Model Chevrolet Corvair

Chevrolet Corvair

One of the early compact cars produced in 1960 through 1969 by General Motors. The Corvair was unique in that being the only American made car to be mass produced with a rear engine design. The engine was a horizontally opposed six cylinder made from aluminum. It put out 80 hp and some of the later versions produced as much as 180 hp.

1969 Chevy Corvair Monza Order Before There Gone!

The Corvair began its life as a six passenger 4 door sedan. A little later on saw the coupe, convertible and a station wagon. The coupe known as the Monza was produced with bucket seats fit into the sports car category. The Corvair also was the first ever production car to be offered with a turbocharged engine. The turbo was available in the Monza Spyder and later the Corsa models. The line variations included what could be said America’s first minivan called the Greenbrier to carry passengers. The van included a commercial variation in two versions the Corvan 95 in a panel van and a pickup truck with 2 doors.

1960 at the Corvair introduction only the 500 and 700 four door sedans are available. By the spring of 1960 Monza Club Coupe came out with the Super Turbo Air high performance engine. The very first 1” stripe whitewall tire made its appearance on the 1960 Monza.

1961 saw the first Corvair Loadside and Rampside pickups along with the Greenbrier, and Corvan. The popularity of the Monza pushed Ford on to develop the Falcon Sprint and later the Famous Mustang to try to capture some of the sporty car market. In the middle of 1961 all weather air condition was introduced as an option on the Corvairs.

1962 introduced the Monza convertible and the Turbocharged Monza Spyder by the middle of 1962. The Monza got a heavy duty suspension, positraction and some of the first full wheel covers. Other options were Kelsey Hayes knock off wire wheels. Monza wagon becomes available as the Lakewood and all station wagons were dropped by the middle of 1962 for the factory to produce the other models of Corvairs and Chevy II.

1963 did not see much as the Loadside pickup was discontinued. The Monza got self adjusting brakes a few minor engine improvements and rocker moldings.

1964 saw the last year for the Rampside pickup. The introduction of a larger 164 cubic inch engines some improvement on the rear suspension.

1965 Fisher Z body redesign entered the picture with a new hardtop styling for all models. The Corsa replaces the Monsa Spyder model and the Greenbrier is discontinued. In the middle of 1965 big steering and suspension improvements were introduced with the Z17 option. A new 140 hp engine upgrade was introduced. Other upgraded options were telescopic steering column and the FM stereo AM/FM.

1966 was the last year for the Corsa models and the last year for the Canadian production. Not much for changes except for the modification to the steering shaft to reduce column intrusion in accidents. The improved manual transmissions got synchromesh. Plus a tire upgrade to 7.00 13 from 6.50 13 and the whitewall stripe was narrower down from an inch to .612 in width. The cabin options were new headrests and shoulder harnesses. Mag style wheel covers and the first 4 speaker Delco FM stereo with a power rear antenna.

1967 was the last year for the 4 door hardtop.

1968 The 140 hp engine was added as a standard option. The all weather air conditioning and multiplex stereo was discontinued. Shoulder harnesses became standard in the front and still an option in the back seat. The introductions of side marker lights were added to the fenders and clear in front with amber bulbs and read in the rear. The steering wheel spokes were no longer chrome on the Monza’s but switched out to a brushed aluminum.

1969 Saw the last year of production with 521 Monza convertibles of the 6000 Corvairs manufactured. 69 got wider bucket seats and amber lenses and clear bulbs for side markers. What was interesting was in the last few months of production the Corvairs were hand built at the Willow Run factory.

The total production through the years saw a total of 1,835,170 Corvairs built.