Is The Monza GT The Most Under-Appreciated Concept Car Of All Time?

Chevrolet’s Corvair Monza GT concept car represents what many have called a mid-engine Corvette.

One of the most under-appreciated cars of all time, The Corvair Monza GT concept car, was doomed to the vault of the unknown, a place where great cars go when their fate is intertwined with another model. Because the Monza GT concept was built around the Corvair drivetrain, its fate was destined to parallel Chevrolet’s modern marvel.

The Corvair had a great pedigree with direction from Ed Cole and design influence from Bill Mitchell, everything was set to make the Corvair the next evolution in car design for the Bow Tie group. Before Washington lawyer, Ralph Nader, waged a war on the model, the company was already moving to expand the line.

At the direction of Bill Mitchell, GM’s chief stylist, Larry Shinoda and Tony Lapine designed the concept car along the lines of the Nuccio Bertone designed Testudo concept car. Bertone based his concept on the chassis and mechanics of the Corvair, probably for the same reason. The Corvair was going to be the next greatest thing and everyone was trying to design off of this architecture.

The Monza GT’s nose and lines are very similar to that of the C3 Corvette.

The Monza GT’s canopy was hinged at the front, and the rear engine cover was hinged at the rear, with both panels designed to swing upward. The engine used in the concept car was the Corvair’s 145ci flat six with dual carbs. Shinoda and Lapine designed the engine so that it mounted in front of the transaxle, 180 degrees opposite of the production Corvair engine mounting, making the concept car a legitimate mid-engine car.

The car featured magnesium wheels and a hydraulic clutch, both were an indicator of things to come in the future. One of the more interesting and unique design features were the stationary seats with adjustable pedals that allowed for comfort.

Only one of these were created, introduced at the Elkhart Lake SCCA race, the car was a hit. It followed up at the New York Auto Show, with a convertible version called the Monza SS Spyder. Nader’s campaign against the Corvair undoubtedly shelved the potential superstar, before it even got started.

Despite being shut down as a production car, many of the Monza GT’s styling features were used in other GM builds. The rear end was the basis for the 1965-1969 Corvairs. Pontiac used many of the car’s features in their Banshee prototypes. The 1965 Chevrolet Mako Shark II concept, and it’s resulting C3 Corvette, all were heavily influenced by the Monza prototype.

This car is currently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.

Interestingly, Disney felt that the car represented the future of car design too, and the Corvair Monza GT was used as the basis for the cars in the World of Tomorrow car ride at Disneyland. The Corvair Monza GT concept car is one of the more than 700 vehicles found in the GM Heritage Collection of historically significant vehicles. The car is currently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.

Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT Specs: