My 1960 500

Show of your ride, keep track of your project, watch as others progress on their projects
Corvair88
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 1:26 pm
Contact:

My 1960 500

Post by Corvair88 »

After moving to the UK my Corvair came with me, the car was used as a daily driver the first 6 months until I no longer could drive on Norwegian plates. No storage meant it sat outside a couple of months... We where lucky and got a flat with a garage. The garage was just big enough to fit the car, but not very nice to work in. I also had a little moisture seeping in at the end :redface: So not ideal storage conditions... By this time I was very busy setting up my new life and all of a sudden I was expecting a baby! So no time for the car. But this spring I had saved enough money to get it fixed up and get UK plates :clap: Me and my family have now moved to a new location and I finally have my dream garage for the car! I'm now busy setting up my new workshop https://mitka.co.uk

I have added some photos. I wish I had more detailed timeline photos, but this is the best I could do for now.
IMG_20170526_134710.jpg
In May I got my new UK plates! The black ones are UK and the white ones Norwegian.
IMG_20170526_135947.jpg
Here you can see the car cramped into the tight garage.
IMG_20170601_093329.jpg
IMG_20170601_093339.jpg
The car is almost rust free, but there was a hole in the right quarter panel and the front looked like dented spaghetti strainer. I bought the car to a body shop that cut out the rust and repaired the damage.
IMG_20170601_172333.jpg
IMG_20170627_160034.jpg
Now that's a lot better!
IMG_20170716_175446.jpg
The car in June being used again!

The Interior was really letting the car down, the front seat was badly ripped and the back seat discoloured and stained. I had ripped out the old carpet when it was standing outside as there was some water ingress causing it get damp and mouldy (english climate). The cardboard door panels where not in the best of condition. I have been wanting to do something about the interior a long time and finally had saved up enough and had the time.
IMG_20170720_103609.jpg
As you can see the front seat cover was done for...
IMG_20170804_093514.jpg
Here is the interior today!! The rear cardboard around the luggage compartment was still good and so was the headliner, but besides that everything got a little upgrade. I opted for what I figured would have made a nice colure combination on this car with 700 fabric. I know the original boys might be disappointed, but I really like it!
IMG_20170731_112247.jpg
Corry in her new home! You can also see the old door panels leaning against the wall for decoration.
IMG_20170804_093457.jpg
Note the colure tone on the photos are not true to the car or interior as it's a cheap camera phone ::-):


If anyone has a set of original rims for 1960 Vair I would be intrested! Also on the hunt for good front bumper.
Jerry Whitt
Posts: 887
Joined: Thu Sep 26, 2013 2:42 pm

Re: My 1960 500

Post by Jerry Whitt »

Looks like a fun project!
Jerry Whitt
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN
Retired
Hemet, Callifornia
65 Monza, purchased new
65 Corsa convertible
User avatar
toytron
Posts: 833
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2015 4:30 am

Re: My 1960 500

Post by toytron »

She is a beauty

Ed Stevenson

Edwin Stevenson
Industrial Electrician
Electronics Technician
65 corvair corsa convertible turbo
65 corvair monza
guru_1071
Posts: 105
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2016 9:38 am

Re: My 1960 500

Post by guru_1071 »

wow

another corvair in the uk

I think that's about six four doors I know of now
User avatar
bbodie52
Corvair of the Month
Corvair of the Month
Posts: 11872
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:33 pm
Location: Lake Chatuge Hayesville, NC
Contact:

Re: My 1960 500

Post by bbodie52 »

ImageImageImage

:not worthy: :clap: :tu: I found your profession, your website, your Corvair, and your attitude about yourself and your family to be very refreshing! Your skills as a watchmaker are unbelievable :whoa: , and I hope you are highly successful in all that you do in your life. I would love to see your progress with your classic Corvair. You seem to have a great appreciation for classic timepieces, and I think that attitude extends to your Corvair ownership as well. I hope the Corvair Forum is helpful to you along the way. Can we hope for a family photo of you all posing in the family Corvair?

