Enthusiasts considering a first classic purchase often place affordability at the top of their requirements list. That is logical, because only once a car enters their life will they discover whether classic ownership is what they genuinely craved. If you feel the same, this 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza is worth a close look. It presents exceptionally well and is ready to provide its new owner with years of motoring pleasure. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P. for spotting the Corvair listed here on Craigslist in Surprise, Arizona. It will cost someone $10,800 to drive this beauty home, and with no apparent needs, it fits neatly into the affordable category.
It is rare for almost any manufacturer to develop a new model from a virtually blank sheet of paper. However, Chevrolet took that approach with the Corvair, using almost nothing from its existing or discontinued model range. It adopted the concepts well established by companies like Volkswagen, choosing a rear-engine layout to improve interior space. The first cars rolled off the line for the 1960 model year, but the Second Generation’s 1965 release made it much better. The styling was crisp and svelte, especially in 2-Door Hardtop form. The company updated the suspension, providing class-leading handling that gained the Corvair praise from the motoring press. Our featured Corvair Monza emerged that year, finished in Regal Red. The presentation is first-rate, with sparkling paint and arrow-straight panels. Rust was often a Corvair bugbear, but this garage-kept dry-climate classic appears to have avoided the dreaded tin worm. The seller says that the spoilers and Bow-Tie mirrors are later additions, but they don’t detract from the car’s appearance. The trim is in excellent condition, and the glass is clear.
Chevrolet decided that the drivetrain layout utilized in the Volkswagen Beetle would be equally effective in its new Corvair. However, adopting the “bigger is better” philosophy, the Corvair’s physical dimensions and engine displacement were larger than the German classic’s. This Monza features a rear-mounted 164ci air-cooled six, teamed with a two-speed Powerglide transaxle. Chevrolet quoted power and torque figures of 110hp and 160 ft/lbs, providing competent performance. However, the most significant news with the Second Generation was the dramatically reengineered suspension. The previous model’s swing-axle rear end could catch drivers unaware when they reached the limits, and this trait drew plenty of adverse publicity in Ralph Nader’s book, Unsafe At Any Speed. For the Second Generation, the swing-axle was consigned to the bin, and the Corvair received coil-sprung four-wheel independent suspension. Motoring journalists acknowledged that the car was still tail-heavy, but its handling was vastly superior to its predecessor’s. The seller recently fitted new brakes, suspension, tie rods, tires, steering, a fuel tank, and fuel lines. The car is mechanically sound, allowing the buyer to fly in and drive it home.
The seller emphasizes the originality of this Corvair’s interior, and its condition is admirable if that is the case. Trimmed in dazzling Red vinyl, the upholstered surfaces show no wear or other shortcomings, and the matching carpet is clean. The lack of significant dash deterioration suggests that this beauty hasn’t suffered long-term UV exposure, although the pad is cracked. That appears to be the only negative, because while replacement pads are readily available, they typically sell for over $600. Alternatively, adventurous owners could attempt a DIY restoration using a product like Polyvance. It isn’t lavishly equipped, but this Corvair features a telescopic timber wheel and an AM radio.
Early examples of the Chevrolet Corvair received significant bad publicity for their lively handling, which could catch people unaware. However, by the time our featured Monza variant left the line in 1965, the Corvair was considered to be a good car that handled well. This one looks like a gem, and the seller’s price compares favorably with recent successful sales. It has been on the market for under a day, and if you’ve previously owned a Corvair, did you enjoy the experience enough to pursue this one further?
Here’s another sweetheart I hope gets some attention. A nicer one you simply won’t find. Corvairs were wonderful cars, highly underestimated by people like my old man, who thought, “it just ain’t right”. To the people that did buy them,,,to the tune of 1.8 MILLION cars, they wanted nothing but. Most folks I knew loved their Corvairs. The 2nd gen, shown here, was a beautiful design, simple mechanicals, and got great mileage. We must remember, in the mid 60s, people had the right foot in mind, and many simply over-drove them, or ran them out of oil.
Great find, except, I don’t like “surprises”, and would steer clear of any city named that.
I’m sure that the residents of Surprise will be okay with that.
Won’t they city be so disappointed!
Actually the meaning behind the city/town is pretty cool Howard. It’s now a part of the Phoenix metro area but back in the day it was founded by a woman named Flora Mae Statler who said she’d be surprised if the town ever amounted to much, but as it grew it came to be called “Surprise” because it did what she thought it wouldn’t. Having said that I think this is one heck of a nice Corvair, which I find very ironic because I’ve never liked them all that much, which actually did surprise me.
If only my funding matched by desires.
Sigh.
Me too.
