might guess “What is the Porsche 911?” for every answer, but a sub-set would certainly consider the Corvair. The Fitch Sprint added a host of engine, suspension, and other improvements to make the economy-minded Corvair quite entertaining indeed. In the early 2000s, a stripped-down race-dedicated Corvair with sticky tires regularly appeared at SCCA Blue Ridge Region Solo II events, shaming more powerful and sophisticated vehicles. Thanks to corvaircorsa.com for some details.
When a racing driver modifies a car with driving in mind, what seem like minor changes all work together brilliantly. I’ve never driven a Fitch Sprint Corvair, but they are said to deliver a truly satisfying and much-improved driving experience.
The four-carburetor setup and other changes boosted horsepower from 140 to 155. Remember, folks, this is a 2500 pound car, a half-ton lighter than an average American coupe of its day. Fitch knew a light car is easier to accelerate, stop, and coax through corners. Though no match in a drag-race against the strongest muscle cars of its day, the Fitch Sprint would have smoked many plebeian V8s outright, and faster straight-line competitors would need a talented driver to catch the Fitch Sprint on a twisty two-lane or road course.
Family legend holds that my blood line includes two inventors named John Fitch. One created the Fitch Sprint you see here and invented racing safety innovations that save lives every day, and one invented the first functional steamboat some decades before Robert Fulton. I’d be happy to invent something that prevents 10mm sockets from vanishing from my garage on a yearly basis! Sadly I’ll have to pass on buying this piece of family history. Rabid Corvair enthusiasts and others are invited to comment below on these fine automobiles and whether this one is worth $18,000.
The fitch mod package cost $383.65 in 65 what a deal.
My next door neighbor here in Maryland inherited a ’65 Fitch Corsa from his father who used to race it in SCCA events in Arizona. It was an Arizona car its whole life. It sat in an Arizona garage for almost 45 years. All in all, the car is in decent condition. Some surface rust and a little dry rot on the interior, but the engine is strong with a few minor wiring issues. My neighbor hasn’t done any work on it and it sits in his garage 95% of the time. He’s offered it to me for $3500. But, without a place to work on it, I’ve had to decline. His kids said they don’t want it. Kids now days don’t know what they’re passing up!
Can you send me info on the car?
pbpied at aol dotcom
This car is also in Hemmings. Unfortunately the value of Corvairs was cursed by the notoriety. I worked on and drove a Corvair just like this in high school. Other than the long time to heat up and defrost windows in a Chicago winter it was a great car. I read the book by Nader, even as a 17y/o I wondered why he attacked this model when Volkswagens and Porsches were essentially the same basic design. I am tempted to buy one, but not this fluffed up example, a stock unit would suffice.
Fluffed up? You need to google up John Fitch. Be prepared for several hours of reading. Time to bone up on 24 hours of LeMans, racing Cunninghams, highway safety, Lime Rock Park, land speed records and other endeavors John was into.
Was just a figure of speech. Not descriptive. I have read a bit about his inventing and personally testing road hazard obstruction barriers. Quite the guy. I am a little concerned about this being a convertible when most of his work was done on more structurally ridged platforms. Could this be a clone or tribute?
And if they were so bad, why did ole Ralph drive one himself? I’ve never heard a good answer to that question.
Todd, I feel you on the 10mm sockets!!
Man I do too, wth? It’s like socks in the dryer.
I banned my nephew from my garage and the number of tool losses was dramatically reduced. Not a bad kid, just has no respect for anything.
im stuck in the 70’s and my 1/2 inch sockets are missing.
If you were a corvair fan (pun intended), this might be right up your alley. Some of the first cars I worked on in were corvairs., and I bet this one would haul the groceries. If you researched the numbers of these beauties, you might find its pretty rare! With the mods and a good set of tires this baby might be a blast to drive. Good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC
Other than the sellers claim of the dealer installed badging, wheel, and trim, how would you be able to tell if this car is the real thing. Any Corvair fans out there? Please educate me.
