There are few cars in American history that generated as much controversy as the Corvair. First introduced in 1960, the Corvair’s size fit into the popular compact category that included the Plymouth Valiant and the Ford Falcon. At that point, its similarity to any other domestic car ended abruptly.
Powered by an all-aluminum, six cylinder, rear mounted, air cooled engine with 110 hp, the car’s layout followed that of the popular Volkswagen Beetle of the time. Named 1960 Motor Trend ‘Car of the Year,’ the Corvair was not without its flaws and they would soon become evident.
Heavier and more powerful than the VW Beetle, the Corvair’s swing axle rear suspension did not tolerate inexperienced drivers well. Body roll in spirited cornering led to a loss of traction as the inside wheel tended to “tuck under” the car. Spinouts were common and, in some cases, rollovers were reported.
An anti-American car crusader by the name of Ralph Nader published a book called “Unsafe at Any Speed” which attacked both the Corvair and the American auto industry in general. GM resolved the handling issues with the car for the 1964 model year, but a deadly blow had been struck. It is interesting to note that Porsche models (356 A/B/C) of the same era exhibited the very same handling anomalies, but these were merely dismissed as idiosyncratic.
The example shown here is the last year of the swing axle layout. In 1965, the car was significantly restyled and the rear suspension was replaced with a new design. Regardless, the public perception of the Corvair was shaken and sales fell. Production was discontinued in 1969.
According to the seller, this Corvair has undergone a significant restoration with particular attention paid to the interior. Hard to find weatherstripping has been replaced throughout and a rebuilt engine now lives under the trunk lid. The clutch and brakes have been replaced, so the car would seem to be ready for Spring.
As always, if you are unable to see the car yourself, we strongly recommend that an independent inspection be arranged.
This car can be had for an offer of $15,000, but when the current auction ended, the top bid of $9,999 has not released the reserve.
If this unusual piece of Americana grabs your interest, you can still get in touch with the seller through the eBay listing.