The Chevrolet Corvair faced a perfect storm in 1966 that dramatically impacted sales. Ford’s Mustang was blitzing the opposition in showrooms, rumors were rife that Chevrolet had its own pony car waiting in the wings, and Ralph Nader’s book, Unsafe at Any Speed, had eroded buyer confidence. However, the fact was that ticking the right boxes on the Order Form allowed buyers to slip behind the wheel of something quite special. Such is the case with this 1966 Corvair Corsa, which is powered by the range-topping turbocharged six. It is a rock-solid classic that would respond positively to a light cosmetic refresh. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting the Corvair listed here on Craigslist in Eastsound, Washington. The seller has set their price at $16,500, indicating that they are firm on that figure.
Following its release for the 1960 model year, Chevrolet performed a significant update to the Corvair in 1965. It brought some welcome changes below the surface, but the dramatic new body provided a svelte appearance that received much praise. Our feature vehicle is a range-topping 1966 Corvair Corsa, ordered by its first owner in Marina Blue. The seller states that it doesn’t have a repair or restoration history, and the photos seem to confirm that this beauty has avoided the rust issues that sometimes plague these classics. Close inspection of the supplied images reveals areas of paint deterioration, but with no glaring panel problems, treating it to a cosmetic restoration would be fairly straightforward. The trim and glass are in good order, and the Corsa rolls on a set of 16″ Custom rims. However, the seller includes the original steelies and spinner hubcaps if the buyer wishes to recapture the car’s factory form.
By the end of the 1950s, America’s compact car market had grown enormously. Imports were making clear inroads in showrooms, and domestic manufacturers sought to gain a foothold in the sector. It is rare for a manufacturer to commence developing a new model from scratch, but Chevrolet opted for that path with its Corvair. Buyers had grown used to cars featuring a front engine and rear-wheel drive, but Chevrolet drew on the Volkswagen Beetle when it released the rear-engined Corvair. It offered excellent packaging efficiency and a surprising amount of interior space, but there were mechanical compromises that eventually damaged the badge’s reputation. Key among these was the swing-axle rear suspension, which could be lively in some circumstances. This was a factor identified by Ralph Nader, but Chevrolet addressed the problem permanently with the release of the Second Generation in 1965, with the swing-axle making way for independent rear suspension. This Corsa features the range-topping turbocharged 164ci air-cooled six, sending 180hp and 265 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transaxle. The seller states that the car has a genuine 32,000 miles on its odometer, and that, apart from the wheel and tire combo, the only non-original items are the Petronix ignition and the custom Gibson exhaust. They provide a range of additional parts, including a spare turbocharger. Potential buyers will welcome the news that this Corvair is a turnkey proposition that runs and drives as nicely as it did in 1966.
Considering the exterior paint shade, it is unsurprising to discover this Corvair’s interior is trimmed in matching Blue vinyl. It features a sports wheel on a telescopic column, an AM radio, and a sports gauge cluster with a factory tachometer. The overall presentation is impressive for a survivor of this vintage, with only the driver’s seat exhibiting any form of deterioration or damage. A brief online search unearthed replacement front seatcovers for around $460 per pair, although I’m sure that a more detailed investigation would uncover sets for a lower price. Beyond that shortcoming, this Corvair’s interior appears to have no further needs.
The 1966 Chevrolet Corvair deserved to be a sales success because it represented automotive design at its most bold and daring. However, the challenges that it faced dramatically impacted sales. Chevrolet sold 247,092 Corvairs in 1965, but that figure slumped to 109,880 in 1966. Sadly, that was the beginning of the end, with the final Corvair leaving the factory in 1969. Today, the badge enjoys a strong following in the classic world, although values have fallen during the past year. This ’66 Corvair Corsa looks like a beauty, offering its new owner a choice between restoration and preservation. The seller’s price might be slightly optimistic, but I won’t be surprised if this classic finds a new home. Will you?
Los Angeles build 66 Corsa turbo is the most rare of the Corsa builds and the one people look for. Telescope wheel is also another desirable option. If they can substantiate the original miles it’s a realistic price. I have a 65 Corsa turbo but I’m building a 140 engine instead. The 180 cars can be a hassle to tune and don’t drive as nice as the 4 carb 140 cars.
Had a turbo Vair, found a 65 Corsa when I was stationed in ND and it was beat literally looked had been hard in a field. So I found a clean 66 Monza and moved so many parts over. Used to beat it hard, then I popped the engine, turbo Vairs have a different pressure plate by the way 66 had a stronger transmission so two engines later realized I had the wrong distributor in the thing. Turbo has an additional retard in the advance when it goes to boost to retard the timing. Never got to my dream engine, cut the 140 heads and use them in the tubo combo. In short these cars are quite quick 2nd and 3rd pulled hard and 4th just kept going. Yeah I drive it hard and nobody was really collecting them like now. Had the short shifter, quick steering arms Otto parts was a go to. 14 ” rallies that one should have kept, it was just fun!
I had a 65 turbo car with a 66 transaxle. I added the 140 heads, the hybrid (180 cold side,150 hot side) turbo setup, SU carb conversion, a home made water injection system, and an early MSD built back in 1976. It would build boost in 1st gear, but once you git into 2nd, hang on and enjoy the ride! Besides my GTO and El Camino, I have a 65 Crown mid engine conversion, and a 66 Monza 4 speed 140 AC convertible, always a soft spot for Corvairs!
What makes the ’66 Corsa turbos more desirable then the other years? Asking for a friend. ;)
Poking around the internets, I never see any 67-69 turbo cars.
