I tend to be leery of low mileage claims unless there is documentation that can prove it, but every once in a while you come across a car that looks like it might actually be low mileage. This 1969 Chevrolet Corvair 500 is claimed to only have seen 4,546 miles so far. While there’s still a chance that the odometer is off, this car looks like it might actually be a true low mileage survivor. To take a look at it yourself, find the eBay listing here.
At first glance, this Corvair looks to be in near perfect condition, but on closer inspection there are plenty of flaws as a result of its time parked in the original owner’s garage. The seller claims it was under the care of the same family until they got it. While it was parked in the original owner’s garage, it had stuff piled against it, which lead to lots of chips and scratches. The interior looks great and just needs some cleaning. Apparently it also needs some work to the mechanicals, as the brakes need to be replaced and one of the valves is sticking. Hopefully, the valve problem isn’t a more serious valve train issue and can be easily fixed.
Corvairs aren’t terribly valuable, but rarely do you come across one with this few of miles. I would want to do my research and make sure the mileage is correct and that the valve problem isn’t going to involve a complete rebuild of the engine. Given how original it is, I would just get it back on the road and enjoy it as is. What would you do with it?
The prettiest Corvair.
it’s on the dash
wheres the shifter?
….it’s on the dash….
This is an automatic transmission car. The shifter is the lever on the IP, just to the right of the fuel gauge. ‘Vair trivia; there is no “park” on the automatic cars. Must use the parking brake, or a large rock, or both.
I found that out the hard way, and my dad wasn’t very happy about it.
I like Corvairs, but the 500 was the bare bones price leader. El Strippo.
shifter is on the dash,left of radio…you see the horn button…look past it and on the dash…black knob
~ throughout the years there have always been many low mileage Corvairs. i am sure the reason was/is that the original purchasers did not enjoy driving them for their own personal reasons. the reasons may have been unfamiliarity with the rear-engine layout or air-cooled engines, fear spread by the media about ‘Unsafe At Any Speed’ or who knows what else. i am not one of those who disliked the Corvair, let me make that clear. but the consequence is that there are many nice examples with few miles, needing a minimum of restoration work, a huge bonus for their fans.
I had a 1965 140 (4 carburetor) 3 speed. It was a great car and pretty fast.
Beautiful car and the new owner will be a lucky person. We had a 69 corsa/monza this color years ago. I’m not sure why, but many of the corvair faithful back then referred to it as a 68 1/2.
FWIW ours had the 4 carb 6cyl, 4 speed trans, widened steelies, slight lowering, split bumper conversion, and white seats & door panels to accent the OE black interior. It was driven mercilessly, part of my job as copilot was to keep one eye on the mirror and let dad know when the fan belt was rolling down the road behind us. Which was frequently.
I had 2 65 Corsa’s back in the day & now have a 63 Spyder I never thru fan belts, dropped a few valve guides from driving a little, ahem, fast.
There are low mileage examples of all sorts of cars. Cool car if you can deal with a stripper I have been watching this one.
Have driven Vairs since 1965 and love them in fact have 6 right now. The lifer has just bleed down need to run and while the ill be fine. Change thew oil seals and your good to go for 100,000 more miles. Have one my 64 that has 250,000 on it and has never had the heads off and I’m the second owner got it in 84 with 38.000.That one should sell for around 6 grand.
rich
Good looking car, but the stripper-level trim kills it for me. Those cars NEEDED buckets and a 4-speed!
My grandfather was a small town lawyer in Tennessee, on his 65th birthday his present to himself was a new Marina Blue ’66 Monza coupe… just a gorgeous car, and with a 4-speed it was perfect for him.
Quite honestly it’s hard to tell on photos the difference between a 4000 mile car and a really well kept 104000 mile car (with a lot of Highway miles).
Namely, because of what climate it was kept in and if stored indoors properly.
The main difference would show in the wear of the back bolster for the front seat, the brake pedal, the ORIGINAL ignition key and lock AND the condition of the engine, mainly wear or compression.
Again an inspection in person is the best way to tell !
Stripper or not an inexpensive way to get into the collector car crowd & fun to drive. But join a Corvair club “CORSA”, to find parts source & people who can guide you along, air cooled engines are a different animal.
What a great styling design. Imagine if the the engine (a good one) was a mid-ship…………..
with Hewland behind that………….
@$7600. I am guessing there are some folks that think the miles are legit.
What makes you feel it’s not. Of course you need a closer check but every so often it happens.
I’m not saying the miles aren’t legit. Got the feeling some folks did. I think the car is exactly what the seller says it is.
MY SISTER CAME HOME WITH A 66 ONE TIME SAYING A FRIEND WAS SELLING IT AND SHE WANTED MY OPINION WHICH IN ITSELF WAS STRANGE CAUSE SHE NEVER LISTENED TO ME ANYWAY. I TOLD HER I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH THE OIL BUILD UP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE AND SHE SHOULD BRING IT IN AND HAVE IT CHECKED OUT IN A LIFT.WELL BEING MISS KNOW IT ALL SHE BOUGHT IT FOR $500. A WEEK LATER SHE COMES DOWN THE STREET WITH THE CAR ON FIRE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPT. SHOWED UP THERE WAS NOTHING MUCH LEFT TO IT.SHAME CAUSE IT WAS A COOL LITTLE CAR.I NEVER GOT TO FIND THE REASON FOR THE OIL BUILD UP EITHER. GOOD LUCK TO THE NEW OWNER AND IF HE READS BARN FINDS LISTEN TO WHAT THESE GUYS HAVE TO SAY. IF IT HAS A MOTOR AND FOUR WHEELS THEY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
There is no shifter, you get in start the car, then close your eyes and wish it into the gear you want.
The valve sound is likely normal Corvair. They had hydraulic lifters that would get varnished up if the oil got old. It may go away with new oil, or it may be possible to pull the lifter and clean or replace it. They are on the bottom of the motor and easy to get to from underneath. The head does not have to be pulled to work on the lifters. You just pull out the pushrod tubes and the lifter is instantly accessible. These were actually very well designed motors. There were four engine options.95 hp, 110 hp and 140 hp (4 carb version), and a 180 hp turbo charged version.
i’d buy this car in a heartbeat if I could afford one more car.
The 2 speed auto makes any Corvair a real dog.
Great looking body style, I had a 63 Spyder that was fast enough to scare you and no one dared to light a match with the turbo boosting to due to gas fumes in the cabin. Oh to be young and stupid again.
My first car was a corvair white with red interior absolutely loved it. Had my 8 track boy I thought I was cool that was 1968,. Had that car until my dad heard Ralph Nader tell everyone it was a death trap because of the rear engine. I was then driving a 4 door boat, I cried at the lot I had lost my best friend. Would like to find another one reasonable priced and medium miles,good body, engine and transmission. If anyone has one for a broken hearted lady longing for a repeat teenage life email me.