and got down to the LMs, and here's this pic and the fellow who owns it lives right here in my hometown!!http://autoxer.skiblack.com/wheelpics.html Scroll down to the Bob Ralston Corsa. I thought to myself "Wow, this is right here in my town and I've never seen it!!" So, I started looking for a phone number for this guy. "Hi, I'm Greg Miller, I'm AKA the Corvair Stalker." I got to talk to him briefly during the summer of '09 and he told me it doesn't look quite the same now, it's been in storage. I said I'd still love to see it sometime. FF to President's day 2010, and I decide to give the fellow a call. I had been looking at Craigslist, CORSA.org and Clark's Corvairs for sale pages, even Hemmings and autos.aol ... So, I finally decided to ask him if he'd consider selling it. He told me that after we'd talked the last time, his wife was asking him if he wanted to sell as it hadn't gotten any attention for some time. Awesome! Now, can I possibly afford it? I made arrangements to go meet him at his business one evening shortly thereafter. My kids dug the place as he had a ping pong table and dart board. I got to go look at this dusty blue Corsa. Once he opened the engine lid, I was already hooked. The description on the website doesn't show the half of it. It has minor, and I mean minor rust issues that need to be addressed, and I'm hoping a polishing of the paint can liven it up till next year, but the rest of the car is fab. It's been sitting for the better part stored indoors for the last 10 years. He had dreams of front disk brakes, etc, but the reality of building his business meant his "baby" sat languishing for now all this time. Anyway, I tried not to drool on it too much, while $$ blew through my mind. I told him it's worth more, but the most I can do is 5K, and I don't want to insult you by offering only that. It's my upper limit, I have a big mortgage and 2 school-age kids, I think most of you know what I'm talking about. Then I had to leave as I was on-call and got called out..naturally. Didn't get to look at it as close as I would have liked. It has this trick tuned exhaust like I've never seen before into a big single. Can't wait to hear it.A few weeks went by and I was beginning to give up hope when out of the blue he called and said he'd sell for 5K. I started trying to arrange to get my hands on that much, but circumstances forced me to pass right about this time last year. He called me and asked me where I was when he started it, and was then reluctant to sell, and I had to explain that I had to wait too.
Now, it's one year later. The stars have aligned and I was able to gather the required funds, plus enough (I hope) to cover title change, insurance, and the needed brake work and any other minor issues to get it road-worthy again. But, would he still be willing after all the drama (which is in the past and not going to be dragged up here) of last year's fiasco? I still had his cell number so nervously I called. He answered, I think not recognizing the number and I mentioned my name. I was afraid he might not be willing to talk to me much, but I quickly pressed ahead and told him I'd have the money in 2 weeks, and was he still willing to sell? YES!! However, he travels a lot for business, so wasn't sure when he'd be back in town.
I've been working nights this week and part of next, so this morning just after eight I showed up at his business to see if he was in town, and he was. I said I'd have everything for him today if I could hear it run. Got a much closer look at it and sat in it... *swoon* I'm giddy as a schoolgirl. Plans were made for me to return at 2 PM, and we'd start her up and do the deal. I'm looking for a towing Co. to get 'er back to my place on and then he calls and reschedules to Friday at 1 PM, he has 2 hours till his next meeting. So, I work overnight tonight, take a quick nap (maybe) and then go hear her run and get her home! Pictures will follow tomorrow evening or Saturday morning. I have a Corvair Club meeting next Tuesday, I'd like to "get-er-done" this weekend so I can take her there. :)
I wish it was in my garage right now, it would already be up on 4 jackstands with the wheels off and me assessing what I need for the brakes. I"m considering a dual master cylinder conversion while I'm at it, all part of the extra money set aside for getting it out of group Red.
Can you tell I'm excited? I even re-found my Photobucket user name and pass so I can host pics there.
MORE TO COME!! Only if it's throwing a rod or something equally distressing when he starts it (which I doubt as he does start it to move it about occasionally) will it not be mine.
W00t w00t!
Scott, I'm going to want to chat to you about your BMW headlight conversion some time, at least it's already got nice bright halogens on it now.
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