BLACK BEAUTY! A Beautiful 1963 Monza Coupe

[bbodie52]

Posted on Facebook by Tom Ristow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2224315 ... 5024561777

[hrm2k]

SWEET !!!!!!

[lostboy]

Very nice

[Corventure Dave]

That's it!!! My Mother bought that exact looking 63 Black -White-Red dash and carpet Monza in 1963. That one started our Corvair adventure that continues today! Please post more pictures. Is it a 4 speed also?

Corventure Dave

[bbodie52]

Tom Ristow posted these two pictures on Facebook. You could try contacting him by clicking on the Facebook link that I included below his name and pictures in my initial post, and once in Facebook follow the link associated with his name to his Facebook page. Perhaps you can contact him and ask your questions about this Corvair.

I did find one additional picture of this car on his Facebook page...

[Steve62]

Very nice car!

[PaulR]

Posted on Facebook by Tom Ristow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2224315 ... 5024561777

Nice early coupe! Great not often seen original interior color combination with the white seats and door panels with the red dashboard. Too bad he ruined it with the "Hot Wheels" tire/wheel combo. Although I guess that they could be period correct.

[bbodie52]

Tasteful, often performance-enhancing customizing was always considered to be an appealing part of owning an affordable Corvair. The "Waterless Wonder from Willow Run" was also called a "Poor Man's Porsche"!

...Too bad he ruined it with the "Hot Wheels" tire/wheel combo. Although I guess that they could be period correct.

I disagree. I never heard anyone saying that John Fitch "ruined" the Corvair with his customizing options, such as the Hands wheels seen below on the Fitch Sprint...

The Corvair Fitch Sprint was a set of modifications for the Chevrolet Corvair automobile developed by racing driver John Fitch.

John Fitch was given the opportunity to test several models of the brand new Corvair during the fall of 1959. He had the cars for two weeks and tested them at the Lime Rock track in Connecticut. During this prepublic tryout, John left enthused with the Corvairs potential as a Grand touring machine with a European flavor. He then set out to develop various engine, chassis and body modifications. John decided to market these modifications and the Fitch Sprint was born. John’s first Corvair was a 1961 Monza coupe. John used this car as the basis to build the first prototype Sprint. Fitch Sprints were available in three different flavors. A customer could have his new Corvair drop shipped to Fitch’s Falls Village shop and have Fitch’s mechanics install the Sprint kit options desired. Or, the Sprint kit could be installed by a local Chevrolet dealer who is authorized by Fitch to install the Sprint kit. Fitch recalls that more cars were converted at dealerships than at his shop. And lastly and most popular, you could mail-order the kit and options you desire and install the Sprint kit yourself. Fitch continued producing Sprints until GM pulled the plug and later sold all inventory and tooling for the Sprint to Art Hershberger of Solar Automotive in November 1971...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvair_Fitch_Sprint









When Chevrolet fitted a 1962 Spyder with factory-fit Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, custom paint, etc. I don't think it was considered "ruined"!

[PaulR]

Tasteful, often performance-enhancing customizing was always considered to be an appealing part of owning an affordable Corvair. The "Waterless Wonder from Willow Run" was also called a "Poor Man's Porsche"!

...Too bad he ruined it with the "Hot Wheels" tire/wheel combo. Although I guess that they could be period correct.

I disagree. I never heard anyone saying that John Fitch "ruined" the Corvair with his customizing options, such as the Hands wheels seen below on the Fitch Sprint...

The Corvair Fitch Sprint was a set of modifications for the Chevrolet Corvair automobile developed by racing driver John Fitch.

John Fitch was given the opportunity to test several models of the brand new Corvair during the fall of 1959. He had the cars for two weeks and tested them at the Lime Rock track in Connecticut. During this prepublic tryout, John left enthused with the Corvairs potential as a Grand touring machine with a European flavor. He then set out to develop various engine, chassis and body modifications. John decided to market these modifications and the Fitch Sprint was born. John’s first Corvair was a 1961 Monza coupe. John used this car as the basis to build the first prototype Sprint. Fitch Sprints were available in three different flavors. A customer could have his new Corvair drop shipped to Fitch’s Falls Village shop and have Fitch’s mechanics install the Sprint kit options desired. Or, the Sprint kit could be installed by a local Chevrolet dealer who is authorized by Fitch to install the Sprint kit. Fitch recalls that more cars were converted at dealerships than at his shop. And lastly and most popular, you could mail-order the kit and options you desire and install the Sprint kit yourself. Fitch continued producing Sprints until GM pulled the plug and later sold all inventory and tooling for the Sprint to Art Hershberger of Solar Automotive in November 1971...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvair_Fitch_Sprint









When Chevrolet fitted a 1962 Spyder with factory-fit Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, custom paint, etc. I don't think it was considered "ruined"!

1962 Chevrolet Spyder Convertible GM Built Prototype Show Car (4).jpg1962 Chevrolet Spyder Convertible GM Built Prototype Show Car (11).jpg1962 Chevrolet Spyder Convertible GM Built Prototype Show Car (15).jpg

Wow, a little bit of a backlash. Maybe I should have not of used the word "ruined".