It’s well documented that Corvairs sell cheap. They might just be the last bastion of the old-car hobby where ten grand brings choices of years and models. That’s maybe why this 1965 Chevrolet Corvair is currently bid short of $2,000, with Tuesday as the auction’s closing day. Best of all, there’s no reserve. You could say that another way, though: don’t jump in and throw the next bid at this one here on ebay, or you might just win it. You’ll then be on the hook to get to Orange, California to truck it home.
Maybe the bargain price reflects the fact that it’s a four-door sedan with an automatic transmission backing up its 6-cylinder engine. Or perhaps, not to pile on the insults, it’s because of the completely frank description of its engine mechanicals, including, “engine rattles” and “smoke coming from exhaust,” along with “struggles to start.” How much compression is there in these little cylinders? You’re going to have to get inside this block pronto to figure out what’s going on and whether the mill is rebuildable. I’m going to guess yes, if the 86,000 miles on the odometer are accurate. There’s no way to prove that point either way, but the indicated miles match the wear level of the interior, to my eye.
So the paint’s faded and the interior is a bit chewed up? This is a genuine California black plate car, obviously sporting an amateur restoration/inexpensive paint job but possible to drive looking like it is, if you can figure out a way to get that engine in tune. Then, you’re going to have to say hello to the DMV. This car has two issues: there’s no title, and the registration lapsed in 2010. So what’s it doing up for auction? Apparently it was donated. Put that fact next to the look of the cover that’s sitting under the “frunk,” and you can hear the “Kars for Kids” song playing in your head. Someone used to drive this, but a long time ago, got bored with doing so (or got scared by the state of the engine), and now has finally decided that it’s time to render his or her garage vacant for the grandkids to populate with toys like those little replica Jeeps and Mustangs that run on batteries and would make any childhood a paradise.
So is this the collectible for you? Do the math on this one: If an engine refresh and professional buff-and-shine could bring this up to #3 condition, you’d have yourself an interesting curiosity to use as a daily driver and could still be in four-figure territory. But beware of thinking you’ll flip it. This model came in a convertible body style, too, and there are always a handful of those in the market, usually priced under $10K.
This looks to be a good car. Can’t really tell from the pictures but it looks like mist blue with the 4 carb 140 engine and powerglide transaxle. Rear antenna option with full window tint. 4 door is not as common as the coupe. Similar to station wagons they were used up and not deemed worthy to save like the coupe’s. I would be surprised the engine rattle and smoke might be a dropped valve seat which was most common on the 140 heads. If bought for less than 3K this will be a good deal.
I’ve never been close enough to one of these to see if a chevy v-8 would fit. Could a 350 fit in it? Asking for a friend. Haha!
One swap is to use the Crown kit to put a small chevy in. The 4 door offers even more room to do a swap. I’m thinking Northstar, transverse with the overdrive transmission.
There is a guy on YouTube doing a build on a coupe with a transverse LS and the 4T80 transaxle. Really talented and a sweet build which will be really fast and nice when completed.
They sure do, I have one!
Me, too.
Personally, if doing a V8 conversion, I prefer the one that puts a 455 Olds and a Toronado transaxle in the engine compartment and leaves the back seat intact.
I have seen that conversion. Doesn’t work as well as turning the engine around like the Crown conversion. My friend has a 66 4-door with the Buick 215 V8 using the original configuration. Weight wise this doesn’t throw off the cars balance.
Not the same as the Toro conversion. The 455 Olds is better for drag racing. The Crown and Kelmark (Midengineering) conversions are more made for handling with close to 50/50 weight distribution.
there is a kit sold to make this corvair a mid engine 350. a friend of mine had one with that kit. car was fast as hell.
There was a kit, long out of production. The most popular was from Crown Manufacturing, and another from Kelmark. I have a 65 Crown car. Absolute blast to drive.
65 Monza sport Sedan, w/ 140HP motor, and the powerglide, makes for a somewhat sporty weekend driver. Most likely the heads need done and put some viton seals on the push rod tubes. almost any machine shop could do a valve job, on the heads. Just make sure you keep all parts in correct order when you take it apart. If you get in under $3K including shipping would be a fun car. and you may eventually sell for more than you have in it.
It would be cool to find a rusty or rusty or otherwise trashed Corsa donor and make a Corsa sedan with a 4-speed and rally dash, etc. It wouldn’t be especially valuable, but it would be unique.
I have a 1966 corsa convertable, 140hp 4spd. Great cars and are climbing in value.
Four photos? That’s it? No wonder the price is low, can’t possibly buy this without at least a few more photos for reference. I’d jump in at this price point, but just not enough photos to make a reasonable assessment.
Looks like a fun solid little car at a decent price to tinker with. But no title no deal for me. Every time the kars for kids song comes on the radio I immediately turn it off.It’s one of annoying ditties that gets stuck in your head for the day if you listen to it to long..