I feel your pain.
The only way it could be better is if it were a ragtop and a manual. Beautiful presentation, love those seats. These should have been a hit but people flocked to VW for economy cars while big cars still dominated the roads here. Still do.
Our ’65 maroon 4 speed was a great car and with a few minor engine tweaks was a good autocrosser. Bought in Michigan off the turntable at the annual manufacture’s show of new cars it had everything I wanted except AC. Next thing was an assignment to Florida. Took the car to the dealer to have AC put in and tripped over a beautiful ’66 Buick Skylark fully equipped. Next thing I know I’m driving home in a Buick.
I drove the idential car (w/o telescoping) in high school. Someone got carried away with the marker lights and emblems in the rear…..too bad.
Appears to be a very nice example.. but it would be even nicer if it had 3 pedals…
Exactly like my ’68 I bought new that was stolen a few days later. Mine had a black interior. Didn’t have it long enough to buy insurance. :-(
Please, please, stop invoking the memory of Darth Nader. His cynical attack on a very good car was shameful. Mentioning him regularly is as relevant as claiming that Hitler was responsible for Volkswagen.
I remember seeing one on the cover of a popular car magazine some years ago. It was a little more outrageous though. It had a 455 Buick motor in the front and was doing a beautiful chassis twist wheelstand. Loved that picture and would’ve loved to replicate that car (but a bit more streetable). Nice to see that the original builder had the imagination to forego the bellybutton bowtie and opt for the massive torque of a corporate cousin.
The extent of my “restoration/refurbishment” work on this one would be a $50 carpeted dash cover. That’s it. Beautiful car.
Too bad it is a powerglide that ruins it for me in a sporty car like this beautiful car though and priced correctly
Does It have AC
1968 was the first year Corvair had front fender and rear quarter markers. Amber on the front with red on the rear. These are apparently added. Also, good to see the upgraded fuel lines. If you know…
Nice but, not enough pedals.
My Dad bought a 1960 black 4-door the 1st year they came out. I had some driving lessons in that car on my dad’s lap. Put a set of snow tires on it & never got stuck in the wintertime. Took a while to generate heat in the cabin though.
sweet looking. seems fairly priced too.
From the photos, this looks to have a nice paint job. Beautiful car. It deserves a good home.
Nice looking car. Did the side marker lights come out in 65 ? I thought it was 67 for GM products . Rear spoiler to let the front end rise at speed ?
What’s not to like? Sweet little car.
These bodies also were awesome on a chevelle frame for dirt track race cars in 60’s thru 80’s! I had one and it looked great going around the tracks!
I used to own a 1965 Corvair Corsa Coupe back in the day.. it was White with Red Interior.. they definitely got a bad rap by Ralph Nader.. I absolutely loved mine .. I had the 140hp engine with the 4 carb. setup.. plenty of oomph for the Corvair and believe me my foot was heavy and still is in fact..but I found the Corvair to be quick and nibble and she was reliable..I added Chrome Mags and a performance exhaust which was a wee louder than stock and she turned heads because she looked good and sounded good. This 65 Corvair up for sale here looks to be in remarkable condition and the Red over Red is Beautiful..I can see her making a quick sale especially if she if she is running as good as she is looking. I would likely consider taking a look further myself even ..if I had the room..but my passion is Mopars.
Good Luck to the Seller …but it won’t be needed..there are plenty of enthusiastic buyers for Corvairs out there!
The tele wheel is a big plus, and the only real major demerit are the added sidelights. I’m not sure why a fuel filter was added or the pressure regulator. The carbs both have internal fuel filters, the sintered bronze type that work well. The only reason for a pressure regulator would be an electric fuel pump. One thing you don’t want on a Corvair are multiple failure points in the fuel delivery system. Overall, a nice car!
Tearing into those carbs just to get to the filters isn’t a smart move, putting an outside filter on the main line is.
Actually not bobhess, the filters are easy to access, the problem with an external filter unless hidden before entry into the engine compartment is that belt breakage can cause rupture of a filter and a subsequent fire is very possible. IMHO.
Amazing all the evolutions the Auto Industry has experienced in the name of economy. Yet we continue to repeat history. Too bad.
That is one perspective, but IMO the pursuit of economy was not the “bad” thing. It was an industry that lost the plot when it comes to overall economy (aided by well-meaning but short sighted government regulation). Today’s vehicles have “evolved” into overly complex systems with embedded technology that makes them difficult to repair and therefore not economically viable to keep on the road for the long term… and the longer the term the worse things get. There were other paths that could have been taken… but the marketers won and common sense lost…
Amen Brother…
Too many bells and whistles and too little quality 😊