If you’ve ever owned a Corvair, you’ve probably been asked if it was a “Spyder.” While the Spyder was introduced as a turbocharged upgrade to the Corvair Monza in 1962, Chevrolet changed the name to “Corsa” when they introduced the new second-generation Corvair for the 1965 model year. With a standard 140-horsepower six with four carburetors (and an optional 180-horsepower turbocharged six), the Corsa was the hot Corvair setup for the two model years it lasted (1965 and 1966). Therefore, among Corvair collectors, not much could be better than a turbocharged Corsa Convertible, such as the example that Barn Finder PRA4SNW found here on Hagerty Marketplace in Marine City, Michigan. The high bid is $4,700 and climbing.
While all non-turbocharged Corvairs had at least two carburetors (one for each cylinder head), the turbo Corsa has one Carter side-draft carburetor. The turbo engine has a few internal upgrades to deal with the extra heat that the boost brought to the party, and so equipped, the Corsa was a pretty hot performer for a car with a 164-cubic-inch engine. Motor Trend found that the Corsa could reach 60 miles per hour in 10.9 seconds, finish the quarter-mile in 18.1 seconds at 79 miles per hour, and finally achieve a top speed of 114.
While the two-tone seats are a custom touch (the trim code indicates a blue interior), almost everything else appears to be as-delivered from the Willow Run plant near Ypsilanti, Michigan. Another deviation from stock is the steering wheel, a wood-rimmed unit that looks similar to the wheel used on Corvairs with telescoping steering columns (this car does not appear to have that feature). It does have a four-on-the-floor (all Corsas had manual transmissions, but a three-speed was standard equipment).
The Corsa represented here doesn’t come without flaws; the seller mentions that the car has a few paint issues, including “dings, bumps, and overspray,” along with some other assorted bruises. The clock and fuel gauge don’t work either (does the clock ever work?). Luckily, Corvair parts are plentiful and reasonably priced (for the most part). Although there are a couple pictures of the undercarriage, they’re taken at such a low angle that it’s impossible to learn much from them; however, the trunk appears to be in reasonably good shape (they are often rotten).
I would harbor a guess that the car has had some rust repair, as it is missing the exhaust cutout that was located on the passenger side of the rear valance on turbo Corsas. The lower quarter panels are, after all, another common rust point on second-generation Corvairs.
You might be thinking that perhaps this car wasn’t originally equipped with a turbocharged engine, but the Fisher Body tag tells us that it was. In the bottom line, you can see the fourth group of codes: “4FO.” The “O” means that the car was equipped with the 180-horsepower engine, which was important to Fisher Body because the line would have to know that the car received the aforementioned exhaust cutout in the valance panel.
Finding a Corvair that hasn’t had a bit of rust repair after 61 years is a tall task, so a little nip here and a tuck there wouldn’t turn me off to the car if I really wanted it. It looks like a nice driver that has had some recent work after ten years of dormancy, including new wheel cylinders and fluid changes in the engine and transaxle.
Corvairs are inexpensive fun cars with styling that was lauded when new and still looks great today, so why not try one of the most collectible of the whole bunch?
Did try a nonturbo Monza and loved it. Always loved the look of the ’65 and up cars. Nice car here.
I agree, Bob. I own a ’65 Monza Convertible with the basic 95-horse 164 and a four-speed. Although I should have bought a much better one to start with (I’ve had mine almost 20 years), dropping the top and rowing through the gears always brightens my day.
Does it have a turbo? Of “Corsa” it does ( boom-tis) Never saw’r one in real life, and by golly, a 10 year old kid would have noticed that. For good reason, Corvair was on a bit of a quandary with, you know who, but undaunted, Americans bought over 1.8 MILLION Corvairs, almost 250,000 in ’65 alone, 2nd to 1962, with 300,000 sold. Of those, only a scant 9,000 had the 180hp and why none were seen. I read, this car was the top of the line in ’65, costing close to $3300 bucks, and why it was saved the fate of most. It was almost a grand more than a basic Corvair, that most bought. It’s unusual to see a back of a Corvair not black and dripping of oil. Shortcomings by some aside, I feel, as an US car enthusiast, the Corvair was a great car.