66 was the last year for the turbo
In addition to the last year of the turbo, also the last year for the Corsa.
Our ’65 Monza had the telescoping steering wheel. Wife is 5 ft tall, I’m 5’6″ which made adjusting the seating for her was easy. Still one of the best cars we’ve ever owned. Nice example here.
This Corvair looks like its about as good as you could get. I think that Marina blue is one of the nicest colors GM had that era. GM had some nice lines on the restyled ’65 models, coke bottle lines in the quarter panels and hardtop models available. I’ve never had an opportunity to drive one, but would love to one day. I’d probably go back
to stock rims if it were mine,maybe address that front seat too. I really enjoyed your write up Adam. And the Corvair too, nice find Curvette. Thank you. Also I tried to leave a thumbs up for the coments above from Bobhess and Alphasud but its not working this morning. But I enjoyed them too.
Well, nevermind about the thumbs up. I logged out logged in and they’re there now.
Its a very modern car, in its own way. Agreed the standard rims would be marginally better. The way Cadmanls describes all those Corvair adventures is how many of us used to mess around with cheap cars, now called classics and barnfinds. What a great time was had, and empty roads were more forgiving.
Its a very modern car, in its own way. Agreed the standard rims would be marginally better. The way Cadmanls describes all those Corvair adventures is how many of us used to mess around with cheap cars, now called classics and barnfinds. What a great time was had, and empty roads were more forgiving.
Great looking car, nice color. Those wheels look identical to the factory wheels on my 2000 Camaro Z28.
My ex-girlfriend brother(late 70’s)had a 66 Monza white blue racing strips. Behind the front seats was a DZ 302 raced out. He raced it at Watkins Glen and other tracks at the time. The rear wheels where super wide as I recall with flared fenders. It was mean looking. I sat behind the wheel but never start it. It was all business here. It would be wild to have it today for the street. 😂 I wonder what happen to it. This one is great looking and it would be fun to drive it around. The price is fair. Yeah i remember Ralph Nader kill this ride but I always wondered why he didn’t go after the VW Bug? Fair is fair. 🤔
Nader… so protecting the father land VW . Killed our car made in the USA = benedict Arnold trader.🦅🇺🇸
Uh, no. He is the son of Lebanese immigrants.
Can we deport him?
And why did Nader ignore the Beetle, Porsche 356,and the 300SL Gullwing, all swing-axle designs? Simple, Nader had a personal feud with Ed Cole, a brilliant engineer and later GM President who knew more about technology than Nader knew about his own arse. Oh, and Cole had already made a name for himself… while Nader was, (and is) irrelevant.
Actually, Nader DID cite the VW Beetle, Porsche and possibly the 300SL in his book “Unsafe At Any Speed”. The Corvair only got one chapter in the book. The other chapters covered those other swing axle cars.
I’m the first one in line for exceptional low mileage originals, blemishes and all. This one really checks those boxes and it’s a topline model at a reasonable price.
It’s a crying shame someone took a holesaw to the dashboard to install gauges, but even stranger still all of those holes are left vacant now(?!)
If it checks out in person this is still one of the better $$ buys to come across barnfinds in awhile. Buyer is firm at 16 K and that’s completely reasonable. Likely this one is going to find a good home.
Nice to see it has a dual master cylinder conversion.
Great write up Adam. I’ve always thought the 65-69 Corvairs were the prettiest of the sixties small cars ( falcon, dart, nova etc.) This one is a beautiful color combo and low miles although I’d prefer the stock wheels. Worth the money.
I don’t know what’s up with all of these cars from Washington state lately, but I’m glad this one is far away from me. It would be in my driveway already as I contemplate where to park my daily driver while I navigate the divorce process…
You can thank BFer Curvette for that.
And, I have the exact same sentiment as you – thank goodness these finds are so far away. Factoring today’s shipping expenses make these west coast classics out of my financial reach.
Ralph Nader was an American citizen, same as the folks commenting on this article I’d imagine. He was descended from immigrants, but then (unless you are an indigenous Native American) we all are.
anyway, back to reality.,.. It may be fashionable for car enthusiasts to represent Nader as a bogeyman, but in the case of the Corvair he had a reasonable point. During the development of the Corvair the engineers working on the suspension recommend fitment of a sway bar to mitigate the inherent risk of snap understeer of swing axles…GM management over-ruled this to save a few dollars on cents on each car. Nader’s point was that GM was basically calculating that it was worth the extra profit over and above any risk the consumers’ potential injury or death.
GM’s reaction to the allegations from Nader? – GM assigned detectives to tap his phone, use electronic devices to listen to his private conversations, make harassing phone calls, question his friends about his private life, and hire women to attempt to seduce him. Nader successfully sued GM over this action, and GM were forced to pay substantial compensation and apologize.
GM did quickly revise the design of the Corvair to incorporate the sway bar.
Years, well no, decades ago I mistakenly put a friends 140hp four carb Corvair in 3rd and drove off. It pulled away without stuttering, shuddering or complaining. I thought geeze, this thing is geared for outer space! Realizing my mistake, I came back and told the owner! We both laughed. In ’74 I pulled a turbo from a junked Corvair and a friend silver-soldered it’s Carter main jet to allow me to drill it a lot smaller. Trust me, a ’73 Kawasaki Z1 with 20lbs of boost is an arm straightener!
I hope this Corvair finds an owner that is wild about it!
This is one of the cleanest Corvairs I have seen in a while.
I would put different rims on it. It is clean and the GM color marina blue is one of GM’s nicest colors.
Love the Corsa.
Mine has been stuck in a upper floor of a warehouse for many years.
Simply must get it out of there before I get too old!