LEAST favorite Corvair model?

[Bobby65]

yeah my least favorite model would have to be the loadside, IMO

[sam60]

"LEAST favorite Corvair model" = oxymoron

[Swngaxl]

OK, I'll play.

At one time, in my younger days, I would have said any four door, period. Next to that, annthing without a stick shift. Then I had a change of heart.

I was away from Corvairs for several years due to time constraints on my job. Then I went to a big Corvair event. I was walking around, and heard the most amazing sound. I turned and looked, and it was a bone stock early sedan easing through the lot. All the old notions from the past came back in a flood, and I knew I had been away from Corvairs for far too long, and vowed to never get away from them again. Nothing new sounds like that, nothing has that character. So if the sound of a early 4 door PG car can really get my juices flowing, then I can now say I love them all.

So, that being said, what is my least favorite? Any corvair with a radiator. I'll stop there.

[davemotohead]

Sorry but I like them all,,but I do HATE Most mustangs!

[Swngaxl]

I used to hate Mustangs, but they don't elicit any emotion from me any more, other than to feel sorry for the owner because he could have done better. Some people just don't understand! :)

My wife special ordered a new GT from the factory in '94, first year of that body style. For a gift, her boss gave her a just released book on the history of the Mustang, I glanced through it enough to see a full page photo with a nice write-up of a '64 Spyder convertible. The message in the hstory book was clear: No Corvair, No Mustang.

[bbodie52]

I agree with Grymm, , not a 4 door guy, but the earlies have that crazy roof, not really a convertible guy either, but thats just cos I live in a cold climate

I think you don't like convertibles because Bondo doesn't stick to vinyl convertible tops very well, and you cannot weld vinyl.
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1960 Corvairs are unique in a way that prevents me from wanting to own one. My impression of them is that they were released to the public about one year before the design engineers were ready -- possibly due to internal pressure from GM and Chevrolet executives.

In 1961 the engineers were able to integrate all of the badly-needed design changes they wanted, and the 1961-1964 Corvair was born. Automobile manufacturers don't routinely like to release a new model unless they feel they can get several years from the design before the next major redesign. This occurred with 1961-1964 Corvairs, and again in Late Model 1965-1969 Corvairs. The significant changes that had to be implemented between 1960 and 1961, to me, tells a tale of a design process that was incomplete when it hit the showrooms.

However, that being said, I think that Caveman Corvair fans think that the 1960 Corvair is the only TRUE Corvair, and that all subsequent model years are just Corvair wanna-be's.

Caveman Corvair -- see Edsel, IBM PCjr, Elcaset, Betamax, etc. (i.e. not ready for prime time, an engineering misfire). (The Electrovair III may fall into this category... time will tell!)






Now I must say goodbye, because my portion of North Carolina will likely be covered by a mushroom cloud by morning!


HEADLINE: Caveman Corvair Owners Strike Lake Chatuge, NC -- former home of Brad Bodie

REMEMBER, I didn't start this thread!

[JasonC]

I'm going to say any four door model. To me they are all parts cars...

[jennirw]

1960 Corvairs are unique in a way that prevents me from wanting to own one. My impression of them is that they were released to the public about one year before the design engineers were ready -- possibly due to internal pressure from GM and Chevrolet executives.

In 1961 the engineers were able to integrate all of the badly-needed design changes they wanted, and the 1961-1964 Corvair was born. Automobile manufacturers don't routinely like to release a new model unless they feel they can get several years from the design before the next major redesign. This occurred with 1961-1964 Corvairs, and again in Late Model 1965-1969 Corvairs. The significant changes that had to be implemented between 1960 and 1961, to me, tells a tale of a design that was incomplete when it hit the showrooms.

However, that being said, I think that Caveman Corvair fans think that the 1960 Corvair is the only TRUE Corvair, and that all subsequent model years are just Corvair wanna-be's.

SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 1960 & 1961 CORVAIRS
(and the reasons)
• Spare tire in trunk in 1960 and in engine compartment in 1961 (to be able to advertise more trunk space) Engine lid was revised to make room for tire.
• Choke on air cleaner in 1960 and on carburetors in 1961 (chokes had to be moved down to carbs & two air cleaners added in order to have room for spare tire)
• Front sheet metal changed from concave in 1960 to convex in 1961. (to be able to advertise more trunk space)
• Gas tank enlarged in 1961 to address customer comments about range.
• Gas heater replaced by direct air heater to address comments about gas mileage and to save money. Gas heater was kept as an option.
• Starter motor tail standardized with other GM starters because there was now room with the rear seat luggage floor raised to make room for heater. (of course marketing did not note the decrease in capacity of this area)
• Floor mats & carpeting now narrower because rocker area wider for heating ducts.

