Vehicle Description
As the 1950s rolled into the 1960s, General Motors was at the top
of its game, leading the industry in style and engineering
excellence. GM was not afraid to be creative and push the
boundaries of what an American car company could do. The 1960s were
rich with experimentation and creative design - the decade bringing
us the four-wheel independent Pontiac Tempest, Buick's compact
light-alloy 215 cubic inch V8, Oldsmobile's turbocharged F-85
Jetfire and the later front-drive Tornado. But it was the Chevrolet
division that led the engineering charge with the introduction of
the Corvair in 1959. Starting with a clean slate, Chevrolet
engineers under the leadership of Ed Cole designed a new compact
family car with a decidedly European influence. Called theCorvair(a
merger of "Corvette" and Bel Air"), this revolutionary new car was
quite unlike any mass-market American automobile ever built. With a
sheet-steel type semi-unibody platform, the compact Corvair
featured a rear-mounted, air cooled flat-six engine, and the
chassis featured independent suspension at all four corners. Over
250,000 were sold in the first year, showing that buyers quickly
warmed to the idea of this entirely unconventional family car.
Despite its economical underpinnings, sports car enthusiasts
quickly adopted the Corvair as a "poor man's Porsche" and GM was
happy to accommodate their needs as well. In 1962, Chevrolet added
a turbocharger to the Corvair's engine (becoming the second
production turbocharged car after the Olds Jetfire) which upped
output to a very respectable 150 horsepower. For the 1965 model
year, the Corvair would be redesigned and refreshed by the great
stylist Chuck Jordan, assisted by Paul Gillen. The facelifted
design was inspired by a sleek Pininfarina-designed concept on the
Corvair platform that was making the rounds on the European show
circuit. The stylish new Coke-bottle shape was more grown-up and
sporting than the earlier car, and the shape has been much admired
by fellow designers and influential journalists. The great David E.
Davis considered the 2ndgeneration Corvair to be the prettiest
post-war American car of all time, and we are sure there are plenty
of loyal enthusiasts who would agree! Mechanically, the car was
upgraded with improved suspension, and more powerful versions of
the air-cooled engine, including the turbocharged unit which now
put out a very impressive 180 horsepower, putting it square in
Porsche 911 territory at a fraction of the cost. Despite being
plagued by bad publicity and urban legend, the Corvair stands as a
truly revolutionary American car, and serious collectors are
finally taking note of its importance. This 1966 Corvair Corsa
Convertible is a truly outstanding example of this unconventional
cult-classic. This beautiful 180-hp Corsa has been fully restored
to the correct, original specification; finished in Artesian
Turquoise with a white power top and a white and black interior,
per the trim tag. The body is superbly straight with very good fit
and crisp detailing, correctly finished with the silver tail panel
and adorned with fully restored chrome trim. The body is clean,
with minimal trim - only subtleCorsafender badges and ultra-rare
Style N96 wheel covers exclusive to the turbocharged models hint at
its performance. The convertible top is power operated, correctly
restored using white pinpoint vinyl and nicely presented in
excellent condition. The quality of the restoration continues
inside, where the seats (original buckets in front, a bench in
back) are covered in factory correct vinyl material and patterns.
The door and quarter panels have also been restored to match the
seats, and the black dash and correct black nylon-loop carpets are
in fine, restored condition. Other equipment includes a full array
of gauges, two-spoke wood-rimmed sports steering wheel, original
Delco radio, tinted glass and even an accessory tissue dispenser
under the dash. From behind the wheel, the four speed shift lever
falls easily to hand, and feels surprisingly well-weighted and
precise for a rear engine car, with short and positive throws
between the four gears. Chevrolet's 2.6 liter (164 cubic inch) flat
six is still air cooled, but breaths through a single 1-barrel
Rochester carburetor with the help of a turbocharger. With a
welcome 40 horsepower boost over the standard car, the turbo
transforms the Corvair into a genuine sports car. As part of this
car's full restoration, the engine has been fully detailed with
correct finishes and hardware, and it presents in truly impeccable
condition. Recently out of a large and eclectic collection, this
Corvair has seen limited use in recent years, but remains very
fresh and in excellent running order. We are very pleased to offer
such an outstanding example of one of the most advanced and
sophisticated American cars of the 1960s. Its combination of
beautiful styling, clever engineering and spirited performance give
it proper collector credibility. Rarely do we encounter Corvairs
restored to this level, and this car benefits from high
specification and fabulous original colors. As more and more
collectors take notice of the Corvair, this represents a very rare
opportunity to acquire one of the best available.