There’s not much on the eastern side of the Sierras in California. The only highway really, is the north south highway, State Route 395. For the last couple of years I’ve seen this Corvair sitting beside the road in Coleville, California with a for sale sign. I finally stopped in yesterday to inquire. It seems Johnny clears out properties that are to be sold and sometimes finds cars. He has lowered the asking price on this Corvair to $1,200. It runs and drives and is a 4 speed car. This Corvair appears to have been last registered in 1979. It needs exhaust work and an interior. Those parts and more are included with the car. He drives it around on his property, loud and proud, but put it away for the winter. Johnny’s phone number is 530-495-2310 or 775-870-3284.
The dash is complete, unmolested and original.
The floors have surface rust, but are solid.
The body looks pretty straight with just surface rust. It’s very dry in eastern California and things don’t rust much. It doesn’t look like it would take much to make a fun driver. It’s not worth a good paint job, perhaps, but certainly worth doing a bit of work and making it drivable. It’s probably not worth paying for shipping, though, but might be worth the drive to pick it up if you’re not too far away. What would you do with it? It will be interesting to see your comments. And no, my wife won’t let me take it home.
Decent price. Clark’s Corvairs and a VW piston swap for more power are all you need.
Finally, a driver I could afford! But now being in central Florida, shipping would kill the deal.
c’mon dave you have seen it, it’s a screaming deal and you’ve practically bonded with it over the last few months. you have to take it!
seriously, someone should contact a few of the local corvair groups in the area. someone will want a 2 door with a stick. i know i would.
Make that a few years. What a great idea! When I get back to Sacramento tomorrow (home at last!) I’ll start looking for a Corvair group or perhaps I’ll just throw up an ad on Craigslist for Johnny. The thing is, it’s a long way from anywhere. Carson City is the nearest (small) city and it’s a few hours north. I won’t be back over that way for another month. The Corvair parts he has for this thing make it worth the price.
And Pat Housel, you bought a Willys 10 miles from the Corvair? What’s within 10 miles of Coleville? Walker?
Topaz
It’s nice to see something with a realistic price. Despite all the “throw it out there and see what sticks” pricing you see, I’m a firm believer that the market determines the true value and that true market value of everyday type classic cars is not as ridiculous as you might think.
Maybe, but he just lowered the price to be within range of buy it now. You’d have to drive it as is, because the cost to bring it above embarrassing, based on needing everything, would far exceed value.
Most cars today that need everything exceed their value when finished.
Damn….it’s an hour south of me….I’d be all over this if I hadn’t bought a 48 Willys CJ2A. And the Willys was 10 miles from the Corvair.
David and Pat, I drive 395 Reno to Bishop many times a year, have seen this car, and always tempted to stop and put it on Barn Finds – garage across the highway has some interesting things off and on as well. I think it is actually in Walker (which is 4 miles south of Coleville), but I could be wrong.