It’s hard to believe that the Corvair wagon was made for only two years. They are maybe the rarest of the body styles and wagons are hot right now as we all know. This 1962 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 900 wagon can be found here on craigslist in West Palm Beach, Florida. The seller is asking $14,000 or a reasonable offer. Thanks to Pat L. for sending in this tip!
This wagon looks like it’s in superb condition. The seller doesn’t give much info on this car at all, other than it’s solid and it’s in excellent condition for being a 57-year-old car. They give more general information and almost as many search keywords as they do in talking about this great car. I don’t understand that but maybe they think that the photos will do the trick.
There are only two exterior photos and two interior photos, but there is an engine photo! The optional front bucket seats look great but it sure would have been nice to see the rear seats and the cargo area. This is, after all, a station wagon, why not show the rear cargo area? I don’t mean to talk about the lack of photos so often but it’s hard not to when there are only five photos shown for a $14,000 car. If a buyer has been looking for a Corvair wagon, maybe five photos are all they need, they are rare to find for sale and this looks like a great one.
The Corvair wagon was only made for 1961 and 1962 and the Lakewood name went away for the Corvair wagon’s last year in 1962. This is a Series 900 car, a Monza, the top trim level. I’m not a big fan of a dash cover when they’re in place for photos, I automatically think that they’re hiding a problem rather than protecting a perfect dash. Collector Car Market Review is at $12,800 for a #1 car, as a general reference.
This car has an automatic transmission which would have been GM’s two-speed Powerglide. It appears that this car has the crossed-flags logo on the rear hatch door, so this engine should be Chevy’s “Super Turbo-Air” 145 cubic-inch flat-six which would have 102 hp. The “Turbo-Air” engine with 84 hp was the standard engine for automatic-equipped cars and manual transmission cars had 80 hp as the base engine. Have any of you owned a Corvair wagon?
I am Currently performing a mechanical restoration on a 62 wagon. This car if it was equipped with a PG would have the shifter in the instrument cluster so I’m thinking someone converted it to an automatic just like I am converting the PG to a manual on the one I’m doing. Also the fact it has an alternator suggests it might have also gotten a 164 conversion. You would have to look at the part numbers on the cyl head to verify. These are really cool cars. And I would think the wagon values will increase along with the vans and ramp sides. Parts support is probably the best for any domestic classic. Clark’s in MA has everything for these.
I am pretty sure I see the shifter just to the right of the ignition…
The shifter indicator window as well as the actual black plastic shifter handle are clearly visible in the photo Great looking Lakewood. If I was adding an early model to my collection it would be a Lakewood or a 64 Spyder convert.
In Scotty’s “won the lottery” warehouse, I’d expect to see this. Rarely saw Corvair wagons, and the ones you did see, the driver could barely see out the back window. I think this car represents the perfect classic for the future. At $14g’s, however, oil fumes definitely entering the cab here. Too pricey for any family that could use this.
Perfect classic right now. Bargain for a wagon in this condition
The deal breaker for me (and I’ve longed for a 62 wagon for decades) is the two-tone vinyl interior and PG automatic. If this had an alternating color interior, say factory correct Fawn, four speed manual transmission and the 102hp engine, I would fly to Florida and drive this baby home. As it stands its too much red for my taste. And I prefer to row through the gears for maximum drivability. Good luck to the new owner.
As featured in the animated film “Minions”. Pretty rare, would be a good stalemate for the Monza convertible we saw a few days ago.
I have fond memories of Corvair wagons. A neighbor had a dark green one when I was a kid. Think it was a 61. I rode in it several times.
Nice wagon! I would say that the engine is a 1964, 164 CI the blower bearing and fan are 1964, and the PCV system are replacing the road draft tube used on the 1960-62 models. Nothing wrong with the alternator conversion. At least it is a truck.van block that has the correct oil filler placement.
I’m actually interested!
I have a red 61 Lakewood Wagon. PG. I bought off an old lady on Cape Cod. Very unique ride. Gets a lot of looks at the cruise nights and car shows.
Another interesting note is that 1962 Corvair wagons were only produced from November 1961 to the end of January 1962. They were discontinued when Chevrolet brought out the convertible and the Spyder.
