Corvairs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

CG · 09-03-2016, 05:42 PM

Any of you guys ever own a Corvair? I was watching an episode of Wheeler Dealers the other day and they did a 63 Corvair convertible. Turned out to be a neat little car.

Ive been on the lookout for a convertible project for a long time. Looked in to Corvairs after I saw that episode and found a halfway decent 65 convertible not too far from my house. Not a turbo charged version, I don't want something like that. But it does have an auto trans, I like that.

Any Corvair experience out there?

TwoFiftyShifter · 09-03-2016, 06:09 PM

Was out driving in the mountains today, got behind a 65 red Convair. Nice cars in my opinion

friscobob · 09-03-2016, 06:48 PM

The 2nd generation certainly handled better than the first, the engine has it's share of problems. Not an engine for a beginner to tackle unless they talk with a lot of oldtime mechanics that have worked on them.
Bob

**GOPAPA** · 09-03-2016, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CG

Any of you guys ever own a Corvair? I was watching an episode of Wheeler Dealers the other day and they did a 63 Corvair convertible. Turned out to be a neat little car.

Ive been on the lookout for a convertible project for a long time. Looked in to Corvairs after I saw that episode and found a halfway decent 65 convertible not too far from my house. Not a turbo charged version, I don't want something like that. But it does have an auto trans, I like that.

Any Corvair experience out there?

Had a friend that added two more Name: 010.jpg
Views: 328
Size: 83.2 KB

taillights to what the Corvairs already had ,,looked good too

**Stocker** · 09-03-2016, 07:39 PM

I think the 2nd-gen Corvairs had great classic styling. In my younger days I wanted a Crown Corv-8. If you never heard of that, it was an aftermarket conversion. The basics involved removing the engine and rear seat, then stuffing a SBC where the back seat used to be. Mid-engine V8 gave it great handling and plenty of power. Still has appeal even though I've been over it for decades....

**GOPAPA** · 09-03-2016, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stocker

I think the 2nd-gen Corvairs had great classic styling. In my younger days I wanted a Crown Corv-8. If you never heard of that, it was an aftermarket conversion. The basics involved removing the engine and rear seat, then stuffing a SBC where the back seat used to be. Mid-engine V8 gave it great handling and plenty of power. Still has appeal even though I've been over it for decades....

Must of put more suspension under them didn't they Mike,,maybe not as it would of handled more like a go-cart I guess,,

CG · 09-03-2016, 08:51 PM

I know they did lots of crazy things to Corvairs in the past. I'm more interested in a good running reliable car with nice paint and interior and some sort of aftermarket wheels and tires. I want the back seat available so we can take the grand kids places on sunny days. I want to be able to hop in the car and drive down the west coast, or drive all the way to the east coast and back.

Need to get rid of the 41 Cadillac and my other misc car and truck projects and stuff before I drag something home. My honey has asked me (for the zillionth time lol) to pare down. Keep one truck thing, and one car thing.

We are getting closer to retirement and need to get serious now and make sure all our ducks are in a row.

I have a board member that is going to check out a different (not a Vair) convertible for me out of state. Ive looked at several local verts (65 and older) and Ive checked out a few verts for sale on the HAMB.

Corvairs weren't even on my radar until the episode of Wheeler Dealers.

Indian113 · 09-03-2016, 09:15 PM

I had a 62 2 door coupe, hated the Fish and Go Find shifter but loved the car. I dated a girl that her folks had a 66 convertible always wanted one but Good OL Ralph ended my dreams.

**LockDoc** · 09-03-2016, 09:15 PM

-
My experience with Corvairs wasn't all that great. One of the floor covering stores I worked for back in the '60's bought a few used vans for the installers to drive. First off they didn't have any power, when you got all of your tools in them and a couple of rolls of carpet you had to pull all of the steeper hills in first gear. The darned things leaked oil, and being the hot air for the heater was pulled from around the engine they filled the whole interior of the truck with a blue oil haze in the winter time. No thanks, I'll stick to the water cooled vehicles if you don't mind....

LockDoc

**GOPAPA** · 09-03-2016, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
My experience with Corvairs wasn't all that great. One of the floor covering stores I worked for back in the '60's bought a few used vans for the installers to drive. First off they didn't have any power, when you got all of your tools in them and a couple of rolls of carpet you had to pull all of the steeper hills in first gear. The darned things leaked oil, and being the hot air for the heater was pulled from around the engine they filled the whole interior of the truck with a blue oil haze in the winter time. No thanks, I'll stick to the water cooled vehicles if you don't mind....

LockDoc

Was it you who called Ralph Nader,, lol

they didn't fit my foot for speed either ,,but to see them at car shows now days is all together different now as all cars and trucks are neat,, sure would like to see Mark get one and let us listen and watch as he takes on the adventure..

