Dragged in (to the Corvair hobby) kicking and screaming!!!

[CTR man]

Just kidding, I came voluntarily. I've owned a few cars from one of the Corvair's competitors over the years. Namely a Silver Blue 1964 Falcon that my grandmother bought new, a Springtime Yellow 1966 Mustang coupe and a Grabber Blue 1970 Mustang fastback that was my first car in High School. Unfortunately due to a messy divorce, I don't own any of them anymore.

Hold On!!! Wrong Forum!!! Whoops!!!

So what's a Mustang enthusiast doing on a Corvair forum??? ???

Well, I'll tell you. I've got quite the story, I think.

Reason #1. My close friend and dancing partner invited me out to one of her Corvair club meetings a few months ago and I've been hooked ever since. So I've decided to learn more about this fascinating and unique car that she enjoys so much. I figured, what the heck, I might learn something and make a few friends. So far, I've been to a few club meetings at various local restaurants, a Christmas party, and most recently a trip to Point Reyes National Seashore in CA. I'm sure there will be many more outings, including some car shows, I hope. One of her fellow members is also restoring a 1965 Mustang (She likes anything that has to do with horses, go figure.) along side their Corvair, so there might be some camaraderie and alterior motives here.

My friend belongs to Central Valley Corvairs located in the San Joaquin Valley near the Modesto, CA area. (Bodie, You might know where that is, since it appears you were in CA at one time in your life.) She recently and unfortunately had to have her engine rebuilt, and was quite bummed out about it. Thankfully with her IRS tax return, she was able to finance a heart transplant for her baby. She was really worried, because she has owned this particular car since 1985 and there are quite a bit of memories tied up into it, and would have hated to part with it. The engine work was done by Mel Raven of Mel's Vairmart in San Jose, CA. as he came on recommendation from one of her fellow car club members. http://www.vairmart.com I can't say enough good things about this man and his shop. Prior to having her car towed there, my friend had a compression check done and discovered that she had 0 comp in one cylinder, 30 in another, with the highest at about 105, if I remember correctly. The parking brake cable broke when she had the comp test done, and the clutch cable broke on Mel when he was test driving it shortly after we took delivery. Mel repaired both at no cost!!! What's more, is that he had an engine all set to go into the car as he keeps a few on hand when this happens. The turn around time was 3 days, and we went to pick her car up on Washington's Birthday (a National Holiday) My friend is also VERY PICKY about who works on her car, as she has seen and heard of a few horror stories. Mel answered all her questions before and after the sale and my friend was quite satisfied with his work. He also took the car in on short notice, which surprised the heck out of me, since many mechanics these days want you to have an appointment.

Reason #2. This!!!

BODIE MY FRIEND!!! Did I read that right??? Does that say "LDS Temple, Here we come!!!" under the rear window? I had to do a double take for a minute there, then look at your photo history on here and facebook. I suspected so, when I saw the word "Mormons" on the right rear quarter panel, and thought "I have to post this now" If you can't tell by my user name, I am also LDS, as is my dancing partner.

Also, Bodie. I have to make it a point to say "Thank You for your service to our country!!!" I work for AAFES at Sharpe Army Depot at a distribution center near French Camp, Manteca, Lathrop, Stockton area here in Central CA. I trust that after retiring as a Master Sgt in the US Army, you should know who AAFES is. For everyone else, especially those who have not served, AAFES controls all of the Post and Base exchanges so that our Military members, their families, and retirees can have a place to shop. Essentially we are the Wal-mart for the Military.

I appreciate your enthusiasm with what I have read so far on this forum. I can't stress enough to suggest to others to join a car club to further the interest in the classic car hobby, no matter what the marque or model that interests you. There is much knowledge to be gained and many are available to help those who are considering getting a classic car or fixing up the one that they might have. I used to belong to a local Mustang club about 20 years ago or so, and I really miss it. Who knows, maybe I might just buy a Corvair someday. Though I will have a Mustang someday as well. Perhaps when my finances are better.

