The first-generation of the Chevy Corvair wrapped up in 1964. And it was the best so far with a larger engine (up from 145 to 164 cubic inches) and changes to the suspension that should have pleased Ralph Nader. The seller’s ’64 Monza continued to be the most popular, and some work has been done to make this one drivable. Still a project, this Corvair is in the boonies southeast of Everett, Washington, and is available here on craigslist for $2,500.
Introduced in 1960, the Corvair was different from what the rest of Detroit was peddling. The new compact had an air-cooled engine mounted in the rear, like the Volkswagen Beetle it was hoping to dethrone. But the appearance of the car was mostly unchanged after five years, and sales were down. A true hardtop wasn’t due until 1965; there was no V8 engine, and the best-selling new car of 1964-65 was the Ford Mustang. So, an all-new Corvair debuted in 1965.
We’re told this Chevy runs, drives, and stops thanks to new brakes and rebuilt carburetors (2?). So, perhaps the remaining issues are cosmetic-related. The interior is going to need a refresh, and the body has rust, particularly in the doors, rocker panels, and heater channels. We wonder if the original color of the lower half of the exterior was white, and the turquoise was a switch. The underside of the hood is white, yet one of the insides of the doors and steering column has been painted to match.
This Corvair probably has north of 63,000 miles, as the odometer is broken and the car is tired overall. Besides the bigger engine that year, a 4-speed manual transmission seems to be in play. Cash is king with this transaction, but the seller may entertain a trade without indicating what would float his/her boat. Cheap wheels? BTW, this tip is brought to us courtesy of “Curvette”.
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