**LockDoc** · 09-03-2016, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOPAPA

Was it you who called Ralph Nader,, lol

they didn't fit my foot for speed either ,,but to see them at car shows now days is all together different now as all cars and trucks are neat,, sure would like to see Mark get one and let us listen and watch as he takes on the adventure..

I might have contributed to the end result because of all my complaining...

I saw a really neat Corvair pickup today, right here in Montezuma. I will have to see if I can get a picture of it. White with Red trim.... Looked good.

LockDoc

**davischevy** · 09-03-2016, 09:53 PM

A friend of mine has six or eight really nice ones. Some turbocharged, some convertibles and at least one pickup, both generations.

**GOPAPA** · 09-03-2016, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davischevy

A friend of mine has six or eight really nice ones. Some turbocharged, some convertibles and at least one pickup, both generations.

Could you take some photos of all your friends collection for us to see? I would understand if your friend said no,, I have a friend that had a real cool one when they first came out and he just loves seeing them in car shows,, and also would you comment in the post about the earthquake and let us know if your had damage or eve felt it or not.. you might be answering it now while I ask,,.

franken · 09-03-2016, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stocker

I think the 2nd-gen Corvairs had great classic styling. In my younger days I wanted a Crown Corv-8. If you never heard of that, it was an aftermarket conversion. The basics involved removing the engine and rear seat, then stuffing a SBC where the back seat used to be. Mid-engine V8 gave it great handling and plenty of power. Still has appeal even though I've been over it for decades....

This but w/ an LS...

**davischevy** · 09-03-2016, 10:12 PM

GOPAPA I will see what I can do about pictures.

I didn't feel the earthquake, but I see on Facebook that a lot of people around here did. My sister lives at Rogers, but I haven't talked to her.

BTW, we are doing a road widening job (passing lane) on HWY 7 down Russellville way.

other Larry

CG · 09-03-2016, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
My experience with Corvairs wasn't all that great. One of the floor covering stores I worked for back in the '60's bought a few used vans for the installers to drive. First off they didn't have any power, when you got all of your tools in them and a couple of rolls of carpet you had to pull all of the steeper hills in first gear. The darned things leaked oil, and being the hot air for the heater was pulled from around the engine they filled the whole interior of the truck with a blue oil haze in the winter time. No thanks, I'll stick to the water cooled vehicles if you don't mind....

LockDoc

Ive heard that about the vans and trucks. Mark Livrat told me the wagons were impossible to work on since you cant get to the engine. A friend of mine recently restored a rampside pickup for someone and it really looked nice all finished up. Not my cup of tea for sure, but like gopapa said, I appreciate most old cars and trucks now when done up all pretty like =)

**davischevy** · 09-03-2016, 10:34 PM

Arkansas has a pretty active Corvair Club. Check their FB page. Here are three of my friends Corvairs and some pics of a meeting from FB.

**davischevy** · 09-03-2016, 10:40 PM

Larry, here are some pics.

CG · 09-03-2016, 11:35 PM

Boy they sure look good with Cragars on them.

**davischevy** · 09-03-2016, 11:57 PM

Yep

In The Ten Ring · 09-04-2016, 12:31 AM

Didn't you guys read Ralph Nader's book? I can't believe you'd risk your life even thinking about a Corvair!

Jokes aside, it's a pretty car. I hope you find what you want and fix it all up.

**Stocker** · 09-04-2016, 12:57 AM

IMHO, from certain angles these coupes are so pretty they almost make your eyeballs bleed. Such a graceful greenhouse.... some of the last cars styled without an overload of regulations guiding the end product.

**special-K** · 09-04-2016, 08:14 AM

I really like the Corvairs. GM always stuck their neck out with new ideas more than the others and these are just one example. This is one big reason I became a Bowtie Man and grew into a total GM fan. My dad had a '64 when I first started driving. Smooth and quite! A friend's dad was into them heavily even in the early-70s. AACA voted them in as classics before their time. Good ole Waldo Davis showed me what restoration was all about. He'd have the numbers correctly stenciled onto the shroud pieces and just totally meticulous about every nitpickin' detail, tearing them down to bones. I had a '56 VW bug for my first car and that ended up fully restored by the time I was 20. I bought a '66 VW Bus about then and he gave me a first year Corvair engine to do a swap (which never happened). Those were 85hp, lowest, but he said had the most "beef" for being durable in the bus. I also have a friend, Olblue60's old longtime friend, who is serious into them. He races a Yenko at the local SCCA track (Summit Point, WVA). I'd like to have one.

