Corvair Forum

Hello all and thanks for the add! By way of introduction, I'm 75 yo and have been a Corvair enthusiast since I got my license at 16. My first car was a '63 500 with 3-speed, followed with a '64 Spyder, then '65 and '66 Monzas, both 110/4-speeds. I used to be active in CORSA and did a lot of autocrossing and rallying in the College Park, Maryland area.
Of course life happens and I've been out of the Corvair scene for about 50 years, but I'm thinking about getting back. I've had mostly GM cars - 4 fwd Pontiac Grand Prix including 3 GTP's and 4 Fiero's ('84 2M4, '86 GT 5-speed, '88 Formula 5-speed, and '88 Formula automatic T-top.) Currently working on an '01 Chevy S10 extended cab 4.3/auto that I've lowered 2/3, added 18" wheels, swapped to a Bravada/Sonoma mix front end and redone the interior, but frankly it's beginning to bore me and I'm looking for a change.
Considering my age and physical condition (I had heart surgery last year) I'm thinking about finding a 'Vair with an automatic. I've never driven one with the Powerglide and I wonder just how "awful" they are. While I don't race anymore and it would be just a weekend cruiser, I still like to put my foot into it once in a while. It'll probably be my last hobby car so I don't want to spend a lot, in fact I'd be open to a swap for the S10. (If anyone is interested we can talk details.) I live in Ocala FL and would like to meet any local 'Vair enthusiasts. I'm looking for a LM 2-door coupe, rust-free in driver condition, don't mind if it needs interior work or minor body work/paint. A/C would be a plus. Modified cars are fine, too, just looking for something fun.
LMK if there's anything out there, and I'll be watching the group!
Thanks again!

Welcome. While I just left Florida (Tampa bay area), I know of a couple of guys on here that are in the Ocala area. Regarding the powerglide vs manual. Just enjoy the car. I had a few that were automatics and they weren't all that bad.

The "Powerglide" discussion comes up, even recently here. Many like a manual transmission for "fun" drives and think the PG is boring and slow. That said a 110HP PG car can be a nice driver if you want to cruise and it is great in "traffic". It comes done to ones "attitude". I'd go find a club and see if you can drive a PG car. Don't go with a 140HP PG, I know from experience they are barely quicker than the 110HP and require a lot more "tinkering" to stay tuned.

WARNING: After 50 years you may not appreciate the Corvair manual steering and brakes after decades of driving "power assist" modern cars. I driven a number of drum brake Corvairs with lousy brakes, but it is a maintenance issue along with the new HARD lining. I found a shop that does SOFT lining and my car stops great with acceptable pedal pressure - just like when the Corvair was new. I'm old and pedal pressure is not an issue.

Note: A/C is not common on Corvairs! Clark's makes a kit, but it takes someone with experience to make it work well. I have two 66 cars that I converted to R134a and I learned the hard way how to make them work properly.

Good luck finding a Corvair.

Welcome. The LM 4 door Vairs are terribly awful. Depends on the person.

I am thinking something fishy here. I could be wrong, but where are all the other posts since 2018. Should be a few. Photo used on other forums seems to disguise the person or having fun maybe.

Also,he used the same avatar most of all the other computer generated registrations used

Good luck, but I am pulling my original post text/photos and rewording what I say. No need to encourage these people / AI Bots. If I am wrong, it is what it is. It won't be the first time.

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Other sites with same user name.
https://barnfinds.com/last-on-earth-194 ... ine-fords/ (Same picture)

https://barnfinds.com/real-deal-1965-su ... project-2/ (Same picture)

https://www.city-data.com/forum/ocala/2 ... -area.html (no picture)

Yes that is me. No I am not a bot. Yes I joined this group in 2018, but have been inactive. I have joined a lot of groups like Hot Rodders.com and quite a few Grand Prix, Fiero, and S10 groups over the years, as well as woodworking and Cigarbox guitar groups. I don't know why you would be so suspicious.

Oh, and BTW, my avatar on those sites is a pic of Wavy Gravy from Woodstock. If you don't know what that was, talk to the hand.

Sorry, one more edit. My screen name comes from my being a retired professional poker dealer and World Series of Poker participant.

Lane66Monza wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 5:12 pm Welcome. The LM 4 door Vairs are terribly awful. Depends on the person.

HUH WHAT? Did a BOT highjack lane66monza??

JUST BECAUSE WE ARE PARANOID DOESN'T MEAN THE BOTS ARE NOT OUT TO GET US -

I needed some brain neuron stimulation even if it is a BOT ---

I am sorry about my post, but we just went through 3 months of Bots screwing with our forum. Seems like every day we had another 5 - 20 bots acting as new Vair owners.

