The early Corvair market has changed a lot over the years, and cars like this 1963 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Spyder convertible are a big reason why. Listed on eBay, this turbocharged drop-top combines factory Spyder equipment with several Fitch Sprint-style touches and a long list of period-style details. According to the seller, the car was purchased through Bring a Trailer a few years ago and has seen only about 50 additional miles since then. Thanks for the tip, T.J.!
This Corvair is powered by the factory turbocharged 145 cubic-inch flat-six paired with a four-speed manual transaxle. Chevrolet rated these engines at 150 horsepower when new, which was a pretty serious number for a compact American car in the early 1960s. The seller mentions performing yearly oil changes during ownership, along with replacing the tie rods and fuel sending unit and adjusting the carburetor.
Finished in Ermine White over a red vinyl interior, the car was reportedly repainted under prior ownership. The listing notes several exterior features including a white soft top, front air dam, louvered rear decklid, chrome bumpers, front stone guards, and Halibrand-style 13-inch wheels. The seller also points out a couple cosmetic issues, including paint bubbles on the passenger-side door and an opaque rear window in the soft top.
Inside, the car keeps much of its period-correct layout while adding a few modifications. Red vinyl upholstery covers the bucket seats, dash, carpeting, and door panels. The rear seat bottom has been replaced by a custom speaker enclosure upholstered to match the interior. Other features mentioned in the listing include a wood-rim steering wheel with a Fitch Sprint center cap, a floor shifter, locking glovebox, passenger grab handle, and a Kraco AM/FM cassette stereo setup with an additional FM receiver mounted in the glovebox.
Instrumentation includes a 120-mph speedometer, tachometer, and auxiliary gauges, along with an under-dash Stewart Warner voltmeter. The odometer currently shows 57,000 miles, though the listing notes total mileage is unknown.
The seller also includes information from the data plate, confirming the car as a February 1963-built Monza Spyder convertible assembled in Willow Run, Michigan. The trim and paint codes match the red interior and Ermine White exterior combination, and the Spyder equipment package is confirmed as well.
For Corvair enthusiasts, the Spyder models tend to stand apart because of the turbocharged engine and more performance-focused personality. Add convertible bodywork and period-style upgrades into the mix, and you end up with something that feels very much rooted in a specific era of American car culture.
This one also feels like a car that’s been enjoyed rather than tucked away completely untouched. The seller is upfront about the cosmetic flaws while still emphasizing the car’s driver-quality nature and unusual options.
OMG, for the love of all things holy, lose the chicken screen!
You ain’t kiddin’!
One could speculate until they’re blue in the face as to why it’s there, but I kind of like it! Besides, at least the headlights won’t get broken.
Eeeek! A Spyder! I had a home-built trike in the mid 90s with the same motor. That thing alternated between being dangerous, punishing (it had no rear suspension) and fun! The fellow I sold it to turned it into a sand rail. Anyway, I like this Corvair. Turbo, four-speed, convertible all yell “let’s drive!” Without going into everything that’s been hashed and rehashed about the Corvair, I have to say it’s the type of car I wish GM or anyone else still made. Imagine having a blast driving it and then being able to wrench on it with your eyes closed!