Why are Corvairs so darned cheap? I always wonder that when I see a car like this 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza, available here on eBay with a starting bid of $3600 and an entire week to go in the auction. Of course we don’t know where this car will end up, price-wise, but it’s still appropriate to ask where else you are going to get a not-totally-used-up 1960s convertible for, very likely, well south of ten grand? This one, by the way, will need to be trailered from Denver, NC to wherever you are.
Three things mark big plus signs for this Butternut Yellow Monza. First, it’s a convertible. I’ve never been crazy about drop-tops, but that might be because they’re always more expensive than similar coupe models. But with this one, if the price doesn’t go past six or eight thousand bucks, you’re paying a pittance for the chance to bake in the (California, in my case) sun. Second, this baby’s got a four-speed. Now, admittedly, with its 164-CID 6-cylinder rear-mounted engine driving those rear wheels, that stick might not row you up any race victories, but hey—fun to drive nonetheless. (The seller claims 110-hp, which is not exactly in muscle-car territory, mind you.) Third, the car has factory AC, which actually isn’t the worst idea on a drop-top.
So where’s the downside? The car needs rust repair. This is mostly confined to the lower extremities, but there are a couple of body panels where paint is off and rusty spots show through. It also needs interior refitment. How does a rear seat split like this? Was there a knife fight back there? A new top and rear window will also be in order. And it’s absent of carbs. Carbs? The lack of same is perhaps what makes the car “inoperable,” in the language of the ad. Convenient. Easy to remedy, too, though one wishes the current owner had done that already so that the car could be started up. Because if that little engine is seized or otherwise not useful, then uh-oh goes the budget. In any case, the engine bay looks a bit like a dark chamber of horrors, so maybe that’s what will hold this Monza back from achieving any kind of high price at auction.
So negs weigh out against positives on this Corvair, but with 76,300 miles showing and most of the major parts and trim intact, this could be a decent driver on the cheap, even if you never decide to do a full resto.
I would definitely like to see more pictures before I put any money on that. Some worries about rust in the bottom on the A and B pillars where it matters structurally. The seller says 1966 but there are 65 clues in the engine compartment. In 66 they moved the A/C condenser to the fresh air inlet in front of the engine. Also the dipstick to check the differential was 65 only. Based on what I see I would probably not pay the open bid.
You ask why so cheap relative to other classics? A lot of it is the tarnish created about the car’s safety even though it wasn’t warranted. In addition a lot of mechanics didn’t want to work on them and they had a reputation of being large oil leakers. A lot of people who owned them were very frugal so many were just run into the ground or used up. I think we are seeing a changing of the guard with a younger generation wanting a 60’s classic. Prices have gone up. So it’s still possible to have a good entry car that even has racing heritage no less. That’s why I bought mine.
Totally agree that AC condenser doesn’t seem right for a 66, while the diff is 65. Maybe this thing was built late in 65 and was sent out as a 66, would have to dig further. Car has been gone over once before, the dash is body color and right front headlight something is going on under the bezel. Maybe prior damage in that corner. Probably not worth dealing with.
The taillights are correct for a ’65 rather than a ’66, and you can see the holes in the left front of the frunk lid where the “Corvair” script emblem was mounted. On the frunk lid is correct for a ’65, for ’66 it was moved to the front fascia.
That said, if this car was a dealer leftover that was sold in 1966, it might have gotten incorrectly titled by the state DMV at the time as a ’66. This was much more common with import cars that didn’t have big year-to-year changes the way Detroit commonly did at that time, but it could have happened to this car as well.
Yep, can confirm. My first car was a ‘65 Cutlass that was titled as a ‘66 when it was sold new.
The cheapness of Corvairs is no mystery to me whatsoever.
The open intakes manifolds and AC compressor lines tells me this car is going to eat money like it was cookies. Owned and love the 2nd generation cars but think I’d keep looking rather than buying this car.
Had a four door with factory air back in the 70’s, it was much more reliable than a previous ’62. A droptop with AC is pretty rare. They all leaked oil until the pushrod seals were replaced with a new material called Viton, that seemed to solve it. These were great handling cars once the independent rear suspension replaced the swing arms. No Corvair heater has a heat exchanger like a VW, which means if there are any gasket leaks you are breathing carbon monoxide. I used to go to the junkyard, get a complete gasoline heater from a ’60 and retrofit it
Huh? This one should be cheap. It’s possibly already too expensive with the $3600 bid. These are not expensive when nice, and this one needs rust repair, everything mechanical, interior… almost one of everything to be nice. Plus it’s only a Monza.
From front to back, from the front grille bar to the rear lower grille, to the wheel covers, this is a ’65. The owner doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I wonder what else he doesn’t know?
In the seller’s defense, it may be titled/registered as a ’66. If they’re just trying to flip this car, or sell it for someone else, etc., and they’re not a real Corvair enthusiast, then they wouldn’t know the difference.
Well I had a good look at the ebay pics …
Definitely more than “minimal” rust.
Maybe a parts car but not worth what it’s even currently at!
The Monza was a 110 hp equipped engine, the Corsa was a 160 hp, and a real rocket. It had 4 single barrel carburetors on it and dusted off many other muscle cars of the day on the side street matches (ok, ok, I grew up since then…). I would love to have my 65 Corsa back.
The Corsa with one of two engines: a 140 hp four-carb (I had one) or a 180 hp turbocharged engine. No “160” hp versions, Jay. The 140 four-carb was very quick for its day; I could beat a fairly warm V-8 in a drag race and did that a few times and surprised a few people, including myself the first time!
A stick sounds good….but you wouldn’t take this thing out on a Interstate or even a winding country road.
Unless you live in middle of nowhere, your driving is gonna be in suburbs or city with a gazillion traffic lights. Now the stick, doesn’t sound too appealing.
Unless you like racing to the next red light. On 110 HP. lol
Minimal value as a collector.
I’m confused. With the upgraded rear suspensions these cars could handle any winding roads and had plenty of power to run interstates. We autocrossed our ’65 and usually came out on top against most cars on the track. Agree on the 4 speed for traffic. My mother’s two cars had automatics which made the last minute grocery runs much easier for me while visiting her.
Close to me but not interested at the price.
It has all the signs of a 65, but has 66 front door panels, and a Corsa shifter base. The VIN, indicates a 1966 model year. A photo of the VIN tag and title would be helpful. It is not an early car at all, the build sequence indicates it is the 17,220th built at the Willow Run plant in MI. Did someone swap a 66 VIN onto a 65 body? I have a 66 Monza 140/4 speed AC convert, built at the LA undergoing a mild restoration.
Wish I could find one of these with an automatic, but they seem to be as rare as hens teeth. My wife has a minor disability that no longer allows her to operate a clutch, so she is already restricted from several in the stable. If it was for me, the 4 speed wouldn’t be a big deal, but she is the one that wants a drop top, so got to keep the wife happy.
I’m a sucker for drop top cars with 4-speeds and factory A/C. Had this been available 15 years ago I would have put in a few bids. While the car has had some rust repairs in the past, the basic body seems to be ok.
This is the only model corvair that does it for me in the looks department
Mecanically , its another story
Make mine a 4 wheel disc brake
A 6 speed transmission
And fuel injected cause i simply hate the smell of rich carbs
Drop that top and race !
YOLO
have had a lot of them owned corvair and classic cars of ct before moving to fla sold a a lot of stuff to cals covair parts in shelrbone falls mass its a 65 the guy doest know his vairs so i wonder what else lerks in the shadows ben in fl still have a 64 ragtop and a 61 rampside