Is the Chevrolet Corvair the last undervalued collectible? In an era when every rusty, used-up beater coming out of a barn or garage is demanding $10K, and often getting it, Corvairs like the 1962 Monza Coupe given us by Mitchell G and viewable here on craigslist are all done for that same ten grand price. Why not double that? I honestly don’t know, because to my eyes, this is a pretty cool way to get around. If you agree, think about where you’d go from the $10,900 asking price, and get to Amherst, MA with your cash ready.

The Corvair is hardly a muscle car, with a 145-CID 6-cylinder engine, and the one in question here has an undetermined number of miles on the clock, with the current owner saying that the odo was broken when he got the car. But it’s a reliable piece, as attested to by the ad, which details a lot of recent work to make it road-worthy, including going through the fuel system. Under the hood, as in the interior and on the top surfaces, the condition looks quite spiffy, though the seller is very frank in declaring it to be driver quality, which is refreshing in a hobby where condition is often over-estimated. Still, you  don’t have to spend any money on this car to be proud of it. Maybe just reskin the front seats to get rid of some driver’s side wrinkles on the seat bottom.

As a bonus, there’s the slight prestige bump in that this car was used as a prop in the Macy’s catalogue. Now, if you hear that and think of 1960s scenes of real-beard GI Joes or Doris Day at the wheel and a silver flocked spruce shining in the background, relax. This catalogue was from the 2013 Spring issue. Still, it adds a point of interest and gives you something to show at the cruise night.

So what would prevent you from wanting this car? Sure, it’s a coupe, but look at this opportunity this way: How often are you going to drop the top on a convertible, in truth? Where I live, the weather goes from winter cold to blazing hot over one spring weekend and stays like that for six months. I don’t want to be sun baked, so my top would be up most of the time. A hardtop is perfect. (No A/C though might make the vinyl a bit steamy, but at least it’s not black.) Don’t think there’s profit potential in a perennially depressed Corvair marketplace, but as a consolation, understand that you’re getting a darned nice driver for possibly four figures, and that’s a bargain no matter how you slice it.