Back when I was doing a lot of picture threads I did one I'm 99% sure was titled, "Pic Thread: Corvairs", but danged if I can find it. I did them all that way, if not maybe spelling "picture" out on some. Couldn't find either. But I did find this one from a while back:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad%3A+Corvairs

Also, a guy up the rod from me had a black later Corvair with the small block mid-engine conversion for sale 10 years or more back. I wanted that thing bad. It was black and I believe it had Vette rallyes on it.

I see an LS zombie managed to find his way in here with a very helpful post

**6t727t2** · 09-04-2016, 08:36 AM

Bought a '65 in '71 for $75 from a friend of my dad, push button auto, drove it for a year or so, sold it for $300 for a down payment on a '72 vega, power galore on both

**72ironmike** · 09-04-2016, 08:49 AM

In the late 70's I restored a 64 convertible. Paid $125 for it. Had a quarter sized rust hole in the top of one fender and that was it. White over black. Had a power top, automatic and factory A/C. Paid $300 for a paint job that would cost $4000 today, put new carpet, new top, a seat insert or two in it and found some factory knock off wire wheels for $60. Then I put some BR60 x 13 Goodrich Radials on it and had $1125 in an incredible car. Did not get to enjoy it though. My roommate took it out and wrecked it when I was out of town. I ended up selling it to his dad. I probably had several and even had a 63 Spyder coupe with the turbo but none as nice as the 64. Would have another if I could find the right project.

09-03-2016, 05:42 PM	#1
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 19,785	Corvairs Any of you guys ever own a Corvair? I was watching an episode of Wheeler Dealers the other day and they did a 63 Corvair convertible. Turned out to be a neat little car. Ive been on the lookout for a convertible project for a long time. Looked in to Corvairs after I saw that episode and found a halfway decent 65 convertible not too far from my house. Not a turbo charged version, I don't want something like that. But it does have an auto trans, I like that. Any Corvair experience out there? __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …

09-03-2016, 06:09 PM	#2
TwoFiftyShifter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gwinnett GA Posts: 1,803	Re: Corvairs Was out driving in the mountains today, got behind a 65 red Convair. Nice cars in my opinion __________________ 1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh!

09-03-2016, 06:48 PM	#3
friscobob Registered User Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Sutherlin, Oregon Posts: 162	Re: Corvairs The 2nd generation certainly handled better than the first, the engine has it's share of problems. Not an engine for a beginner to tackle unless they talk with a lot of oldtime mechanics that have worked on them. Bob

09-03-2016, 07:39 PM	#5
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,498	Re: Corvairs I think the 2nd-gen Corvairs had great classic styling. In my younger days I wanted a Crown Corv-8. If you never heard of that, it was an aftermarket conversion. The basics involved removing the engine and rear seat, then stuffing a SBC where the back seat used to be. Mid-engine V8 gave it great handling and plenty of power. Still has appeal even though I've been over it for decades.... __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

09-03-2016, 08:51 PM	#7
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 19,785	Re: Corvairs I know they did lots of crazy things to Corvairs in the past. I'm more interested in a good running reliable car with nice paint and interior and some sort of aftermarket wheels and tires. I want the back seat available so we can take the grand kids places on sunny days. I want to be able to hop in the car and drive down the west coast, or drive all the way to the east coast and back. Need to get rid of the 41 Cadillac and my other misc car and truck projects and stuff before I drag something home. My honey has asked me (for the zillionth time lol) to pare down. Keep one truck thing, and one car thing. We are getting closer to retirement and need to get serious now and make sure all our ducks are in a row. I have a board member that is going to check out a different (not a Vair) convertible for me out of state. Ive looked at several local verts (65 and older) and Ive checked out a few verts for sale on the HAMB. Corvairs weren't even on my radar until the episode of Wheeler Dealers. __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …

09-03-2016, 09:15 PM	#8
Indian113 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Monroe,Iowa Posts: 4,370	Re: Corvairs I had a 62 2 door coupe, hated the Fish and Go Find shifter but loved the car. I dated a girl that her folks had a 66 convertible always wanted one but Good OL Ralph ended my dreams.

09-03-2016, 09:15 PM	#9
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,332	Re: Corvairs - My experience with Corvairs wasn't all that great. One of the floor covering stores I worked for back in the '60's bought a few used vans for the installers to drive. First off they didn't have any power, when you got all of your tools in them and a couple of rolls of carpet you had to pull all of the steeper hills in first gear. The darned things leaked oil, and being the hot air for the heater was pulled from around the engine they filled the whole interior of the truck with a blue oil haze in the winter time. No thanks, I'll stick to the water cooled vehicles if you don't mind.... LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

09-03-2016, 09:53 PM	#12
davischevy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Harrison, Arkansas Posts: 9,790	Re: Corvairs A friend of mine has six or eight really nice ones. Some turbocharged, some convertibles and at least one pickup, both generations. __________________ other Larry Build thread, Arkansas K10 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...=755797&page=5 The ability to speak several languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in any language is priceless.