Anyways, here are some pics of my friend's car. It is a 1963 Monza convertible with the 140 hp engine and a 4sp manual trans. Originally it had the 110 hp engine, but thanks to Mel, he convinced my friend to spring for the 140 hp one. It is by no means a show car, but a very nice driver that is garage kept and enjoyed as weather permits. So far, I've been able to ride in it three times now. I apologize for the quality of the pics, as they appear a bit fuzzy. I'm still learning to work my digital camera, because I don't take it out much. Perhaps that will change.









Bodie, these next two pics are just for you (and anyone else who might enjoy them). I've been trying to find an angel Moroni emblem or two to put on my own car, but to no avail. According to my friend, she has had it on there for 20 years or better.

[cad-kid]

Welcome to the foum
Good intro
Your friend has a great looking ride (love the wheels and 2 tone paint). Do you think you will be getting a Vair?

[flat6_musik]

Welcome, CTRman! Wow, welcome....love your enthusiasm! We need more people like you into 'vairs! Dang, I TOTALLY didn't notice that "LDS temple, here we come" on the back of Brad's li'l red ride, even after you mentioned it, it's hard to see. Amazing! Hope to see around here!!

[Scott H]

Welcome CTR man. Great intro and your dance partner's '63 looks very nice.

[mart]

When you own a corvair, they can hear you scream in space, and kicking it does not improve matters

[CTR man]

Welcome to the foum
Good intro
Your friend has a great looking ride (love the wheels and 2 tone paint). Do you think you will be getting a Vair?

Maybe eventually when the money situation clears up. It would have to be unique. Perhaps a 4dr or a Lakewood or maybe a convertible because they are so fun. I haven't decided which year appeals to me, though the late models sure do look nice. Too bad they only made a Lakewood in 61 and part of 62. I wonder what a 65 - 69 Lakewood would look like. My friend's late husband also owned a Rampside, but that was sold shortly after his death and restored. It now lives in Ohio someplace.

The wheels are real wire-spoke wheels held on by a knock off center cap. No lug nuts here. My friend told me the name of the company, but I've forgotten. They do look nice though. They set the car off, as do the racing stripes a la Le Mans.

[CTR man]

Welcome, CTRman! Wow, welcome....love your enthusiasm! We need more people like you into 'vairs! Dang, I TOTALLY didn't notice that "LDS temple, here we come" on the back of Brad's li'l red ride, even after you mentioned it, it's hard to see. Amazing! Hope to see around here!!

I thought so, too. Hence the double take. Red on red usually doesn't mix. I would have thought white would have suited the occasion a bit better. I hope to be around here more, as it is neat to learn about this car and it's idiosyncrasies. Like different tire pressures to keep the front end on the ground, etc.

[CTR man]

Welcome CTR man. Great intro and your dance partner's '63 looks very nice.

Thanks, I think so, too. My friend is quite well known around town by her car when she takes it out. Not to mention that she taught Drama and English at the local High School for 23 years.

[CTR man]

When you own a corvair, they can hear you scream in space, and kicking it does not improve matters

I would be dead meat if I even thought of kicking her 'Vair. For right now I consider myself lucky that I even get to ride in it. Even if it sounds like an old Volkswagen to my untrained ear.

[bbodie52]

CTR (Choose the Right) man,

I was somewhat shocked and surprised when I stumbled on a photograph of our 1962 Corvair as one of your reasons for being "dragged him" to the Corvair hobby. While I think your reasons are terrific, I didn't think that anyone on the Corvair Forum was paying much attention to the actual content of the text that our friends painted on our Corvair on our wedding day in 1972. My new bride and I had no say in the content or the color scheme, and we did not discover the new "paint job" until late in the evening after our wedding reception, when we got in the car to head home to our new apartment. (When we arrived at our apartment we discovered that sticky jam had been applied to all the door handles, light switches, and the toilet seat, and that our bed contained a layer of corn flakes between the sheets! CRUNCH! It had been a long day and we were tired and a little angry, but we got over it.) Anyway, I liked the custom "just married" paint job on our 1962 Corvair so much that I did not wash it off for at least a week. I guess it was a way of allowing me to announce to the world that I had managed to find a girl who was willing to marry me! I'm glad we took a lot of pictures of the Corvair before I washed it, because the memories it brings now are very enjoyable – and as it turns out it appears that it even helped to convince you to develop your enthusiasm for a Corvair hobby!

