ever have your Corvair mistaken for something else?

[Scott H]

A few replies in another topic and my own experience led me to think there are a few more stories about out there.

Has your Corvair been called something else or have you overheard people telling wild stories about Corvairs?

Mine was at a stoplight where a guy next to me asked if my 65 coupe was a Volkswagen.

[Vanman]

Only got to drive the Van two weeks since Ive owned it, traded for it in Nov, then the salt was thrown. But even in that short time, people just didnt know what it was at all. lol. I even told the guy at the hardware store what it was and he asked if it had the straight six with a dog house. lol.

I recently re-plated it to antique plates and considered putting Corvan on them, but Im cash strapped so I didnt do those plates, only $30 to transfer to random # antique plates.

[MonzaDave]

My '66 convertible has been mistaken for a Camaro a couple of times. Other times at car shows, some spectators don't have a clue -- and some flat out don't believe it's a Chevrolet.

[vaporloc]

Never either one of my vairs but; when I had my 63 studebaker GT Hawk, more then one person swore it was an old Benz..

[azdave]

A previous owner of my 66 Corsa "de-badged" the entire car so there are no external clues other than the little Chevy bowties on my rally wheels.

Last night a neighbor in his 350Z stopped by my house and asked me if my car was an early Corvette. He wanted to see the motor and walked to the front of the car. I told him the motor wasn't up there and he said "Oh, so you have it out for a rebuild?"

[4carbcorvair]

A couple Mustang comments, some Camaro comments and even Corvette.

Had a 'kid' at a gas station talking aobout the car and couldn't believe that Camaro had a rear engine, air cooled version...

Another kid from a local paper was interviewing me at a car show. Everything was great up until he was about done and said nice Corvette....

[UNSAFE]

My car is void of emblems too . It's often been mistaken for something else . Most common seems to be Karman Ghia . Many of the younger people have never heard of a Corvair and they are stunned when I tell them it's a 65 Chevy

Almost everyone that's old enough to remember them has a Corvair story from their high school or college days . Often a first date or a road trip home in a friends Corvair.

And yeah- I've heard all the stories about them rolling over or catching on fire. The motor falling out is also a common tale.
Even had one guy that actually thought that Vairs had been banned in the USA and couldn't believe that I was able to license mine. My plate reads UNSAFE.

[Scott H]

The very first comment I got was, "Aren't those the cars that blow up?"

[RAV_AIR]

Nite before last I was at Wally-World getting my tries rotated and balanced (I chaperoned.) a guy walks through carrying something fr a customer and I heard him say "I don't know, probably an old mustang or something"

GACK!

[Phil Dally]

HMMMMM...We call this picture "The Acid Vair" !!

The printer was running out of a couple ink tanks...totally dude.

One time a couple of import racer kids ask me if it was a Japanese import.

[Mike J]

I think the funny one was someone in line (ahead of me) at the local FLAPS looked out and said it was a firebird (twin headlamps) and then after about 5 mins (long line) he was saying "naw, I think it's a Corvair. Never seen one, but I think that's what it is" so he was pretty good. I didn't have the heart to tell him the rest of his story (to his buddy) was completely wrong though.

[Vanman]

Took the van to go get a side table from a furniture store today, and actualy had two people know what it was! The thing gets more looks than just about anything Ive driven or rode in. The guy working there was talking about it and we talked for quite a while. Stopped by Taco bell on the way home to try the new shrimp taco (pretty decent). The kid in the drive through was checking out the van, leaning out the window and all, said "cool van is that a rat rod?" was talking with the other kids inside and they were lookin out. Handed me my bag o tacos and asked a few more questions about the van, what year it was and if it was a Chevy, told him yeah and that it was a Vair with the engine in the rear. He realy didnt say much, looked a little puzzeled and closed the door and walked away. I sat there and he looked back out and opened the little window, and I reminded him I still needed my pop, and he says "Oh yeah, sorry!", I laughed and said it must be the van.

I even get smiles from soccer moms. Its gonna take some time getting used to the attention it draws.

I just recently got used to the attention I get from my work van, took a while. I drive a 2010 Ford Transit Connect. Used to get alot of stares, it was one of the first in our area.



Its funny I was talking today, how I get to drive the most up to date compact vans, and one of the oldest basic vans. Such a contrast.

[miniman82]

I frequently get asked what year my Camero is, which I suppose isn't so bad considering that's the model that replaced it.

[indianalakewood1961]

When I drive around in my 64 monza conv people always say I love your corvette and then I say it's a Corvair. Then they say corvette, then I point to the emblem and say no CORVAIR...

[The Mollusk]

I had a older gentleman tell me what a nice Pontiac Tempest I had the other day at the gas station. He was having so much fun recounting his memories of his families tempests I did not feel like correcting him.

[Vanman]

The guy at the parts store thought I had a Vanagon.