They only built 2,362 –1962 Monza wagons.
On my wish list, but I want a manual trans. These to me were amazingly utilitarian in that they were all payload for their size. I want one. Either 61 or 62 any trim level. I think they were discontinued so as not to compete with the new Chevy II wagon. What a shame.
Great comments, folks! Thanks for the excellent engine sleuthing.
We had a 62 Monza sedan when I was 9. Lived on an Army base, Dad knew the helicopter mechanics that could take care of the flat six engines, never ever had any oil leaks from those o-rings.
+1 on the engine swap and alternator. This is the year and model that Comedian Ernie Kovacs was killed in after it flipped. Just sayin.
It didn’t flip, he skidded around a corner on a damp road and hit a pole . He was coming home from a party and likely had a few drinks before he headed home too , although the weather conditions and the thin bias ply tires sure didn’t help
You are correct sir, however he lost control of the car because of the lack of rear stabilizers which caused the rear wheels to fold inwards during aggressive avoidance maneuvers (which gm corrected beginning with the 1964 models of all corvairs). The supposition was that he was lighting a cigar. Let’s keep alcohol out of this since there was no mention of a toxicology report.
“IT” didn’t flip. Mr. Kovacs was an “enthusiastic” (lead-footed) driver who was driving too fast on a stretch of local, rain-slicked highway and took the corner at Santa Monica and Wilshire far too fast. As a result, the car spun out and T-boned a utility pole. The impact thew him out of the passenger window. News photos clearly showed the Corvair wagon upright on all four wheels, mangled by the impact.
Police archive photos of his mangled 1961. Pretty damn sobering.
Press photo with narrative written by reporter.
Here is another. No price listed but they are too cheap to list it in cars for sale and pay the 5 bucks to support craigslist…
https://medford.craigslist.org/bar/d/klamath-falls-61-lakewood-wagon/7104800402.html
he shows a screenshot with “Low Retail” of 12k I think from Hagerty valuation site. Likely has delusions. Buy this non-running car and add just 200 hours of work into it, maybe
Lovely looking car. I’ve never understood why the Corvair station wagon was only sold for such a short time before being discontinued.
You are correct sir, however he lost control of the car because of the lack of rear stabilizers which caused the rear wheels to fold inwards during aggressive avoidance maneuvers (which gm corrected beginning with the 1964 models of all corvairs). The supposition was that he was lighting a cigar. Let’s keep alcohol out of this since there was no mention of a toxicology report.
You are 100% correct ; and please excuse my alcohol speculation – that was just an assumption
The investigators of that accident blamed excessive high speed. Any car would have wrecked in that situation.
I had a 64 Pontiac Lemans rag top. It had the same type of rear-end. Cause me to flip my car one night. I went over this hill too fast and it cause the tires to curl and when the car came back down I flipped and rolled . I,d like to have another one,but I,d definitely change the rear-end. I like this lil Corvair.
You likely had a 1963 (or older) LeMans then, which DID have a semi-independent swing-arm rear suspension similar to the Corvairs, not to mention a rear transaxle. The 1964 Tempest / LeMans was an all-new (and larger) vehicle, with a traditional straight-tube, non-independent rear axle with differential, and the transmission was put back behind the engine in front.
I owned both a ‘62 Monza convertible and a wagon. Fun little cars.
Hi, i live in the suburds of montreal, canada and any corvair as always been rare , our winters took care of them either with rust or crash …i always liked the second version in topless firm but was never inclined to pay for asking price when so many better cars in the same price range we’re available!
Nowadays , there are NO mechanics to tune or repair a carb or points and my back doesn’t bend anymore !🦠💩😷🤬
That’s what they make lifts for Claudio!
Carbs and distributor are both located on the top of Corvair engines Duaney. A lift would not help in the least. Valve adjustments, transaxle swap, oil changes, o ring replacement can be done (I think) entirely under the car.
I think what Claudio means is that he can’t bend over to service the top of the engine, but if the car were raised up some he wouldn’t have to bend over so much. If you’re a tall person backing the Corvair on some ramps would help.