We recently took a look at a solid late-production Chevy Corvair coupe at a Denver junkyard, and some readers couldn’t believe anyone would throw away such a occasional classic. Hold on to your hats, Corvair fans, because eight Korwary just appeared in the inventory backyard in Colorado Springs. Since we had just seen a coupe from the last few years of Corvair production, we made our selection early four-door sedan from the eight to follow him This series.
U-Pull-&-Pay confused the model years of most of these cars in its system, likely because deciphering serial numbers and design tags from an era before the 17-digit VIN requires manufacturer-specific knowledge. All eight Corvairs are coupes and sedans; none is hardtop sedanswagons, transducersconvertibles or vans.
Corvair production reached approximately 2 million units during the 1960-1969 model years, and there are still plenty of project Corvairs sitting in garages and driveways, so they’re not particularly arduous to find in American junkyards these days. Ill run through two or three times a year my search in the scrapyardbut finding so many at once in a U-Pull facility is a novel experience for me.
The U-Pull-&-Pay people I asked about these cars told me that a man brought them all in at once and said he had a few Corvairs left. My guess is that this is the result of a Corvair enthusiast cleaning out unwanted car parts in a warehouse.
The rear-mounted air-cooled Corvair was a radical design by Detroit standards of the era, and remains the most controversial American car ever produced. Sales peaked in the 1961 and 1962 model years, then began a gradual decline before crashing in 1966. Production continued until 1969, but almost no one paid any attention to it until then. Perhaps you are to blame Ralph NaderOr GM’s clumsy attempts to crush Ralph NaderOr government regulations inspired by the works of Ralph NaderOr a comfortingly classic Chevy II/Novaor even Renault Caravelle.
I recommend reading it A thoroughly researched and annotated history of the Corvair by Aaron Severson — which starts with development compact car concept at GM during World War II — to get the whole story.
This car was made in the period approx assembly plant in Oakland in California, where production Production of the Chevrolet Four-Nineta began in 1916. The Oakland Assembly closed in 1963 and was replaced by Fremont Assembly (which became NUMMI in 1984 and it is now Tesla factory) about 25 miles southeast. The gathering place is Oakland Eastmont Town Center Today.
The engine was a 145 cubic inch (2.4 liter) pushrod air-cooled boxer six-cylinder with twin carburetors and a distinctive “round the corner” fan belt arrangement that looked showy but performed well. Horsepower was 80 for the three- or four-speed manual transmission and 84 for cars equipped with this option Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission.
This car does have a Powerglide that was moved via a compact lever under the dash to the left of the radio.
The optional AM radio was a $57 option, which will cost about $596 in 2024 (and it was worth it to listen to greatest hits of 1962 on a scratchy mono speaker). Note the scary triangle symbols in the Civil Defense circle at 640 and 1240 kHz; those recommended CONELRAD station this would give instructions just in case Tupolev Tu-95 they were on their way carrying thermonuclear bombs.
Below the AM radio is a Pace CB-143 23-channel CB radio vintage from the mid 70’s. The device was sold around this time C.W. McCall’s CB-centric song “Convoy.” was number 1 on the music charts. By the way, you can download free MP3s of CW’s advice for truck drivers crossing the Rocky Mountains on Interstate 70 – invoked via mile marker – via his website.
It looks like it’s been about thirty years since this car was last used regularly, considering the year was 1992 West Coast Gas magnetic calendar. By coincidence, the 1992 and 2024 calendars are the same, including a leap day in February, so a junkyard buyer who receives this calendar will assume the remaining months are relevant for current apply.
700 were Mid-range Corvair in 1962sandwiched between base 500 AND sports Monza 900. Suggested retail price as of today Junkyard gem with an automatic transmission it would be $2,268, or about $23,704 after inflation. AND 1963 Ford Falcon Futura a sedan with a Ford-O-Matic two-speed automatic transmission started at $2,377 ($24,843 today), but it was a larger car with a heater powered by real coolant.
At one point, the owner of this car proudly belonged to both Corvair Pikes Peak Club AND American Corvair Society.
That “VAIRFIGNEWTEN” sticker must be some sort of joke from a decades-old Corvair.
Worth restoring? There is very little rust and there are plenty of parts donors around, but I think it would take at least $20,000 to turn it into something like this car for $15,000.
Claws on the trails through the sticky silt of the Withlacoochie Marshes! Do you think Falcon (or Valiant) could handle this?