Here is a photo that shows my former LM 4 Door automatic isn't awful. If you want to see the other photos and know the back story, just ask. I am 72 when I sold that auto Vair due to downsizing. I had it 7 years. That road trip was in 2022.

PairsNPaint wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 1:12 pm Hello all and thanks for the add! By way of introduction, I'm 75 yo and have been a Corvair enthusiast since I got my license at 16. My first car was a '63 500 with 3-speed, followed with a '64 Spyder, then '65 and '66 Monzas, both 110/4-speeds. I used to be active in CORSA and did a lot of autocrossing and rallying in the College Park, Maryland area.....

I am a few years younger than you and first joined Group Corvair (which is still an active club) sometime around 1973 and hung around and or worked at a Local Corvair shop in Rockville MD for a few years.
My first car was a 1963 500 coupe with a PG then sold to purchase a 1965 CORSA 140 Convertible then another. Both of these were combined int a car I drove through High School and beyond.
More recently I reacquired a 1966 coupe with a Kelmark conversion that I had owned and enjoyed from 1983 until 1999 when I sold it. I am now focusing on getting it back on the road as what will likely be my last project car but then again, I thought I was done with Corvair's when I sold it back in 1999. AT this point I currently have five.

Back around 1976 I acquired a 1965 Monza PG Convertible at a local Police Impound Auction and enjoyed it very much but sold it when I needed some cash....About five years ago I picked up another one because I wanted something I could get in and drive immediately rather than wait until I got a 1965 Monza 4spd coupe I have back on the road.

This convertible is the first Corvair I had driven in well over 20 years. I specifically wanted an automatic so I could drive it in traffic if needed without worrying about shifting.

After such a long time having not driven a Corvair I learned a few things.

As nice as the PG is to drive, the manual transmission would have been just fine given the amount of time I actually drive it.

Today's ethanol gasoline seems to wreak havoc on the rubber components in the fuel system and spark knock / pinging seems to be more noticeable that it was 25 years ago.

Driving a Corvair after all these years seems like roughing it in a tent for a week as compared to a luxury hotel but it is an adventure every time, sometimes good and other times not so much.
Reacclimating to the manual brakes and steering took a little time but it was not difficult. I had to remind myself that I had become somewhat spoiled to the ride quality and ease that the newer vehicles offer these days.

One of the really nice things about the Corvair is that most of the enthusiasts are genuine individuals. Support in the way of advice and parts is relatively easy to find if you know where to look.. This is a good place to find both.

caraholic4life wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 5:23 am I am a few years younger than you and first joined Group Corvair (which is still an active club) sometime around 1973 and hung around and or worked at a Local Corvair shop in Rockville MD for a few years.

Thanks for the info. It is a small world - I was (I believe) one of the earliest members of Group Corvair! Did not know they were still active. Don't know if you would remember me, real name's Hal Spalter. Did most of my autocrossing at College Park and at Largo, MD (PGCCSCC), when I had my '63. Now we're talking 57 years ago! What was the shop in Rockville? I had friends that worked at an import dealer on Rockville Pike but I don't remember the name.

I need to finish up my S10 (some body work and paint) to sell to finance a 'Vair. I'm scheduled to be a driver at the upcoming Mecum auction in Kissimmee so I hope to see some Corvairs go across the auction block, but so far I don't see any on the schedule.

BTW: How do I post photos?

You need 10 posts to post photos. You have 4 p0sts recorded so far.

PairsNPaint wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 9:13 am Thanks for the info. It is a small world - I was (I believe) one of the earliest members of Group Corvair! Did not know they were still active. Don't know if you would remember me, real name's Hal Spalter. Did most of my autocrossing at College Park and at Largo, MD (PGCCSCC), when I had my '63. Now we're talking 57 years ago! What was the shop in Rockville? I had friends that worked at an import dealer on Rockville Pike but I don't remember the name.

Hal,

Look for an e-mail through the forum....

Lane66Monza wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 1:11 pm You need 10 posts to post photos. You have 4 p0sts recorded so far.

caraholic4life wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 5:23 am
Today's ethanol gasoline seems to wreak havoc on the rubber components in the fuel system and spark knock / pinging seems to be more noticeable that it was 25 years ago.

The Gates "Barricade" fuel hose is rated for ethanol. California Corvair sells the carburetor accelerator pump "blue" cups that are ethanol resistant. You would think all the fuel hose and carburetor parts would be rated for ethanol use, but NO! You have to read the fine print.