09-03-2016, 10:12 PM	#15
davischevy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Harrison, Arkansas Posts: 9,790	Re: Corvairs GOPAPA I will see what I can do about pictures. I didn't feel the earthquake, but I see on Facebook that a lot of people around here did. My sister lives at Rogers, but I haven't talked to her. BTW, we are doing a road widening job (passing lane) on HWY 7 down Russellville way. other Larry __________________ other Larry Build thread, Arkansas K10 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...=755797&page=5 The ability to speak several languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in any language is priceless.

09-03-2016, 10:34 PM	#17
davischevy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Harrison, Arkansas Posts: 9,790	Re: Corvairs Arkansas has a pretty active Corvair Club. Check their FB page. Here are three of my friends Corvairs and some pics of a meeting from FB. Attached Images __________________ other Larry Build thread, Arkansas K10 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...=755797&page=5 The ability to speak several languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in any language is priceless.

09-03-2016, 10:40 PM	#18
davischevy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Harrison, Arkansas Posts: 9,790	Re: Corvairs Larry, here are some pics. Attached Images __________________ other Larry Build thread, Arkansas K10 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...=755797&page=5 The ability to speak several languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in any language is priceless.

09-03-2016, 11:35 PM	#19
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 19,785	Re: Corvairs Boy they sure look good with Cragars on them. __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …

09-03-2016, 11:57 PM	#20
davischevy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Harrison, Arkansas Posts: 9,790	Re: Corvairs Yep __________________ other Larry Build thread, Arkansas K10 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...=755797&page=5 The ability to speak several languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in any language is priceless.

09-04-2016, 12:31 AM	#21
In The Ten Ring Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 6,421	Re: Corvairs Didn't you guys read Ralph Nader's book? I can't believe you'd risk your life even thinking about a Corvair! Jokes aside, it's a pretty car. I hope you find what you want and fix it all up.

09-04-2016, 12:57 AM	#22
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,498	Re: Corvairs IMHO, from certain angles these coupes are so pretty they almost make your eyeballs bleed. Such a graceful greenhouse.... some of the last cars styled without an overload of regulations guiding the end product. __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay



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09-04-2016, 08:14 AM	#23
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: Corvairs I really like the Corvairs. GM always stuck their neck out with new ideas more than the others and these are just one example. This is one big reason I became a Bowtie Man and grew into a total GM fan. My dad had a '64 when I first started driving. Smooth and quite! A friend's dad was into them heavily even in the early-70s. AACA voted them in as classics before their time. Good ole Waldo Davis showed me what restoration was all about. He'd have the numbers correctly stenciled onto the shroud pieces and just totally meticulous about every nitpickin' detail, tearing them down to bones. I had a '56 VW bug for my first car and that ended up fully restored by the time I was 20. I bought a '66 VW Bus about then and he gave me a first year Corvair engine to do a swap (which never happened). Those were 85hp, lowest, but he said had the most "beef" for being durable in the bus. I also have a friend, Olblue60's old longtime friend, who is serious into them. He races a Yenko at the local SCCA track (Summit Point, WVA). I'd like to have one. Back when I was doing a lot of picture threads I did one I'm 99% sure was titled, "Pic Thread: Corvairs", but danged if I can find it. I did them all that way, if not maybe spelling "picture" out on some. Couldn't find either. But I did find this one from a while back: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad%3A+Corvairs Also, a guy up the rod from me had a black later Corvair with the small block mid-engine conversion for sale 10 years or more back. I wanted that thing bad. It was black and I believe it had Vette rallyes on it. I see an LS zombie managed to find his way in here with a very helpful post __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 09-04-2016 at 08:44 AM.

09-04-2016, 08:36 AM	#24
6t727t2 Active Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 6,430	Re: Corvairs Bought a '65 in '71 for $75 from a friend of my dad, push button auto, drove it for a year or so, sold it for $300 for a down payment on a '72 vega, power galore on both

09-04-2016, 08:49 AM	#25
72ironmike Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Olathe KS (Greater Kansas City MO Area) Posts: 2,059	Re: Corvairs In the late 70's I restored a 64 convertible. Paid $125 for it. Had a quarter sized rust hole in the top of one fender and that was it. White over black. Had a power top, automatic and factory A/C. Paid $300 for a paint job that would cost $4000 today, put new carpet, new top, a seat insert or two in it and found some factory knock off wire wheels for $60. Then I put some BR60 x 13 Goodrich Radials on it and had $1125 in an incredible car. Did not get to enjoy it though. My roommate took it out and wrecked it when I was out of town. I ended up selling it to his dad. I probably had several and even had a 63 Spyder coupe with the turbo but none as nice as the 64. Would have another if I could find the right project.

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