What are most critical things to look at in buying a Corvair Spyder?

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DrB
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Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:51 am

What are most critical things to look at in buying a Corvair Spyder?

Post by DrB »

I drove a Corvair Spyder convertible back in the late '60s. Black with a white top and black interior. I got it in '67 and I'm thinking it was probably a '63. Anyway, my questions: I am NOT a mechanic or body guy by any means although I don't mind paying to have work done.

1. What are potential big problem areas to watch out for? I really want to avoid rusted out cars, but what are the particular rust areas on a '60s Corvair to pay attention to?

2. I also own a '72 Porsche 914 (another car I drove in my youth)... there are plenty of mechanics and body work people here in Cincinnati who work on old Porsche's and other foreign classics, but how hard is it to find mechanics who work on Covairs?

Thanks for any help.

Michael
joelsplace
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Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:51 pm
Location: Northlake, TX

Re: What are most critical things to look at in buying a Corvair Spyder?

Post by joelsplace »

I can answer a couple of turbo specific questions. Make sure it makes good boost. It should show 10" in 3rd gear. If it doesn't have good boost that can mean all kinds of things from a locked up turbo (no boost) to a worn out engine or bad exhaust system. It could also be poor tuning but don't bet on it.
Rear bottom of front and rear fenders rust, front bottom of doors. Take a cloth and a magnet to check for bondo.
157 Corvairs, 5 Ultravans and counting
Northlake, TX
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bbodie52
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Re: What are most critical things to look at in buying a Corvair Spyder?

Post by bbodie52 »

:welcome2: :wave: :wave: Welcome to the Corvair Forum! I believe that this website is a good place to start in your search for the right Corvair for you. You did not mention your budget or price range, but your best bet is likely to buy the best, cleanest and well-maintained Corvair you can afford. Since you indicated you currently have little or no mechanical skills, you don't want a project car... you probably want a driver's car (for daily or casual use).
...there are plenty of mechanics and body work people here in Cincinnati who work on old Porsche's and other foreign classics, but how hard is it to find mechanics who work on Covairs?
Qualified Corvair mechanics are somewhat difficult to find, and local ones may be non-existent (check with local CORSA club members).

A Corvair Spyder is an Early Model (EM — 1962-1964) Turbocharged version of the normally aspirated (non-turbo) EM Corvair (1960-1964). The Late Model (LM — 1965-1969) Corvair had a different body style and a different rear suspension design, plus larger drum brakes. Both are described below. The turbo Corvair (1962-1964 Spyder and 1965-1966 Corsa with turbo option) are not necessarily the best choice for you. They are generally the highest priced and most hard to find models. They are also somewhat difficult to tune and maintain in comparison with the non-turbo models. They demand Premium fuel, and get the worst gas mileage. You might want to consider a non-turbo Monza or Corsa, with a 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, or 2-door convertible configuration, with 3 or 4-speed manual or Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission.

My recommendation would be to read the Corvair descriptions below and consider joining/contacting one of the local CORSA club chapters so that you can discuss your options with other like-minded Corvair owners. Continue corresponding with the Corvair Forum on the Internet to ask your questions and to discuss your preferences. We can also help you to find your dream Corvair by pointing to various sources and helping you to filter through the candidates in your price range.

There are several CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapters in Ohio, and two are close to you in Cincinnati.

ImageCorvair Club of Cincinnati - Mason Ohio
:link: http://www.corvair.org/chapters/chapter452/
Facebook :link: https://www.facebook.com/CorvairClubOfCincinnati/
Mailing Address: Corvair Club of Cincinnati, 2440 Brenda Drive Hamilton, Ohio 45013
Phone: (513) 737-7981 (Mike Demeter)

ImageDayton Corvair Club - Vandalia Ohio
:link: https://daytoncorvairclub.wixsite.com/daytoncorvairclub
The DAYTON CORVAIR CLUB founded in 1972 is located in southwest region of Ohio. We are a friendly family oriented club with a passion toward our favorite car, the CORVAIR. We welcome past, present, and future CORVAIR owners, as well as those who are simply curious about these unique vehicles. We welcome CORVAIRS of every degree of restoration or modification, including other vehicles utilizing CORVAIR components. CORVAIR OWNERSHIP IS NOT REQUIRED! All are welcome to come to our monthly meeting and annual club activites.

​Note: Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic many activities for 2020 has been either canceled or postponed. Please check with the current newsletter or Calendar for updates.
Image
1 h 4 min (63.9 mi) via I-75 N


Below is some material I wrote in the past that may be helpful...

