Whether you loved or hated the VW Beetle, there’s no question it kicked off a round of innovation at US automakers. AMC put its Rambler American “subcompact” on the ground in 1958; Ford introduced its Falcon in 1960; Studebaker had its Lark; and Chevrolet came to the table with the Corvair. Of these four, the Corvair was the only groundbreaker. It was not just a smaller version of an existing sedan powered by some thrifty six cylinder. Like the Beetle, it carried its air-cooled engine in the rear. But unlike the Beetle, its sedan body provided scads of room for passengers and luggage. Later, body styles proliferated and turbocharging spiced up the performance, so the Corvair could cater to almost any need. Here on eBay is one of the two pickups offered – a 1961 Rampside. Bidding has reached $9100, but the reserve is not yet met. Retrieve the truck from Atwater, California – and reading between the lines, a trailer might be a good idea.

This is Chevy’s 2.4 liter air-cooled flat six, good for about 98 hp; it’s paired with an automatic transmission. The seller bought this vehicle out of ten-year storage, then proceeded to flush the fuel from the tank and lines, rebuild the carburetor, and give it a new fuel pump, battery, ignition switch, and choke cable. That was enough to get her running and driving, but the engine and transmission leak, so new gaskets are in order. The driving video included in the listing tracks the car as it navigates around the block a few times, but it has a tentative feel – as if it’s not ready for prime time. I’d probably want to check those brakes before heading off into the sunset. A good look at the underside is warranted, too; I see more rust-related damage than I’d want.

The Corvair was aimed at the economy market, so its interior styling leaned to the utilitarian. I like the white steering wheel (a few cracks are evident) and the two ovoid pods – one for the instruments and the other the glovebox. An aftermarket seat cover hides the original upholstery, and someone has installed carpet. The seller notes that the interior was painted a metallic blue; his intent was to match that color on the exterior. A pile of projects is keeping him from completing this one.

The Rampside is a clever configuration, with a ramp in the center of the bed-side to facilitate loading. If it weren’t for the stair-step floor, this would make a great hay truck – instead of throwing the bales off the bed of my F250, I could slide them down the ramp straight into the barn. On the other hand, with only 98 hp on tap, this pickup probably couldn’t manage to haul more than two bales up the hill to the farm! Usefulness or lack thereof aside, we need to think about the price here. Very fine Rampsides will comfortably exceed $20k, while projects will set you back $5k. That tight range doesn’t allow for many surprises. Could this unusual Chevy find a home in your garage?