My new bride, Tracy, and our Corvair upon our arrival at church in Westlake Village on April 2, 1972 – the day after our wedding.

That 1962 Corvair was powered by a 1963 engine that was my first engine rebuild, which I accomplished at age 16. It had originally been mated to a Powerglide automatic transmission, but I converted the engine to support a four speed manual transmission when I installed it in the 1962 Corvair. I rebuilt that engine during the summer of 1969 with no outside guidance or help. (There was no such thing as an Internet or the Corvair Forum back then! Clark's Corvair Parts would not begin until 1973, and in 1969 it was still possible to purchase Corvair parts in the Chevrolet dealership parts department! ) It took me most of the summer, and I also had to rebuild the Powerglide transmission, but I got it all done and it ran well! I never even dropped the power train once as I nervously lowered it and raised it back into place for the first time – but I did sweat a lot! It was the same year that man first walked on the moon, so it was definitely a year of discovery for me – and for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. I really enjoyed watching the moon landing in my bedroom on my black and white TV, and I really enjoyed my accomplishments with my Corvair!

Yes, I know where Modesto California is, since I grew up in San Jose, which is only about 85 miles from Modesto. (As it turns out, the home I grew up in on Fairhill Lane – just off Meridian Avenue – is only 2.2 miles from the current location of Mel's Vairmart!) My wife was raised in Marin County – near San Francisco – but we did not meet until 1971 when we both lived near Thousand Oaks in Southern California. She introduced me to the LDS church and I introduced her to Corvairs and motorcycles – a fair trade! I joined the LDS church, we went on a lot of dates in my 1965 turbocharged Corsa coupe and in the 1962 Monza coupe, and on April Fools' Day in 1972 we were married. Our 41st anniversary is coming up next month, so I guess that things are going to work out.

By the way, I searched the Internet extensively for a Moroni emblem – as displayed on your dancing partner's Corvair convertible – but I failed to find one. Do you think that we might be able to get Clark's Corvair Parts to have them reproduced for us? Perhaps if there is enough demand…

If you are to remain worthy of your CTR moniker "CTRman", then you must continue with your quest to buy a Corvair of your own! Such an action will definitely prove that you know how to "choose the right".

Maybe eventually when the money situation clears up. It would have to be unique. Perhaps a 4dr or a Lakewood or maybe a convertible because they are so fun. I haven't decided which year appeals to me, though the late models sure do look nice. Too bad they only made a Lakewood in 61 and part of 62. I wonder what a 65 - 69 Lakewood would look like. My friend's late husband also owned a Rampside, but that was sold shortly after his death and restored. It now lives in Ohio someplace.

The wheels are real wire-spoke wheels held on by a knock off center cap. No lug nuts here. My friend told me the name of the company, but I've forgotten. They do look nice though. They set the car off, as do the racing stripes a la Le Mans.

You were wondering what a 1965-1969 Corvair Lakewood might look like? How about a Corvair Lakewood-Nomad?

Don't get too excited… The car in the picture doesn't exist. It was only in Adobe Photoshop exercise, but it would be nice if someone with the skills to do it would build something like this!

If you get the chance, I would love to see some detailed shots of the Corvair convertible, including the new 140 hp engine and some close-ups of the wire wheels. I suspect that the wheels might have been made by Dayton Wire Wheels http://www.daytonwirewheels.com/. They manufacture some beautiful – but expensive – custom wire wheels.

By the way, I retired from the Air Force – not the Army. And I still frequently make purchases from the AAFES website.

[gordons65]

Love the Angel Moroni