This car has been for sale forever, seller started at $25k and has never provided more than a few pics and a few words.
John Fitch was an amazing guy and this car was his way to kick some porsche butt. He founded Lime Rock in Conn, was a factory team driver for Mercedes also drove w Briggs Cunningham this guy was a motorsports promoter par excellance.
I would give my left …toe for this car being top down makes it more rare Fitch made more coupes.
Google John Fitch
I think I am in Love and MY wife is going to kill me but here goes time to start a bid!!
GM put the 4 carbs on the highest horse power engine south of the turbo engine. Fitch put the power into the engine itself, rejetted the carbs and had a real mover. Our ’65 two carb car was plenty fast for a grocery hauler but Fitch’s cars were really something.
The carbs were re-jetted, but that was just the beginning. The carbs were also rotated from their normal positions and the acceleration pump linkage was straightened to give a bit more raw fuel on throttle opening. The normal 140 cars used their second set of carburetors as “secondaries”. They had no secondary acceleration pumps and the linkage opened late so they contributed only at WOT. Most of the Fitch cars had true full featured carbs in all four positions so there was an additional urge on throttle opening. They also featured lowered flaot levels which kept raw fuel from sloshing and flooding the intake bowls. The intakes were also polished a bit and carefully matched to ensure max flow. Some of the Fitch cars had the cam profiles tweaked a bit to provide the maximum fuel charge. Most had electronic ignition and high performance coil (mine had a Mallory coil). Many of the Fitch cars also had stellite coated valves which helped prevent valve warping (remember, this is an air-cooled car). Finally, most of the Fitch cars had tubular headers. The cars sounded wonderful – easily as good as the A/H 3000s and Jaguars of the day. I have never before seen a convertible Fitch Sprint. Mine was a coupe. Mine was the only one I ever saw that did not have the “sail” panels at the back of the top, just like the run-of-the-mill variety. Most of the Fitch cars also had no rear seat (surprising how much that gadget weighed). TRhey also had either shortened steering arms or later model steering boxes which were much faster ratios that they ordinary Corvair and offered just about three turns of the wheel lock-to-lock. Some of us put both the fast steering sector AND the shortened steering arms on our cars. That resulted in really quick steering that felt a bit twitchy on the road Many, if not most, of the Fitch owners were pretty well convinced that the cars were the equal of the 911 Porsche offerings of the day. In many places, Corvairs ruled the autocross courses.
One other observation — my Corvair went well over 150,000 miles with only one clutch and a replacement of one of the cylinder barrels. They ate rear tires.
I had a 65 Fitch rag top that I bought in 1971 from Frog Hollow Chevy where I worked (they were a Yenko Dealer) same set up, my only change was a set of 14″ wheels with F-70 tires on the rear.Foolishly sold the Hands wheels! Beat a few 318 Dodges and 283 Impalas. Wicked on the Bridge Hampton track. The car was stolen at the CORSA Convention at Lime Rock in 1978.
There is / was a Fitch registry with serial No’s for the built cars but none for the kits he sold.
Maybe there is some sort of wormhole between your garage and mine. A mystery surplus of 10mm sockets here but never any 9mm or 14mm. I thought maybe the 9mm were maturing into 10mm and then taking off on a migration when they reached 14mm
Your the one that stole my 10 mm sockets!
Search warrant being persued
My high school auto shop teacher had one of these. Awesome. The carbs were just a joy to look at…
I have seen and driven Sprints, followed the car in the Press, drove one, and never knew Fitch modified Convertibles. As far as I know production was limited to Coupes only. What’s going on here?
Fitch Sprints (Corvairs) – Could be built by John Fitch or you could mail order the parts. A well documented John Fitch built car holds far more value than the later. This car seems only to have the wheels, steering wheel and badges and looks in quite poor shape. The is a factory 140hp engine not the two added carb Fitch setup.
