The Corvair is an interesting study in car-collecting habits; those who own one tend to own several, and those who don’t own one probably never will. Since 2007, I’ve played the middle ground as a one-Corvair owner. Because of my experiences with my ’65 convertible, I tend to advise potential buyers to they find the best Corvair they can, because they’re relatively inexpensive and you’ll never financially recover from a bad one. But I never follow my own advice anyway, so let’s take a look at this derelict Greenbrier. It doesn’t run, but it’s fairly solid for a Corvair van, and Barn Finds reader Chuck Foster sent it our way after finding it on Marketplace for $5,500 in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Let’s define our terms: “Fairly solid” does not mean “totally solid.” The Greenbrier rode a unibody platform like all Corvairs, and its floors and rocker panels are as rust-eligible as anything from the 1960s. The lower doors and “step” are especially prone to corrosion, and indeed this ’62 suffers from it. Clark’s Corvair in Massachusetts sells steel and fiberglass patch panels for the Forward Control models (FCs), and you can find them on page 191 of their catalog.
The seller of our featured Greenbrier doesn’t give us much to go on, but although the ad says that it has an automatic transmission, it clearly does not. The Greenbrier’s standard engine (and only engine in 1962, as far as I know) was the 145 cubic-inch flat six with 80 horsepower. A three-speed manual was also standard, but a fully-synchronized four speed was optional, and both came with a 3.89:1 final drive ratio. Car Life magazine tested a ’61 Greenbrier with the 80-horse engine and Powerglide, and it was fast only when compared to a VW Bus (maybe). Zero-to-60 took a full 32 seconds, and top speed was a rousing 70 miles per hour. It therefore may not come as a surprise that many modern-day FC owners update their vans and trucks with later 164 cubic-inch engines or hotter 145s. Even though the stock Greenbrier is slow, the rear engine does make for a quiet ride by old car standards; and on a hot day, it’s a cool drive without all that heat seeping through the firewall (or doghouse in this case).
No, this Greenbrier does not run and it will need some rust repair, but decent vans aren’t that easy to find. Mechanically, a Corvair is as simple as anything from the 1960s; it just takes a little time to get to know it. Plus, Corvair owners are a helpful bunch and are happy to share their knowledge, and Corvair vendors such as Clark’s, Corvair Ranch in Pennsylvania, and California Corvairs have a surprisingly robust selection of parts to get your Corvair on the road and keep it there. Is the price too high? Maybe, but for the right price this could be a fun rehabilitation project, and you can’t put a price on the satisfaction of returning another one to the road. Besides, what fun is good advice?
Good write-up Aaron. What you stated in your article is true. Buy the best Corvair you can afford and the money spent buying either an original and in good cosmetic condition or a restored one is your best bet. Several years ago I bought my 65 Corsa thinking I could have a nice sorted driver for less than a restored one. When completed I will have spent 30K and it will be worth 20K to the right person. Then I bought a 61 Lakewood after mechanically sorting a 62 wagon for a customer and really liked he vibe of a longroof Corvair. I’m in the same boat but in this case patina will be the word of the day and I still have fun driving it almost every day. The 80hp is tired though and now that I have all the parts it will be rebuilt to a 164ci 110hp spec. I don’t think you can own and drive a 60’s classic for any cheaper and have the same level of fun and public participation.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/814475360817052/
Ditto on the comprehensive write-up! My mom and Dad’s first new car was a 1964 yellow 4dr Monza. I purchased a driver “project” 1964 black/red Monza convertible…it became a non-driving project that I ultimately donated for tax write-off. My uncle owned a 65 corsa turbo 2 Dr coupe. Credit to Chevy for an initial tour d force into the market: sedan, coupe, convertible, wagon, window van, panel van and pickup. A great “what if” would have been 2 or 4 Dr gen 2 wagon.
Not sure what a Hotter 145S is? The seller states some rust, not bad. BS, if you disolved the rust you would only have 3/4 of a van left, just remember rust starts from the inside. Seller also states orignal drive train but doesn’t offer pics. As mentioned if you got this for $0 you will spend Minimun $10 to make a decent driver. Been there Done that.
In this case, 145s is plural, not a 145 with a letter “s.” I meant one of the higher-horsepower examples of the 145, such as the 102-horsepower version.
From Camp Lejeune. I wonder if the contaminated water caused all that rust?
If so, is it entitled to some of that settlement money from all of those class action law suits I ‘ve seen all over the TV in the past few years?
Aaron, regardless what your experience is, you can’t own just one. Once you buy one, others follow you home.
So,you’re saying that forgotten ones are shown the way …
Since , i always seem to have too many cars , i will take your advice and hold off buying one !
YOLO
And what advice did I give you?
You wrote -Once you buy one, others follow you home.
My advice would be to buy one (or more). You don’t know what you’re missing.
Ha ha, I’ve had only one since 2007, ACZ! I’d tell you I have superhuman willpower but that would be a lie. Rather, I try to only buy one of any given model.
The first one I bought was a 1962 model in 1967. Since then I’ve had somewhere about 140 of them. You’re missing all the fun.
This doesn’t look like a automatic, corvairs had a lever on the dash not a floor shift
local “Clark’s” has just bout anything needed.
I lub these (well, actually the Lakewood – I’m known as Wagonman round here) cept for the ‘engine in the way’ as Cheb was the only co I know to market 2 models of van simultaneously (the “G” and this Greenbriar) for 2, 3 yrs. The p/u model (I no the “ramp side” did) may have hada hi enuff bed that the motor’s ‘doghouse’ did not ‘take up space’ (like a ve dub).
This is the current owner (seller) I do appreciate the comments, some negative and positive. Not saying ‘manual automatic transmission’ on Facebook marketplace, was a check in the box. Common mistake, my bad. If anyone needs any further pictures, I would be happy to forward them to them. I would like to address some of the negative. Let’s start with finding a rust free Corvair in this price range would be an amazing find and should be posted as one of the lucky finds. If you restore cars you understand rust and if you don’t, you buy cars already restored. Neither is a bad thing but not everyone has the resources to be a buyer and for the majority of us… we’re the restores, the fixers, the savers of history and understand there will be work. Hard work at that but restoring a car is not for everyone. It’s a passion where buying a car is a hobby.
Thank you,
Rob
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/814475360817052/?mibextid=6ojiHh