Here are a few Corvair-related family photos from my family in the mid-1960's and early 1970's to get you started...
ImageImageImage

Where did you learn and develop those watchmaking and watch restoration skills??? :woo:
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
Corvair88
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 1:26 pm
Contact:

Re: My 1960 500

Post by Corvair88 »

Hi Brad,

Thanks for the kind words!:) Such nice photos you posted. I will adde some more photos from this weekend as me and my partner are getting married this weekend. You can of course guess what car will be the wedding car;)
IMG_20161225_131728192.jpg
The photo is about a year old now:D So the little one is much bigger now and the car har has plates!
Last edited by Corvair88 on Wed Aug 23, 2017 11:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
CorvairCon65
Posts: 89
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2015 11:52 am

Re: My 1960 500

Post by CorvairCon65 »

Welcome from another UK Corvair owner. Where abouts are you in the UK?
User avatar
bbodie52
Corvair of the Month
Corvair of the Month
Posts: 11872
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:33 pm
Location: Lake Chatuge Hayesville, NC
Contact:

Re: My 1960 500

Post by bbodie52 »

Thanks for the great photos! You have a beautiful family!! Does "the little one" have a name yet? ::-):

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. You must be starting to feel like life is changing so rapidly for you that you can hardly find time to breathe! The new responsibilities are coming as you in a fast and furious manner.

I think I understand the desire to use your Corvair in your wedding. I don't know what traditions dictate in Europe, but in California our 1962 Corvair was subject to a great deal of poster paint in decorations to identify us as newlyweds.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


We drove the car around like that for a week before we washed it! I guess we were proud to announce our newlywed status to the world. :eek:
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
Corvair88
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 1:26 pm
Contact:

Re: My 1960 500

Post by Corvair88 »

CorvairCon65 wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2017 5:26 am Welcome from another UK Corvair owner. Where abouts are you in the UK?
I'm based in Ringwood:) How about you?
Corvair88
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 1:26 pm
Contact:

Re: My 1960 500

Post by Corvair88 »

bbodie52 wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2017 7:09 am Thanks for the great photos! You have a beautiful family!! Does "the little one" have a name yet? ::-):

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. You must be starting to feel like life is changing so rapidly for you that you can hardly find time to breathe! The new responsibilities are coming as you in a fast and furious manner.

I think I understand the desire to use your Corvair in your wedding. I don't know what traditions dictate in Europe, but in California our 1962 Corvair was subject to a great deal of poster paint in decorations to identify us as newlyweds.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


We drove the car around like that for a week before we washed it! I guess we were proud to announce our newlywed status to the world. :eek:

Cool photos! The little one is Klara the big one Maja:D
User avatar
CorvairCon65
Posts: 89
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2015 11:52 am

Re: My 1960 500

Post by CorvairCon65 »

Corvair88 wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2017 11:18 am
CorvairCon65 wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2017 5:26 am Welcome from another UK Corvair owner. Where abouts are you in the UK?
I'm based in Ringwood:) How about you?
I'm in Rayleigh, Essex.
guru_1071
Posts: 105
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2016 9:38 am

Re: My 1960 500

Post by guru_1071 »

CorvairCon65 wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:03 am
Corvair88 wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2017 11:18 am
CorvairCon65 wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2017 5:26 am Welcome from another UK Corvair owner. Where abouts are you in the UK?
I'm based in Ringwood:) How about you?
I'm in Rayleigh, Essex.
im in Yorkshire (gods country)
User avatar
bbodie52
Corvair of the Month
Corvair of the Month
Posts: 11872
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:33 pm
Location: Lake Chatuge Hayesville, NC
Contact:

Re: My 1960 500

Post by bbodie52 »

Corvair88 wrote:I'm based in Ringwood...
To give those of us not all that knowledgeable about the United Kingdom a point of reference...

Watchmaker.jpg
...Less than 100 miles southwest of London.
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
Corvair88
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 1:26 pm
Contact:

Re: My 1960 500

Post by Corvair88 »

bbodie52 wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:06 am
Corvair88 wrote:I'm based in Ringwood...
To give those of us not all that knowledgeable about the United Kingdom a point of reference...

Watchmaker.jpg
...Less than 100 miles southwest of London.
It's a nice part of the country that for sure!:)
Corvair88
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 1:26 pm
Contact:

Re: My 1960 500

Post by Corvair88 »

guru_1071 wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 6:20 am
CorvairCon65 wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:03 am
Corvair88 wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2017 11:18 am

I'm based in Ringwood:) How about you?
I'm in Rayleigh, Essex.
im in Yorkshire (gods country)
I thought gods country was in Israel :tongue:
Corvair88
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 1:26 pm
Contact:

Re: My 1960 500

Post by Corvair88 »

Corvair88 wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:22 am
guru_1071 wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 6:20 am
CorvairCon65 wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:03 am

I'm in Rayleigh, Essex.
im in Yorkshire (gods country)
I thought gods country was in Israel :tongue:
Sounds like we would all have to travel a bit for a UK Corvair club meet :think:
Post Reply

Return to “Member's Rides, Projects, and Builds”