As seen above, these changes were not made because there was anything wrong with the 1960 Corvair features, they were made mainly to satisfy marketing and they are not evidence of being released too soon.

[bbodie52]

I knew my comments would incur your wrath a bit, but since someone started this thread (the most hazardous territory on the Corvair Forum since the political commentary on the Forum that took place in November) I decided to take a poke at you and see how long it would take for you to respond! My house is still standing, so I guess my comments weren't too offensive and were accepted with something of a smile. For the record, I own a Corvair convertible, half of my lifelong 10 Corvairs were in the 1961-1963 range, and the other half were 1965-1966. I have an increasing like for late model 4-door sedans -- even those with Powerglide automatic transmissions -- and I voted for Richard's beautifully restored 1960 Caveman Corvair for Corvair of the Month in February -- so I'm not all bad! I even wrote some strong and complementary accolades about Richard's Caveman Corvair! My favorite picture is the family photo with his daughter and her children next to the family Corvair, the cactus, and the Bolivia license plate. A lot to be proud of!

Sun Feb 03, 2013
When I saw that Richard Widman was entering his 1960 Corvair restoration in this competition, I was certain that he was going to get my vote. Why? Because I was already familiar with the level of dedication and commitment this car represented. I had read through his Web site, Richard's Corvair -- the Restoration of My 1960 Corvair http://www.widman.biz/Corvair/English/index.html, some months ago. To say that I was impressed would be an understatement. This restoration project and it's carefully written and photographed project documentation in the form of a well-designed Web site really demonstrates a "labor of love". To accomplish all of this in South America, on a unique and rare 1960 Corvair required commitment, determination, innovation and creativity that I think represents what most Corvair owners hope that they can find in themselves as they commit themselves to the trials and difficulties that is a real part of Corvair ownership. As we purchase, restore and maintain our Corvairs, most of us touch on numerous aspects of what Richard Widman had to face when he tackled restoring his "Caveman Corvair" project car. But I think that it is safe to say that his 1960 project 4-door sedan restoration probably touched on just about all of the possible obstacles, and then some! The path he took and final outcome of his efforts is displayed here and on his Web site. His project clearly demonstrates what it can take to restore a classic Corvair. It is a little intimidating to follow him through his project, but I hope it is also inspiring to many of us to reach for a higher level of commitment so that we can overcome our own frustrations and obstacles as we work to keep our own Corvairs on the road. His is a daily driver that he can be truly proud of, and as such I think it definitely deserves to be chosen as the winner of the COTM, and perhaps later as the Corvair of the Year too.

I really like Dave Gilbert's elegant and sporty 1965 Monza sedan...





And I still like LM convertibles, although I am hoping to buy an EM coupe or convertible and perhaps a LM 4-door sedan in the future...

My 1965 Corsa convertible in Massachusetts in 1980, just before we took it to Germany with us.

My current 1966 Corsa convertible.

P.S.

My first computer was an IBM PCjr, which I kept until it was stolen (no accounting for taste on the part of the thief). My father owned a Sony Betamax VCR, and I was among the first to buy a Pioneer Laserdisc player. So we all have our moments when we "buck the trend".

[ClarkHartzel]

A Corvan with no side or rear door windows. I had one and it was impossible to see out of!
Clark Hartzel

[mart]

Ha ha, Brad I know of a guy in PA who wont even weld metal, but I'm sure he'll have a go at putting bondo in a convertible top, I darent even check my seats in case he bondo'd those too
Least favourite Corvair?......Mine.....followed by all of them....

[MORTUNDEAD]

My least favourite is the late sedans. They just look too normal. I really prefer the earlier cars, just because they're so much weirder

[Mountain Pilot]

I just think the EM Sedans look great with the flying rear roof line..., the Coupes just do not look right to me.
All the LM's look good...

[jennirw]

I am not a fan of Spyders or Turbo Corvairs and Convertibles