1st Time with Corvairs

[Sakubyrd]

Hello all. I just purchased my first Corvair, and will need the wisdom of others to deal with it. My 17 yo son recently tore his ACL, so he can not drive the Jeep Comanchee I had got for him. While looking on Craigslist, he spotted a Aqua 61 900 Monza. He instantly fell in love with it. After doing some research and looking at the car, I finally picked it up. It appears to be all original and runs. So he will be driving it while we get it back to it's original glory. Very glad to have found a place like this.

[bbodie52]

Welcome to the Corvair Forum, and congratulations to you and your son on your choice of an Early Model (EM) 1961 Monza coupe!

I believe that you and your son will find the Corvair Forum to be an outstanding place to hang out on the Internet. You will find it informative and friendly, and the "residents" are anxious to be helpful as you both explore the intricacies of Corvair ownership, restoration and maintenance.

...I finally picked it up. It appears to be all original and runs. So he will be driving it while we get it back to it's original glory. Very glad to have found a place like this...

To be better at communicating with you via the remote anonymity of the Internet, it is important that we know something about you and your Corvair. That way we can communicate more effectively.

First, where are you located? This can impact suggestions and ideas we might offer. Corvairs lend themselves well to the DIY "shadetree mechanic". How would you assess your and your son's mechanical abilities? Do you have any prior experience with classic (old) car ownership? Do you plan to do much of your own work on the car? If so, do you have a place to work on the car and hand tools, a hydraulic floor jack, and jack stands?

How would you assess the current condition of your Corvair? Was it driven regularly by the previous owner, or did it sit for a long time? Are there any signs of serious rust, corrosion or body rot in the door jambs, floor pan, wheel wells, etc? You should not make assumptions with a 52 year old car when it comes to safety and reliability. The condition of the suspension, steering, electrical system, brakes and powertrain should be fully evaluated, so that you can identify any weaknesses or faults and prioritize your plans for the car. And what are those plans? Are you planning a thorough mechanical and cosmetic restoration (such as interior carpeting, upholstery, trim, paint, etc.) or simply a basic safety and mechanical check to ensure safety and reliability as a daily driver?

A batch of pictures of the car, including body, trunk, interior, engine compartment, etc. would be helpful. We can tell a lot from pictures. Depending on your location, you and your son might have the opportunity to join a local chapter of CORSA (Corvair Society of America). Joining a local Corvair club, if one is nearby, can help you both to learn a lot by socializing with other Corvair owners. The Corvair Forum is great, but geting to know other like-minded Corvair owners face-to-face can be of great benefit too.

The following Corvair Forum link can provide you with a list of useful websites that should be helpful as a Corvair owner...

Common and Useful Corvair Websites
Corvair Forum viewtopic.php?f=225&t=6007

Personally, I have been around Corvairs since I was 8 years old, when my parents bought our first family Corvair — a brand new 1961 Monza coupe. Our second Corvair was a new 1965 Corsa convertible. I learned to drive and took my first driver's test in that one, and continued to drive it all over the USA and in Germany until I sold it in the 1990s (stupid me!) I also drove a 1962 Monza coupe at our wedding and honeymoon in 1972, I rebuilt my first Corvair engine and automatic transmission at age 16 in 1969, and brought several of our children home from the hospital in the 1970s in a Corvair. After selling our 1965 Corsa convertible, I went without a Corvair from the early 1990s until 2012, when my wife and I decided to sell our Lexus GS460 and buy a 1966 Corsa convertible (our tenth family Corvair). So we have been around Corvairs for a long time.

I look forward to hearing more about you, your family, and your Corvair, and hope that you will find the Corvair Forum to be a useful and helpful website.

[Nickshu]

Welcome! Post pics!