John Fitch also built a few Fitch Firebirds, VW’s and two Fitch Phantom Toronados. I own the only remaining Phantom (available for sale btw).
@Kevin – please consider sending it in so we can feature it!
Kevin, there might be a story in your Fitch Toronado. Google my name, and if you like, get in touch. Jim Koscs
Chasing Classic Cars has a show on John Fitch along w a years earlier interview w John. A true gentleman who helped racing & cars immeasurably.
I would like to read more about his other projects like the Toronado & others.
I had a silver blue Corvair Corsa 140 in the 60’s, it was a rocket, loved that car. We smoked an Olds 442 one night and I had witnesses in the car with me. I would love to have one again, but the price tag on this is simply waiting for the one fool who has more money than brains. I don’t mind paying for value, but I do mind paying to be kicked in the cajones. Awesome memories of the Corsa 140, the 110 Monza was nothing spectacular but add a few more carbs to it and you pump up the exhilaration exponentially.
I have a glacier gray 65 coupe purchased near Seattle. I love the car.
It was Fitch who convinced Mercedes to drop out of the ’55 LeMans race after the horrific accident where a crashed Merc killed over 80 spectators while being driven by his codriver Leveque. Fitch to Herr Nuebaurer the Merc team manager..”Does Mercedes want to be known for winning this race over the bodies of 80 Frenchman?”. Remember WW2 had ended just 10 years previously.
You could buy a Fitch Sprint built by John Fitch or mail order the parts. A well documented car built by Fitch is much more valuable. Therefore any Corvair could be a “Fitch”. This car does not have 2 carbs added; it is a factory 140HP. This car seems only to have the steering wheel, wheels and badges and seems in poor shape.
Fitch also built a few Fitch Firebirds, VW’s and 2 Fitch Phantom Toronados (I own the only remaining one, available for sale btw).
Judging from what a regular Monza or Corsa conv is currently selling for, this might be somewhat over priced still. A clean Monza will bring $8500 to $10,500 and a Corsa $10,000 to $13,000. I don’t think the Fitch connection is going to bring $5,000 premium. I’d put it at $13 to $15k tops, and only if the Fitch connection can be verified. Love the Corvairs and hope to have mine on the road by next summer. Long way to go though.
You are way low on your price value, I sold my 64 Fitch sprint convert in 2006 for $ 19,500 with a trailer, granted it was a 95 plus gold car at CORSA concours judging and that car got an award at Amilia Island show a few years later, when I had it I autocrossed it in Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Virginia and Florida, usually in the upper half of class with 25 to 35 cars entered. I wish I still had the car but I built an autocross car that is only used for racing and have won 3 of the last 4 convention event so I am having fun.
Agreed with much of what you say, Gene, but remember, this car is likely not Fitch-built, and FWIW, your ’64 was/is probably more collectible. Besides the question of who added the parts, there is no mention here of whether the engine is original, or a replacement, and the overall condition seems to be less than optimal. Just a look at the corrosion evident on the wheels and emblems shows that. Eons away from a 95-point show car!
This is a lot of money for a car which has me questioning it’s origins, and a few things don’t make sense. As a ’65, there should be a “Corvair” script near the leading edge of the hood, driver’s side. Maybe the hood was replaced with a ’66 or later?
From the photos, I can’t tell whether this car is all one color, or Maroon in the front and black in the rear? To me, $18K is a ton of cash to ask for a car which is presented so sparsely.
Your post seriously makes me want to resurrect and autocross my ’66 Corsa coupe again. Dang.
if you put lipstick on a pig it is still a pig
Nice car but worth ?
I once had a Fitch-Sprint but the doctor saved me with Penicillin
There are ways to cure the 10mm socket dilemma…… use a string and tie them to your wrists. Oh wait a minute that’s for wrenches,well let me see about them sockets….I got it put Velcro on your hands and some on your sockets no way you could lose them like that