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The form of pure function.
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Films:
1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza: Handed Down And Modified
In the late 60’s in was fairly common to see a couple of tricked-out Corsa models running in the autocross scene around LA. Of course back then an autocross was called a “slalom.” I used to think a pastel yellow Corsa with black interior was at least as cool as a 356 Porsche. I still do.
Great story and as always, well told. When in college and for a few years after, I owned a ’65 Corsa. What a fantastic car but ultimately rust caught up with it. Light blue with a white interior. I added a great free-flow exhaust system and we used to take it through the Lincoln Tunnel just to listen to it echo.
Awesome car. Beautifully done. (And yes, I do have little bit of garage envy). As a happy owner of a 65 Corsa and a 71 Chevelle, I can attest to how unique the Corvair is to the American car scene. It was figuratively and literally the polar opposite of what Detroit was doing at the time.
The Corvair was such an interesting experiment. The car could have evolved into an American Porsche. Somehow the US market just wasn’t having it back then. Front engine V6s and V8s with live rear axles dominated the enthusiast market. Much of the Heartland where I grew up is blocked out on a grid with straight roads intersecting at 1 mile intervals. On straight, flat, two-lane black top the advantages of rear or mid engined cars with flat-opposed engines do not come to the fore. In the mid-west there were few places to drive them.
Stunning car. GM got it right with the second gen version, but unfortunately the car’s fate was sealed with its past history and the eventual intro of the Camaro.
Corvair guys are really unique, they have a real passion for these cars and are not afraid to turn their own wrenches.
I like this guy, his work and taste are above par. Would have really loved to have seen all the bicycles that were stored on the second floor of his ultra clean shop.
