As the 1960s approached, U.S. automobile manufacturers were preparing their responses to the compact-sized imports that were coming from Europe and Japan. Ford was readying the Falcon, Plymouth had the upcoming Valiant, and Chevy was developing the Corvair. The first two were “conventional” in that the engines were still water-cooled and mounted up front. But not the Corvair, which would use a rear-mounted, air-cooled motor, following in the footsteps of the VW Beetle. This ’67 edition of the Corvair looks like a survivor-quality car, although it has been repainted. Located in Sacramento, California, this interesting piece of Chevrolet’s heritage is a tip from Barn Finder Pat L. and available here on craigslist for $7,500. If you’re looking to get started in collecting and don’t want to spend a fortune, might this Chevy do this trick?
For more than half of the 1960s, the Chevy Corvair would be successful in terms of sales. More than 1.8 million of them were built from 1960 to 1969, but most of the demand occurred before the second-generation debut in 1965. The car got a bad rap from crusader Ralph Nadar who roasted the automobile in his book, Unsafe at Any Speed. While some of his claims had validity about the car’s handling, much of that was resolved by the middle of the decade. However, Chevrolet didn’t seem interested in further evolving the little car, so it quietly went away in the Spring of 1969.
The Monza was the sporty, more upscale Corvair. And the hardtop coupe was usually in demand. But by 1967 the bloom was off the flowers and Chevy had a new sporty car to offer, the Camaro, which was Chevy’s response to the Ford Mustang. So, in 1967, just 9,771 hardtop Monza coupes were produced. This one has the 164 cubic-inch air-cooled flat-6 with a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. At 98,000 miles, there is no indication if either has been worked on, but we’re told the little machine performs well.
This vehicle was purchased by the seller from the family of the original owner, though we don’t know how long ago that was. It looks to have been well-cared for over the past 55 years and likely wasn’t stored for long periods. Though the paint is newer, the interior seems original and is nice other than the upholstery on the front buckets seats is a bit stretched with age and use. This could be a turn-key auto, meaning you could drive and show it right away, not having to spend weeks or months whipping it back into shape. Who out there are Corvair fans?
I’m a Corvair fan. Loved our ’65 Monza with the 4 speed transmission, telescoping steering wheel, and spoke wheel covers. Turbo dual exhaust we added did wonders for the engine. Only mistake we made was not adding an aftermarket AC as we wound up in Florida with the car. Traded it for a ’66 fully loaded Buick Skylark. Wished we could have kept the Monza as a second car but the bankroll wouldn’t allow it.
This is a no brainer at $7500 for one of the nicest looking cars of the 60’s. For 67 the Corsa model was no longer but you could still order the 4-carb 140hp engine. There weren’t many 67 models built so this is more exclusive. This one has the optional desert air cleaner with added a oil bath air cleaner to cope with dusty conditions. Parts and community support is strong so what are you waiting for? Go get yourself a piece of classic Chevrolet.
I agree…one of the best looking cars ever. The design is so simple, but just right. I wish it was closer to me.
Agree this was a good looking car….much better then the first version….like night and day better.
Nice looking Corvair, but it’s a powerglide. They get around but not really quickly. Should get someone in the hobby at a good entry level price without having to regret the buy.
Parts are plentiful for a 4-speed swap. Perfect weekend project. Ad while the PowerPack is removed it’s a good time to replace the blower cover, oil filter housing, front main seal, valve cover and pushrod tube seals and gaskets.
It’s not all that easy I’ve done the conversion. Do you have to change the dashboard and the wiring.
I too am a big Corvair fan ( pun intended). Too bad Joe Lunchpail just wanted the conventional setup. Too many new things, air cooled? Rear engine? No heater( to speak of),,,what is this a VW? Powerglide a great box, withstood many a neutral drops, although at the time, was the butt of all jokes. Grandmas had powerglides, you’re not a grandma, ARE YOU? REAL men had no less than 3 gears. The restyled Corvair was a nice, attractive car, but no matter what, Americans didn’t go for it, except that odd HS economics teacher drove one, Mr. Harris was his name. As mentioned, most Corvairs were leakers, and recall seeing the entire back tail light panel would be black with oil. No matter, oil was cheap, 5qts rerefined oil for a buck and every car used a lot of oil, it was just part of driving. Nice car, too bad nobody wants it or it would be gone.
The car has only been listed for 4 days. People are getting ready for Christmas or are celebrating Hanukkah. This car will sell soon enough at that price.