The initial cost for purchase is relatively low — not really inflated by popular demand as with Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs, and other classic performance cars from the 1960s and 1970s. Labor cost is relatively high, if you don't do your own work. Depending on were you live, qualified mechanics to perform mechanical labor on a Corvair may be difficult or nearly impossible to find. If you are willing to learn to perform much of your own maintenance, the cost of ownership is very reasonable — excellent if you start with a well-maintained or restored Corvair. It is usually much cheaper to pay a little more up-front for a well-maintained car in good to excellent condition. Parts suppliers like Clark's Corvair Parts make most non-body repairs economical and possible. Many Corvairs — especially from northern-tier states — may suffer from severe road salt damage that can be very expensive to nearly impossible to overcome.

Post a lot of detailed pictures on the Corvair Forum for comments. Check the list of CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapters, and if there is one or more in your area or near the car's location check them out for advice and perhaps volunteer third-party evaluation of the car(s) you are considering. (Some Corvair buyers in Europe have been successful in soliciting help from Stateside CORSA members who were willing to investigate and evaluate one or more Corvairs of interest that were located nearby).

:dontknow: I would like to encourage you to expand on your post and tell us more about yourself, as well as about your Corvair preferences. Your personal assessment of your mechanical skills and abilities helps a lot. Members of the Corvair Forum love to be helpful in assisting other Corvair owners with technical support and advice, but it helps a lot if we have some understanding of your technical background and mechanical abilities, your Corvair-related knowledge, etc. Helping us to know more about you, your desired Corvair, and you plans for your Corvair will help us to write comments to you that are tailored to your needs and experience. Knowing where you live may also help, as you location may suggest some possibilities or solutions.

The link below will provide you with a list of useful websites that are Corvair-related. Some of the links will lead you to an extensive technical library that will allow you to download shop manuals and other technical references in Adobe Reader format at no cost. There is also a link that will help you to locate nearby CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapters. While the Corvair Forum can be very helpful as you work on your Corvair, having local friends and contacts in your region who are knowledgeable about the Corvair can also be very helpful. These family-friendly CORSA club chapters often offer picnics, group scenic drives, technical training and assistance, car shows, and competition events that can greatly enhance your enjoyment of Corvair ownership. You will also find a list of essential Corvair parts suppliers.

Common and Useful Corvair Websites

:link: viewtopic.php?f=225&t=6007

I have a long history with Corvairs. My parents bought their first new family Corvair in 1961, and an upgrade to a 1965 Corvair Corsa convertible in 1965. I rebuilt my first Corvair engine as a self-taught DIY "Shade-tree Mechanic" during my high school summer vacation in 1969, and over the years we have had 10 Corvairs pass through our ownership, with our current Corvair a 1966 Corsa convertible (similar to the 1965 Corsa that remained with me and my family for around 30 years).

With that background in mind, here is some material that I wrote that may help to answer your questions...


Owning a classic 50+ year old Corvair could be a nightmare if you make a poor selection. Do you know how to work on classic cars or maintain them? Corvair-qualified mechanics are rare. What kind of budget do you have for this car? If you don't spend enough or select the car carefully, you are likely buying a project car that a hobbyist might purchase for a restoration project. Most Corvairs might be classified as temperamental. They are over 50 years old, and old technology. They require work to keep them on the road, and a maintenance budget. It is not like buying a modern new car.

If the owner/driver learns how to maintain the Corvair, reliability will increase. The possibility of a quick diagnosis as problems develop is also possible as knowledge increases. Or, you can join the Auto Club (AAA) and get membership with a lengthy towing coverage (and be sure to never venture too far from home!) I have driven our Corvairs all over the USA, from coast to coast and in Germany while we were stationed there with the Air Force. One or more Corvairs have consistently been family transportation for most of my lifetime. There is no reason that your 1964 Corvair (which looks to be in very good condition) cannot be considered to be reliable transportation — if your family makes it that way. But it is not a modern new car with all of the latest technologies. It must be maintained and serviced regularly by an owner who appreciates, understands, and takes pride in its condition.

I would recommend reading through the following material, and then carefully consider your skills, abilities and needs. Owning a classic car takes a certain amount of pride in ownership that will give the owner/driver a sense of confidence in driving a classic car that reflects the certainty that comes from really knowing the car.


