Old vans have a big following as we’ve detailed here in the past, but it’s mostly for those that van be converted into rolling pieces of art with shag carpeting inside and detailed murals on the exterior. Outside of that, vans become more often used as a surf wagon of some kind with boards and racks on the roof, or as a sympathetic tribute to what an old shop van might look like that was used to run parts all over town. This 1961 Greenbrier is an eight-door model that’s been stored inside since 1978 and is listed here on craigslist for $15,500.
Eight doors! If you were a van collector with a 21-window Volkswagen Bus in your collection, adding a van with eight doors might be the perfect way to compliment it. This Greenbriar appears to be remarkably intact, but you still have to wonder what’s happening with the exterior. All that primer and areas of obvious bodywork beg the question as to whether it’s had rust repair in the past, which isn’t out of the question given it resides in Wisconsin. However, if you just do a little bit of digging, you’ll see eight-door variants are the rarest of the rare and deserve saving no matter what.
According to an old post on CorvairCenter.com, there were just 20 eight-door vans in their own humble registry. There’s an important distinction to be made between Greenbriars and what are considered “Corvans” with the latter being rarer in the eight-door configuration than the Greenbriars. The fact that this one has a four-speed manual makes it rarer still, according to that old forum post, and the color scheme of red with a white center stripe would make it quite a looker when restored. If the VIN reveals this is a “Deluxe” trim model, it’s even more obscure.
And look at all that space! It’s rare that you find a vehicle that absolutely deserves restoring and features a host of rare options that may make the numbers work when it comes time to settling the bill for body and mechanical work. This Greenbriar looks fairly solid inside, so hopefully the work on the exterior was simply done with plans to restore the whole truck. It’s amazing how there are these obscure models out there that make a bread-and-butter model suddenly far more desirable once you realize how few were made; we’re hopeful this prompts a van enthusiast to bring this one all the way back.
“GM” Greenbriar? Never heard of such a thing. That, plus the bowtie on what I presume is a builder’s plate in one of the photos, makes me think the seller might have got it wrong.
Looks like it could be a really nice car/van to have after restoration, but you have to wonder why it was stashed away so early. Other than that, it appears shining the Corvair up would be pretty straightforward.
I believe a friend’s mother had one of these, eight doors and all. I recall it being noisier inside than the VW Microbus she traded for it, and not a whole lot faster.
Obviously rare but priced a little high for something that needs everything. Limited parts pictures inside a garage doesn’t exactly give buyers much to go on.
I can’t find any mention of a GMC Greenbriar on the inter web.
Its because they don’t exist….
I believe it’s a Chevy.
It’s a Chevrolet. There was no GMC version.
Chevy Corvair greenbriar no GMC
The Corvair 95 Vans and trucks are commonly referred to as forward controls vehicles
Should be fully restored in mint condition for that price
It should come with a fire extinguisher. I had one and imagine my surprise as i looked in my rearview mirror and saw the backend completely engulfed in flames.
All this talk about 8 doors! I see 6. lol
Three on each side and two in the rear!!!
Uh, I think we all get that. The comments have been due to the lack of pics for the left side doors. You see, the owner shows the two right side doors, the two rear doors and its a given that it has two front doors. But again, to be perfectly clear, so that no one will continue to misunderstand, to clarify all doubts as to what I meant, there is mention of an 8 door van AND the pics provided by the seller, shown in the ad provided, show only 6 doors. Does that clear it up NOW?
Side and back doors are double doors. Add the two front doors and you’ve got 8. Sliding side doors on later vans cut down the multiple hardware.
Sure got stingy on the pics. 8 doors? let’s see them!
In the pic of the RH side, you can see a pair of doors immediately behind the front passenger door; but only the front door, of the pair, has a handle; you can see, however, the hinges for the rear door of the pair. It is a Chevrolet Corvair.
Must be “new” math then. Two double doors equals 4 doors, plus 2 front doors and you have 6! I hope you aren’t a CPA, lol.
Two cargo doors on drivers side too. That would make 8, use your eyes more and mouth less. Sorry I’m in a mood.
I don’t think I care for your tone either. Maybe the SELLER should have used his camera more. The total is bloody obvious, but NO PICS! Get it now?
I had a 62 Chevy Greenbriar. Bought it for $600. Three speed “stick”. My dad and I repainted it, girlfriend made curtains, six door van, attached my Fillmore postcards from 60s to the headliner. This thing had zero power and had to use first gear to get up hills with no synchro, so I learned to double clutch. After about a year, sold it and last I heard, the van caught fire and burned up the van. That’s a Corvair for ya.
love an 8 dor (3 tents – at 2 sides and a back) or ‘nodor/no window’ – anything at the extremes. The latter would have a few precisely placed after mrkt windows (right size/shape too) for the peek out (weather commercially used, camping, DD or a combo). Vans – either ‘passenger’ like these or the ‘big square boxes” of the more business oriented (‘step van’?) sure are appealing.
One of my favs is this model w/the side ramp. Also the 1st gen ‘chevy van’ that was made simeltaniously w/this one 2, 3 years (’64, 5, 6?). First two vans made in merica…