I like Corvairs, I have one in my garage. It still amazes me how many people crowd around it at shows when you crack the front trunk lid open a few inches and people see that the engine is missing…
TomP, a friend of mine here in Australia has one and he put a sewing machine in the front trunk with 4 dummy exhaust pipes attached. At car shows he would leave the trunk open so people could see what ‘powered’ the thing, good for a laugh.
Always a Corvair lover. Our family’s first new car was a ’64 yellow/black vinyl 4dr 700. My uncle had a ’65 Monza coupe. My first un-finished driver/restoration project was a ’63 Monza convertible….I ended up leaving it in rattle-can primer, boxed all the parts and gave it to Goodwill circa 1999.
Not to downplay safety but there probably weren’t many “safe” cars in the ’60s
Write-up notes a flat 4 cylinder engine. I thought GM offered only variants of a flat 6.
I have owned Corvairs for more than 40 years. I thought they started the side Marker lights in 1967?
1968 was the year all cars had to have side markers .
Didn’t you have your screen name as a license plate? I’m in Central NY and I recall that.
I had the 69 Monza with a two speed and drove the tires off it. What a fun car!
Once I got boxed in at a beach trail and absolutely had to get to a bathroom ASAP. My only exit was thru 50 yards of powder sand that I’d dare a truck to get thru. I put the little T-handle in reverse, clinched my butt cheeks and floored it. That Corvair floated right over the sand, leaving a smooth path behind it, while the spectators cheered me on. I had only a second to admire the cars accomplishment and soak in the applause then made it to the bathroom with literally no time to spare. I’ll never forget that car!
See?
It’s personal experience stories like that one that make B.F. the best daily visit on the Internet!
Also a Corvair fan here. First car was a ’63 500 3 speed that I swapped out for a 4 gear box. Changed the clutch under a tree during a thunderstorm while my buddy was deflowering his girlfriend in an upstairs bedroom. He definitely had a better time that day than me. Second one was a ’64 Spyder, followed by a ’65 Monza, then a ’66. Always wanted a Corsa, black with a white interior. Almost had my dream fulfilled about a year ago, but alas, too much rust.
My friend Dave Young had a ‘65 coupe Corvair in our college years. he borrowed from his father’s used car lot in Pa. This was the early 70s. Most impressive handling I’ve ever experienced as a passenger. He told me the convertible versions handled even better due to counter weights on the bumpers? Any truth to that?
The counterweights were inside the front and back trunks at all four corners. They were filled with liquid. My convertible Monza had them.
Had a dark maroon Turbo Corsa with the four on the floor. Fun, fun car. Didn’t realize the rarity at the time and bought it to build a kit car. It was too nice to dismantle so drove it and sold it. More recently I built a Chenowith sand rail that employed a Turbo-Vair and same (upgraded) four speed. Gave the “Bug Runners” fits. Only gripe was the axel shafts had problems hyper flexing and destroying the universals. Simple fix so I just brought extra universals for back up.
Bob Hess it was great reading your comment on this and other Corvairs. In fact I really enjoy reading your comments I trust what you have to say on so many different automobiles. Others could learn a lot from your comments. Make it a great day have a wonderful and safe holiday season, jerry williams
Thanks Jerry. Have had a full life of cars and learned more than I can remember. I too suck up all the information our other commentators provide us and am still amazed at the amount of knowledge they posses. Wishing a happy holiday to you and all our cohorts on Ban Finds.
Thanks Bob! I too am a huge Porsche fan. My first Porsche I bought and shipped home when I was in the service from Germany from 1964-1967. It was a 356 1600 super. I’ve had eight more in my life and funny I don’t own any of them any more. They only Porsche I own now is a tattoo of the Porsche emblem on my left shoulder. Also what is a very interesting note is that my adopted son is, I would say, one of the top 10 Porsche tecs in the USA. He went to work for a shop here in KC when he was 18 and now 48 owns that shop BHR and he spends most of his time building engines. You many remember this name Bob Hindson Racing? An even more interesting information about this young man is both he and his father have raced Corvairs in SCCA. Thanks again for your time, make it a great day and please be a blessing, jerry williams
I had one just like this with the 95HP engine. Not a speed demon but a great running car. It did not leak either. Nor did my other 4 Vairs.
Man, I love it when I find a clean car where the owner has a fire extinguisher & steering lock in car. These are people who really look after their cars…
I can’t believe nobody commented on the “flat4” goof in the review. Corvairs were ALL flat SIXES from the factory.
I saw that reference and paused reading for??? then continued on. I had 2 Corvairs and bought a wrecked Monza Turbo for a fun dune Buggie. I never have found a 4 banger .