Please look over the following comments that I wrote some time ago, and see if they might help you with your plans to own a Corvair. You may have already seen these comments and suggestions, but if not, I hope they are helpful...
As a new prospective future owner of a Corvair, I will try to answer a few of your questions directly, and will also provide some material that I wrote in the past to others who were also considering purchasing their first Corvair. My family purchased our first Corvair in 1961 when I was eight years old. My parents bought a brand-new 1961 Corvair Monza four-speed manual transmission coupe. In 1965 they sold the first Corvair and purchased a new 1965 Corvair Corsa convertible (140 hp 4×1 carburetor engine with four-speed transmission). At age 66, it must be painfully obvious that I like these cars, since my wife and I continue to drive a 1966 Corvair Corsa convertible with the same engine and transmission that my parents had in their 1965 Corvair many decades ago.

I have driven Corvairs all over the United States and in Europe as well. During my 24 year career in the Air Force I took two Corvairs with me when we were transferred to an assignment near Ramstein Air Base, in Kaiserslautern, West Germany. These Corvairs easily transported my wife and two children along with me to assignments all over the United States. They were our primary transportation for most of the 24 years that I was in the Air Force. They also did quite well on the German autobahn during my three year assignment in Europe.

To give you some idea of my confidence in driving Corvairs, I purchased our current 1966 Corvair Corsa convertible from a classic car dealer in Lakeland Florida. My wife and I purchased this car in 2012 for our 40th wedding anniversary. I spotted the car on eBay and negotiated the purchase over the phone. Trusting that the car would have no problems with a return trip, I purchased a bus ticket from Atlanta to Lakeland Florida, completed the transaction, and drove the car 565 miles back to our home in North Carolina. The Corvair attracted a lot of attention at practically every gas stop and fast food restaurant that I stopped at on the return trip. I was also the recipient of many smiles and thumbs-up signs at intersections while I waited for the light to change! People seem to like Corvairs, and my new convertible always seemed to attract attention in the parking lot as a crowd of curiosity lookers would gather around the car while asking many questions and telling me stories about their memories of having a family Corvair in their younger days. I can't guarantee that you will always be able to drive a Corvair over long distances without mechanical problems. These Corvairs are more than 50 years old, after all. But if you take the time to learn to maintain your Corvair properly and develop the DIY skills needed to take care of your Corvair, you can probably count on some pretty good results.

The link below will provide you with a list of useful websites that are Corvair-related. Some of the links will lead you to an extensive technical library that will allow you to download shop manuals and other technical references in Adobe Reader format at no cost. There is also a link that will help you to locate nearby CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapters. While the Corvair Forum can be very helpful as you work on your Corvair, having local friends and contacts in your region who are knowledgeable about the Corvair can also be very helpful. These family-friendly CORSA chapters often offer picnics, group scenic drives, technical training and assistance, car shows, and competition events that can greatly enhance your enjoyment of Corvair ownership. You will also find a list of essential Corvair parts suppliers.

Common and Useful Corvair Websites

:link: viewtopic.php?f=225&t=6007


I wrote the following material some years ago to answer similar questions from other potential new Corvair owners...
bbodie52 wrote:Thanks. I hope my previous comments were helpful. Your comments seem to reflect interest but also uncertainty. I have worked with a number of first-time Corvair buyers in Europe who were considering a purchase of a car from USA sources (to provide a greater range of cars to consider), while knowing that such a effort would make it impossible for them to test drive or personally evaluate the car before purchasing and shipping it. Your circumstances are somewhat similar. They contacted local experienced Corvair owners and aficionados through this Corvair Forum and through local CORSA clubs, and they often found sympathetic club members who were willing to help as local "third party" volunteer assistants.

There is much to consider, and the material below is something I wrote some years ago to try to help the first-time Corvair buyer. Corvairs can be found from sources throughout the United States and Canada. I hope you will find these comments to be useful...


