Chevrolet’s rear-engine rebel lives on in this sharp 1967 Corvair Monza, now offered here on craigslist out of Suncrest, Washington. Wearing a bright red finish over black leather buckets and fitted with a 4-speed manual, this clean, rust-free Monza has been owned by the seller for the past 15 years. It runs very well and now features a period-style turbocharger added for a little extra punch. If you’re looking for an affordable way to get into a classic that stands out from the usual small-block crowd, this Corvair could be just the ticket.
The second-generation Corvair (1965–1969) is widely regarded as the better driver of the two generations, with its sleeker fastback design, independent suspension, and refined handling. This Monza appears to be a coupe with a tidy exterior and an appealing factory look that doesn’t stray far from stock—aside from the turbo setup, of course. The body is said to be rust-free and very clean, which is always a plus with Corvairs, especially those that have spent time in damper climates.
Inside, the car sports black leather bucket seats and a 4-speed shifter on the floor, reinforcing its sporty intentions. It’s unclear if the leather is original or a later upgrade, but it looks well-kept from what we can see. The Monza trim level added nicer interior appointments compared to the base model, and while not as rare as the Corsa, Monzas still offer a good blend of style and usability.
The standout feature here is the turbo. While Chevrolet officially dropped the factory turbocharged Corsa after 1966, enthusiasts have long been bolting turbos onto later cars to mimic that performance experience. No details are given on the boost level, carb setup, or internals, so it would be wise to ask for documentation or photos to understand what’s under the decklid. That said, a well-sorted turbo Corvair can offer surprising performance and is certainly more interesting than most 6-cylinder cars of the era.
If it truly is rust-free, with a solid floor and good mechanicals, this Monza could be an ideal driver or light project for someone who appreciates quirky, rear-engine fun. The fact that it’s been under the same ownership for 15 years suggests it was cared for, and the red-over-black color combo only sweetens the deal.
Interesting that they are running a blow through setup vs. the factory YH draw through carb. Would be interested to know how it runs. A blow through carb actually creates a cooler intake charge using fuel to absorb some of the latent heat from the turbo.
Nice, a 2nd gen red Corvair, the puffer? Meh, for a wow factor, but not necessary today. Why? Because in 1967, GM threw everything they had at the Corvair to bolster sales loss from you know who, and most folks that wanted a Corvair, weren’t interested in how fast it went, just wanted an unconventional car that good good gas mileage.The turbo performance times are nothing fancy, 0-60 in 11 seconds,( some say 8.9 sec) and the 1/4 mile a disappointing 18.1 @79 mph,( some say 16.8 sec), hey, you want to turbocharge your lawnmower, go right ahead, but this car was known for being a good, dependable, economical stylish car, but not necessarily for its turbocharging.
Nah, turbocharged lawnmowers have been done to death already.
https://youtube.com/shorts/DgFEhNKUv80?si=qoU_Wg3_nZowd_Es
The second gen Corvair styling was outstanding. Too bad Chevy didn’t build a real performance variant of it but by then the car’s reputation was set. I guess you could get a Yenko Stinger if you wanted a hotter version.
No Corvair was built with leather seats.
Looks like plenty of room for another turbo under the decklid.
An intriguing idea, as long as one is going to the trouble of planning out and installing a custom turbo setup — rather than swapping in a vintage/repro factory turbo system — why not go with a twin-turbo, using a separate smaller blower for each bank of cylinders? That would simplify the plumbing and also reduce turbo-lag for better drivability on the street, at some tradeoff for top-end max power potential.
A rebuilt Porsche 930 Turbo would deliver over 300 hp and cost a mere $38,500. Probably just plug and play, simple swap.
Can’t imagine why this hasn’t been done yet.
pretty messy wiring in that engine bay. spinner caps really? 14k i don’t know old man
If you have never owned Corvairs, you have no idea why the faithful love them.
They are fun to drive. They have adequate power for any street driving. Many of us have others like Hemis, Pantera, Corvette- even converted mid-engined V8 Corvairs. When in good repair, they are durable, unique to drive and simple…mechanically. You can steer them with one finger….no power steering.
The ’65 to ’69s are remarkably good handlers. Bring whatever you have and you will have a hard time staying with my modified ’69 4 carb on a curvy road.
Good ones can be bought for very low money, but restored pretty ones may cost you $25 to $40K.
I bought a brand new red 68 exactly like this one when I got out of Coast Guard boot camp. Arrived at my first duty station in Miami Beach and they wouldn’t let me bring it in because of no insurance. Left it next to the guard house that afternoon figuring I’d go get insurance the next day.
Came out the next day and it was gone. Guard said it was taken with a tow truck.
3 days later the police came looking for me to tell me they found the shell.
Didn’t even have 1000 miles on it.
Huge bummer!