Had two Corvairs a 64 and 65 Monza 4 dr. Sold 64 right after receiving it for labor loading contents of lady’s house into a semi bound for Honduras. It ran great but after the 65 with oil leaks every time I turned around I did not want another Corvair.
Dumped the 65 afterwards also. (Hated that car!!!!!!!!)
My first restoration project was a 65 Monza Sport Sedan (4 door hardtop) in 1975. Had to go thru the engine and trans, some front-end work and a lot of dents to pull out. got just about everything done, and was blocking it out to do the color, when we had (another baby) so it went the away to cover the hospital bill. Sure, would like to find another 65-66 Sport Sedan with PG and A/C gets to hot here in the summer not to have the A/C
My aunt had a 67 yellow convertible power glide , they stole it in 73, found it wrecked few blocks away, NY in the 70s!
fokks bought the same year but a 4 door. the engine seized and it was gonna be mine, but I was too many years from age and someone saw it in the drive. off it went.
Unfortunately, with the suspension upgrades, Corvairs had become too expensive to build for the price range they had to sell it at, not enough profit margin left, so GM stopped any more development and let it die quietly in 1969.
True, Corvair had a slim margin to build since the Corvair line did not share costly major components (motor, trans, etc) with other Chevy models, like, Chevelle, Chevy II, trucks etc. Corvair was Chevy’s first uni-body design and not even frame components were shared.
Remember Corvair was a full Chevrolet line with sedan, coupe, convertible, van and ramp side truck up thru 1965 and reduction in body types thru 1969.
This essentially made the Corvair line almost a private auto manufacturer with a single corporate services for parts distribution, financing, marketing/advertising,
etc.
Owned one in the 60’s. one in the 70’s and a 64 now. This car is certainly priced to sell way too fast!
In 1968 my dad offered me the choice of the Corvair or the VW Fastback instead of the ’64 Classic 660 I was driving to school … I chose the VW … nice car but thinking back I should have chosen the Corvair … I wouldn’t mind having a turbo Corsa convertible today …
A friend and I co’owned a “65 Corsa coupe. It was our rally car. I was the driver, Jim was the navigator.
Alot of fun in that car and several trophys.
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ben here in fl had 63 at one love them great little cars fitch used to race them at lime rock in ct met him several times he made the sprint cal cark in mass and i tried buying most back in 80s when i came to fl i sold all my stuff to cal clark sill have a 64 conv and a ramp side used to own Corvair and classic cars in ct there bigest proplem was oil leaks from the seals but they finaly came out with a viton seal had a few mid engines as well merry Christmas to all my car friends
Nice Corvair for a person interested in entering the classic car hobby and still very affordable.
I also have a two owner Corvair, 1965 Corsa two door coupe with 140hp 4 carb motor and 4speed and still less than original 104,000 mike’s. Though mine has received a full restoration of entire vehicle I love the 4 carb motor.
When purchased mine was not in as good original condition as this one and though very it suffered very little rust the interior was shot and body needed a repaint.
The 140/4 carb motor is very good around town and highway driving situations where you don’t have to wait on the optional turbo motor to spool up.
At the risk of stating the obvious these late model Corvairs, 1965-69, are superior handling cars than the peers of their era
including 6 cylinder and low HP Mustang V8. In 1965 Car and Driver magazine tested a Corvair faster than a1965 Porsche 911, though the Corvair was a 2.7 liter and 4 speed the Porsche 911 was a higher revving 2.2 liter and 5 speed.
For those folks not familiar with late model Corvairs the rear suspension is based on the mid year Corvette, 1963-67, with the Corvair using coil springs and Corvette equipped with a transverse leaf spring.
The late model Corvairs used Chevrolet Chevelle sized drum brake linings so braking was not an issue, when maintained, except for all out road racing.
Mustang owners can thank the Corvair for their existence and starting the muscle car era! Why would I state this? Lee Iacocca was so concerned with sales success of the early Corvair Monza (1962/63) he initiated production modifications of Falcon components to produce the Mustang and the rest is history. In a very real way the Corvair started the pony car craze. Americans were ready for more performance when gas was .18 cents a gallon but less concerned with a good handling car.
Lacking the power of a Mustang high performance V8 is the a weakness of Corvair but it makes up for some lower hp with superior handling.
However add a more powerful motor upgrades and a late model Corvair can provide a more competition to a V8 early Mustang.
My current Corvair was in Super Chevy magazine a few years ago.