:chevy: The Corvairs are vintage 1960s technology and design — easy to learn and easy to maintain. I would say that learning to work on a Corvair is analogous to an experienced home DIY "shade tree" car mechanic learning to work on a motorcycle. The concepts and procedures are very similar, but the details and the way it is put together is a little different. With the Corvair engine (like a motorcycle) you are dealing with a lot of aluminum. The metal is soft when compared to steel and cast iron, so the use of a torque wrench, anti-seize compound and carefully avoiding cross-threading becomes more important. Also, (like some motorcycles) you are dealing with multiple carburetors so tuning procedures are a little different. The use of Corvair shop manuals and supplements, other technical guides, and information sources like the Corvair Forum, and perhaps joining a CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapter can help you to quickly learn about Corvairs. Information resources, like good Corvair parts suppliers, are plentiful if you know where to look. Suppliers like Clark's Corvair Parts have been well-respected and extremely supportive since 1973, and suppliers like that make Corvair ownership more practical and much-more possible. I taught myself how to remove a Corvair powertrain, overhaul the engine, and rebuild the Powerglide transmission during my summer vacation in 1969, when I was sixteen years old. I was working alone (my father had been transferred by Lockheed from northern California to southern California, and we had not yet moved to join him). I had a shop manual and a garage full of tools. There was no Internet, no Corvair Forum, no CORSA club — I was pretty-much on my own. Yet I learned and was successful (in 1972 that engine carried me and my new bride on our wedding day and on our honeymoon).

So you should be able to master working on Corvairs without too much trouble — except watch out for rust and body rot! The Corvair is of unibody construction, so most body repair involves cutting and welding. The doors, trunk lid (in the front) :tongue: , and engine compartment lid (in the back) ::-): and maybe the gas filler door are the only bolt-on body components. Everything else is cut and weld, and the body serves as the main chassis frame. So unless you are a master body repair technician, you need to select your Corvair carefully and avoid excessive hidden rust or a "Bondo bucket". The door frame areas, fenders, floor pan, the bottom of the trunk, lower windshield and battery area often rust and rot.

What follows is an attempt at introducing new prospective Corvair Owners to Corvairs and some of the issues involved. Food for thought, before you take the plunge. This is a copy of something I wrote earlier, but I think it may be helpful in your quest for the "right" Corvair...
bbodie52 wrote:I will try to provide a quick summary of the 1960-1969 Corvair lineup, and will also try to provide some answers regarding the use of a Corvair as a "daily driver".

EARLY MODEL: 1960 - 1964 Corvairs were the first generation. Their body style emulated other Chevrolet body styles from the early 1960s. The rear suspension was a swing-axle design that was similar to the Volkswagen "Beetle". The 1960 model year was the only year with a 140 cubic inch engine, and there were some characteristics that were unique to that model year only. A number of refinements were implemented in the following year, including some restyling of the front end and an increase in displacement to 145 cubic inches (CI). A manual choke was used in 1961, and this was changed to an automatic choke design in 1962 that remained with the car through 1969. A turbocharged 150 hp Spyder was introduced in 1962, and the Spyder name remained with the turbocharged engine through 1964. In 1964 the engine displacement in all Corvair engines increased from 145 CI to 164 CI. There were also some suspension refinements, including a front anti-sway bar and a rear transverse leaf spring to improve handling in all 1964 Corvairs. Here are a few pictures of Early Model (EM) 1960-1964 Corvairs...

Image 1963 Monza Coupe

Image 1964 Monza Convertible

Image 1962 Lakewood Station Wagon

Image 1963 Monza Interior

Image

Image Corvair Rampside Truck

Image Corvair Greenbrier Van

Image Van/Truck Interior

LATE MODEL:The 1965 Corvair introduced a completely new body style, that was also seen later in similar styles in the Camaro and Pontiac Firebird. The drum brake size was increased, and the swing-axle rear suspension design used in EM Corvairs was abandoned. The new rear suspension was a design lifted from the Corvette Stingray.

1965 and 1966 Corvairs were nearly identical. In 1967-69 the top of the line Corsa was dropped, leaving the Monza and economy 500 until production was discontinued in the spring of 1969. During the 1967-69 production period, there were minor safety changes, such as a dual master brake cylinder in place of the single unit used in 1960-1966. Interior seats and trim changed somewhat, paralleling the items used in Camaros and some other GM products during that period.

All 1965-66 Corsas came with a standard 4-carburetor 140 hp engine, and an optional 180 hp turbocharged engine. The 140 hp engine remained optional in the rest of the lineup. Other engine options in the Monza and 500 were 110 hp and 95 hp dual carburetor engines. All engines could be had with a manual 4-speed or 3-speed transmission, or with a 2-speed Powerglide automatic (with the exception of the 1965-66 turbocharged 180 hp engine, which was available with the Corsa only, and only with a 4-speed manual transmission).

Air conditioning was a rare option, but can be found in the 1965-1967 lineup, and some of the EM Corvairs as well. The following link will provide you with some air conditioned Corvair background and history...
:link: http://www.corvair.org/chapters/airvairs/

The brakes, front and rear suspension, transaxle and body were essentially identical in the Corsa, Monza, and 500. The primary differences in the cars were the instrument panel (the Corsa had more gauges), trim details, and the engine option.