I would never buy something without a clear title in hand.
Google the “Vermont Loophole”. They don’t require a title, they just want the fees. Connecticut doesn’t require a title for anything more than 20 years old.
Same deal here in Alabama. I have 2 65 cars, a 66 and a 70. Title was not required to register, only a bill of sale and proof of insurance. I always brought the titles just in case but was politely told each time they don’t even need to see it. I do have the previous states titles for each from IL, GA, OK and AZ. If I sell them the titles go with, but a new owner would be able to apply for a title in their state without an AL title. The “more door” Corvairs are getting a lot of attention in the Corvair community. $4800 was a great deal for the seller.
The automatic is a clear deal breaker on this. Every truck, SUV, or crossover on every dealer lot from coast to coast is an automatic, I want my special cars to be special.
Awesome looking Corvair. I hope it goes to a good owner.
sold for 4800
One of the best looking 4 door cars ever made by Chevy.
Which I’d seen this sooner. Despite what Nader said about these cars they handle great and are not unsafe. The biggest problem was that mechanics of the day were used to 30 PSI for tire pressure all around. the pressure for the front ties on the Corvair was 15 PSI. Heck, VW used 12 PSI on their bug.
Ralph Nader is what’s unsafe.
What Nader said about Corvairs only concerned the first-gen models with a swing axle. Second-gen Corvairs resolved those concerns by changing to a proper IRS setup that maintained more consistent rear wheel camber.
It wasn’t Nader who doomed the Corvair anyway; if anything, he gave it an extra lease on life, as GM was loath to be seen as capitulating and extended Corvair production by at least a couple more years than they’d planned, tho’ that did also help them recoup more of their investment in tooling.
The Corvair’s demise was due to the Mustang, which GM responded to by creating the Camaro/Firebird as direct competition. There wasn’t much of a business case to be made for producing all those different compact sporty cars at the same time, so the less-competitive one with less power that shared nearly nothing with any other GM models got the axe.
I would add that GM also addressed the alleged handling issue on the 1964 models with the addition of a rear camber compensator. The 1965 and up, of course were changed to a fully independent rear suspension, very similar to the C2 Corvette. As mentioned by Tom above, many of the issues were self-induced with nearly doubling the recommended front tire pressure. I still remember comments about owners saying the car “handled great, and was so easy to steer”
I had a 65 coupe I paid 50.00 for. I drove the stuff out of it. Drove it to Canada on a vacation. Very roomy inside, huge trunk up-front. Spare tire, tools, motor all neatly in the back. A 9/16ths wrench and an extra belt was all you needed. The car drove and handled great. It was an automatic but it was adequate to me in the power area. The set back was more hot air comes out of me than that cars heater produced.
Can you prove the last sentence?😁lol!
Not making reference to your personal “heat” output the Corvair heater worked pretty well when set up properly. I will say the only drawback was Chevrolet did not use heat exchangers like the VW so any smoke from oil leaks as carried into the cabin. Fortunately Corvairs hardly ever leaked oil😂
Being from the disco era ,
One song comes to mind !
Too many doors , too little time
YOLO
I had 2 corvairs..not the best think invented.engines are bad..they get hot forget it..you.ll do a lot of walking..they drive ok..it’s just the motors are not reliable..good luck.as for 2k..forget it..r
Give me a 73 vega..at least it will run for a little bit..corvairs were a disaster..I’m surprised they made the 9byears..the 67 camaro killed this car and the 68 nova..by that time gm gave up they couldnt.sell it…as for the guy and his 4800$…what is he smoking or drinking…he.d better get a good pair.nikes..he’s gonna walk a lot..
I wouldn’t mind a 71-73 Vega GT, but… there were 2 million Vega’s built during it’s production run, compared to 1.8 million Corvairs. How many Vega’s remain compared to the Corvair? Tell me about the collectibility of the Vega? Even the cool Cosworth’s are not worth much. The Vega’s either collapsed due to rust or the engines gave out. The Corvair engines are way more reliable than the Vega. If they are maintained as recommended, they can be very reliable. The largest Corvair club has well over 4,000 members and is worldwide with over 120 local chapters. Corvairs are still highly competitive on race tracks. There is a large and booming aftermarket support for these cars. Also, the Camaro didn’t kill the Corvair, Ford did with the introduction of the Mustang. I certainly don’t have registration data, but I am willing to bet Corvair registrations outnumber Vega’s by 10-1. I might be optimistic a little bit on the numbers, but you get the idea. Go to some car shows… you don’t see Vega’s, you do see Corvairs. I’ve had at least a dozen Corvairs, still have 2, late models, a convertible and a V8 conversion. Now if I could find a clean rust free 71-73 Vega GT hatchback for a good price, engine or not, I’m in! My 6 cents worth, since I wrote more than 2 cents worth :-)