1964 "500"
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1964 "500"
Here is my "500" , I purchased it in 1968 , took it to Germany for three years 1971-74 , drove it in several countries in Europe , shipped it back and parked it for some years . Go it out and had it painted about two years ago . I am told it is very rare due in part that it has a factory 4 speed and 110 hp. I hear that most of these came with 3 speed or automatic . Still have some work to do on it but it runs great
Last edited by corvair500 on Sat Oct 17, 2020 6:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: 1964 "500"
WOW........nice! I purchased my first Corvair in 1968 also, a white with black interior 65 Monza. 140/4-sp.
Gary Roberson
66 Vert 140 4-sp Corsa “clone”
66 Vert 140 4-sp Corsa “clone”
- Bruins_Fan
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Re: 1964 "500"
Nice Vair! You guys make me feel young, lol, I wasn't even born yet in '68!
Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Corvair Forum mobile app
Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Corvair Forum mobile app
'66 Monza Convertible 110hp Powerglide
Re: 1964 "500"
Gary Roberson
66 Vert 140 4-sp Corsa “clone”
66 Vert 140 4-sp Corsa “clone”
- bbodie52
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Re: 1964 "500"
I did a little "playing" with your beautiful, all original Corvair 500 in PaintShop Pro and Microsoft PowerPoint and displayed the outcome below. i also posted another picture of a Corvair 500 that was fitted with some classic "Hands Wheels" that were often used on Fitch Sprint EM Corvairs. My first Corvair was a 1963 Corvair 500 with a frozen engine that my father bought for me to learn on. I taught myself to overhaul the engine and Powerglide transmission during my high school summer vacation in 1969 (at age 16), and later transferred the engine into a 1962 Monza coupe that needed an engine. I got married in 1972 and that 1962 with my first engine rebuild was the car we drove at our wedding and on our honeymoon. So my transition into adult life began with a Corvair 500 while Neil Armstrong was learning to land and to walk on the moon. My parents' first Corvair was a new 1961 Monza (white with a red interior, like yours), purchased when I was 8 years old, and in 2020 we still drive two Corvairs — a 140 hp Corsa Convertible and a Monza 4-door Sedan (110 hp/Powerglide/Air Conditioned).
I also took these two 1965 Corsas (coupe and convertible) with the wife and kids to Germany from 1980-1983 while we were stationed near Ramstein Air Base, so we also experienced some of the joy of exploring Europe in a Corvair while serving in the military.
Congratulations on your excellent, original Corvair 500. I believe that most of these stripped, economy Corvair 500s were bought with few options and were worked hard and not treated with respect, so few of them survive in clean condition like yours.
I also took these two 1965 Corsas (coupe and convertible) with the wife and kids to Germany from 1980-1983 while we were stationed near Ramstein Air Base, so we also experienced some of the joy of exploring Europe in a Corvair while serving in the military.
Congratulations on your excellent, original Corvair 500. I believe that most of these stripped, economy Corvair 500s were bought with few options and were worked hard and not treated with respect, so few of them survive in clean condition like yours.
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
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Re: 1964 "500"
In my experience 3 speed transmissions are rare in cars but not vans and trucks. Most of my cars are earlies and I think only 3 of them are 3 speeds. I have no idea on actual production numbers. It may be that most of the 3 speed cars didn't survive. It was a horrible transmission with the unsynchronized first gear. The 4 speed wasn't available in the '60.
157 Corvairs, 5 Ultravans and counting
Northlake, TX
Northlake, TX
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Re: 1964 "500"
one indication of production transmissions and engine hp is on Corsa site where members have listed their cars . I believe that mine is the only one to have both a 110 hp and a 4 speed trans. By the way mine is NOT 100% original in that it came with no outside rear view mirror , and I saw fit to add one for safety
Re: 1964 "500"
The base "500" cars were sometimes equipped with options you would not expect on a low cost base model. Why! First folks who wanted to race realized the "500" was lighter/faster than the Monza with the same engine. Second if you wanted the convenience of an automatic (PG) or A/C on a budget you could pass on the glamour and higher cost of a Monza for a "500". Sometimes companies would buy base models with "comfort" options for their sales/techincal staff.
One fairly rare, but documented on the CCF, is a LM Corsa turbo with a "three speed" manual!!! The fours speed manual was an OPTION on all Corsa models. A fellow reported buying a new Corsa with the turbo engine option assuming it only came with a four speed. The car arrived at the dealer and when he drove it the car had the standard three speed transmission!!! Some salesman goofed on that order and lost the dealership the profit on the optional four speed. The fellow reported that he decided to keep the three speed since the wider gear spacing meant he could stay on boost longer in second gear and he "claimed" it would out run the four speed turbo cars. Interesting.
One fairly rare, but documented on the CCF, is a LM Corsa turbo with a "three speed" manual!!! The fours speed manual was an OPTION on all Corsa models. A fellow reported buying a new Corsa with the turbo engine option assuming it only came with a four speed. The car arrived at the dealer and when he drove it the car had the standard three speed transmission!!! Some salesman goofed on that order and lost the dealership the profit on the optional four speed. The fellow reported that he decided to keep the three speed since the wider gear spacing meant he could stay on boost longer in second gear and he "claimed" it would out run the four speed turbo cars. Interesting.
- flat6_musik
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Re: 1964 "500"
Niicccee!!!!!
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Re: 1964 "500"
Ok , please give your opinion if I should add back up lamps or just leave the dummies in place
Re: 1964 "500"
Back up lights are your call. They were an option. If you rarely drive at night then there's not much of a need and the dummy covers are novel at car shows.
Old cars at shows tend to have every possible option and that's great, but it is interesting to see a "basic" 500 and they are not common anymore.
Old cars at shows tend to have every possible option and that's great, but it is interesting to see a "basic" 500 and they are not common anymore.