The late model Corvairs were available in a 2-door Coupe, 2-door Convertible, and 4-door Sedan. In 1968, the four-door hardtop was discontinued, leaving three models—the 500 and Monza Hardtop Coupes and the Monza Convertible. Air conditioning was dropped as an option. The weight of the cars was very similar in all configurations.

Image
1965 Corvair Corsa Coupe
Image


Image
1965 Corvair Corsa Convertible

Image
1965 Corvair Monza 4-Door Sedan

ImageImage
Corsa Interior (Top) / Monza Interior (Bottom)

Image
140 hp 164 CI 4x1 Carburetor Engine (1965-1969)

Image



Corvairs can suffer from rust and body rot problems, especially in areas that use a lot of road salt in the wintertime. While you may be able to learn and successfully attack most mechanical issues as a DIY effort, body decay can be much-more difficult, time-consuming, intimidating, and expensive to correct. So look for hidden rust or rot problems that may have been covered up with plastic filler, and be cautious in your Corvair selection.

A Corvair can serve well as a daily driver. But I would recommend a backup car or other alternatives, since ANY breakdown can put the car out of service for days until replacement parts can be obtained (if needed). If you have the skills and ability to work on the car yourself, repairs can often be completed fairly quickly. But if you have to rely on professional mechanics, downtime can be long and possibly expensive — if you can find a good mechanic to do the work for you.
bbodie52 wrote:Here is something I wrote over a year ago — Brad's Admonition, or some words of advice — based on over 50 years of exposure to Corvair ownership — that I wrote to try to give new Corvair buyers some idea of the issues involved. I'm sure you have some idea already, but I also think this is worth considering...

Since you are new to Corvairs, I want to give you some information that I have written to other new prospective first-time Corvair owners. I have been involved with Corvairs since I was eight years old, when my parents bought our first Corvair – a brand new 1961 Monza 2-door coupe, white on red with a 4-speed transmission. I now own Corvair number ten, which I purchased in June 2012. (If you want to read a brief personal biography that outlines my family background and our experiences with Corvairs, go to CORVAIR FORUM > Introductions > New from Lake Chatuge North Carolina. viewtopic.php?f=13&t=4032 ) I want to encourage your enthusiasm in developing your plans to buy your first Corvair, but at the same time I want to help you to think through just what you are getting into. So please read and consider these comments below...

I have listened to many potential Corvair first-time owners. Many have no prior experience with owning any classic car, and many have never driven a Corvair at all, or have not driven one in decades. Some are motivated by childhood memories of a family Corvair. They typically describe the desire to locate a perfect, restored, ultra-clean example, and look to the Corvair Forum Corvair enthusiasts and aficionados to tell them what to do.

The first thing I think that needs to be done is to try to set-aside the usual emotion-based enthusiasm that any car buyer might feel when visiting a dealer and gazing with emotional eagerness at the vast array of new cars displayed in the showroom, on the car lot, and in factory brochures and advertisements. There is an extreme difference between owning a 50+ year-old Chevrolet that was likely engineered, designed and built with pre-planned obsolescence in mind — a car that GM only envisioned having a life-span of ten years or so. Many of the potential Corvair buyers are captivated with the exciting idea of owning something different — something not normally seen on the road — something that your neighbor will not buy! Certainly that is the case with a Corvair, but owning a Corvair and enjoying that ownership demands a certain dose of reality before you "buy-in". Many are unprepared for the maintenance and upkeep demands of a Corvair. "Where can I find a good Corvair mechanic?" is a common question — often displaying an inability or unwillingness to do some mechanical work and maintain that car yourself. Yet qualified Corvair mechanics can be distant, expensive, inconvenient, and all-too rare. At a time when finding even a spark plug, fan belt, or oil filter for a Corvair often means an Internet or mail-order purchase, finding local support may be unlikely or impossible. Even searching automobile junk yards will often not help, because these cars are so rare and infrequently found that they have all but disappeared from the scrap yards too. Even locating and buying a used part is a mail-order proposition. And even if you spend $15,000-$20,000 for a fully-restored Corvair in mint condition, it still comes "as-is", with no warranty and little in the way of a local support system — far different than what most car buyers are used to expecting! These are the realities of owning an older classic car.

Corvairs are popular and affordable classic cars, and enjoy a good infrastructure of maintenance supporters, owner's clubs, and parts suppliers — and that REALLY helps! But I suspect that most happy Corvair owners are something of "shade-tree mechanics" and hobbyists who are prepared to deal with the risks and problems related to Corvair ownership. It requires a long-term commitment and a dose of reality to happily own a classic Corvair. The "first date" infatuation with the attractiveness and uniqueness of a Corvair will not sustain you in a long-term relationship with a Corvair. It is far-better to have a realistic idea of just what you are getting into before you "take the plunge" and buy your dream car.

A cautious, knowledgeable and educated search for your dream Corvair is a great start, and a careful and realistic analysis of your own mechanical talents, skills and abilities is also useful. If you plan to have a mechanic do most of the work for you, the availability of a Corvair-skilled mechanic and the associated costs involved must be taken into account in your financial planning to own a Corvair.

I try to not be too negative, but I have worked with others who came to realize that Corvair ownership was more than they could handle. I just feel that new prospective Corvair owners come here to this forum to learn from others who have more experience, and we are not doing them any favors by "candy coating" the issues involved. If they pass the "sanity check" and still want to pursue buying a Corvair, then GREAT! This Forum and perhaps some local Corvair club members can potentially help them pursue that dream. But it should be a realistic dream, and not a frustrating "nightmare" experience. Better to make a clear-headed, informed decision early in the game!

I hope that these comments are useful to you. I know I get "long-winded", but I also know you are trying to make an important decision, and I hope all of these comments will help you.
Corvairs can suffer from rust and body rot problems, especially in areas that use a lot of road salt in the wintertime. While you may be able to learn and successfully attack most mechanical issues as a DIY effort, body decay can be much-more difficult, time-consuming, intimidating, and expensive to correct. So look for hidden rust or rot problems that may have been covered up with plastic filler, and be cautious in your Corvair selection.

A Corvair can serve well as a daily driver. But I would recommend a backup car or other alternatives, since ANY breakdown can put the car out of service for days until replacement parts can be obtained (if needed). If you have the skills and ability to work on the car yourself, repairs can often be completed fairly quickly. But if you have to rely on professional mechanics, downtime can be long and possibly expensive — if you can find a good mechanic to do the work for you.
:welcome:
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
DrB
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:51 am

Re: What are most critical things to look at in buying a Corvair Spyder?

Post by DrB »

Wow that post was so helpful. So a little more information on me... I've been retired for a few years. I have more time and money than I have mechanical skill. However, I love learning so I'm not opposed to learning at least the basics. I don't have a specific budget, but I'm thinking I'd like to stay under 20g. We had a number of Corvairs back in the 60's. In 1967, my father bought me a Corvair Spyder convertible - definitely 62-64. Loved that car. Unfortunately, it was wrecked in college and I moved on. However, it is the car I'd like to "recreate" even though you didn't recommend a turbo. Not as a concours car and not even a daily driver, but an occasional good weather driver that runs and looks nice. I think your advice about finding one already in good shape makes sense. Here is one I just came across here in Cincinnati that I'm looking at tomorrow. He's asking $13,500. I've only just started looking so I'm hesitant to jump on anything right away, but we'll see I guess. I'll be reading your post a couple more times. It is really appreciated.
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joelsplace
Posts: 1950
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:51 pm
Location: Northlake, TX

Re: What are most critical things to look at in buying a Corvair Spyder?

Post by joelsplace »

You'll want to have a Corvair guy look at that car. It is a '64 but the wire wheel covers are later and the carburetor is a '62. Rubber fuel line feeding the carburetor is a bad idea also. Ohio plates mean you really need to check carefully for rust.
157 Corvairs, 5 Ultravans and counting
Northlake, TX
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bbodie52
Corvair of the Month
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Re: What are most critical things to look at in buying a Corvair Spyder?

Post by bbodie52 »

:goodpost:

Do yourself a favor and reach out to the CORSA club chapters in your area. See if you can get some volunteers to place their Corvair-knowledgeable eyes :eek: :guitar: on the car and give you some of their wisdom on the 1964 Spyder you are considering. A test drive by one or more Corvair guys and perhaps a mechanical inspection (cylinder compression check?) might reveal the condition of the powertrain. You might be able to pay a good local body shop to inspect the car for hidden rust or body rot. It is, after all, a 56 year old classic car that has lived in road salt country for some or all of its life!
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
DrB
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:51 am

Re: What are most critical things to look at in buying a Corvair Spyder?

Post by DrB »

Thanks everyone for great advice.
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