Vehicle Description
Riding high on a wave of success in the 1950s, General Motors found
itself at the top of its game in the early 1960s, leading the
industry in style and engineering excellence. The GM of those days
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 innovative design - the decade bringing us the
four-wheel independent-suspension Pontiac Tempest, Buick's compact
light-alloy 215 cubic inch V8, Oldsmobile's turbocharged F-85
Jetfire and the front-drive Tornado. Harley Earl's prot�g� Bill
Mitchell led the styling department to create such icons as the C2
Corvette and Buick Riviera. Much of that creative energy can be
credited to the Chevrolet division when they introduced their
radically different small car in 1959: The Corvair. Under the
leadership of Ed Cole, Chevrolet engineers designed a new compact
family car with a decidedly European influence. Called the Corvair
(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
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 fresh and unique family car. Despite its economy-car
underpinnings, sports car enthusiasts quickly adopted the Corvair
as a "poor man's Porsche" and GM was happy to accommodate their
desire for a sporty version. In 1962, Chevrolet added a
turbocharger to the Corvair's engine (becoming the second
production turbocharged car after the Olds Jetfire) upping the
output to a very respectable 150 horsepower. For the 1965 model
year, the Corvair got a fresh new look courtesy of Chuck Jordan,
assisted by Paul Gillen. Inspiration came from a sleek
Pininfarina-designed concept on the Corvair platform. The new
Coke-bottle shape had a more grown-up and sporting feel than the
earlier car, and the design has been much-admired by fellow
designers and influential journalists. The great David E. Davis
considered the 2nd generation Corvair to be the prettiest post-war
American car of all time, and plenty of loyal enthusiasts would
agree. Mechanically, the new Corvair received an improved chassis
and bumps in displacement and power. The turbocharged Corsa engine
now put out a very impressive 180 horsepower, putting it squarely
in Porsche 911 territory at a fraction of the cost. Despite being
plagued by bad publicity and urban legend, the Corvair stands as a
genuinely revolutionary American car, and serious collectors are
finally taking note of its importance as one of America's most
innovative and distinct automobiles. This 1966 Corvair Corsa
Convertible is a truly outstanding example of Chevy's
unconventional cult-classic. It is one of the finest restored and
meticulously documented Corvairs we have encountered, maintained in
excellent condition since its complete restoration in 2005. Up
until the end of the 1966 model year, GM built Canadian-market
Corvairs in Oshawa, Ontario until new trade regulations allowed
American-built cars to enter free of duty. In the final year of
Canadian production, 6,500 Corvairs left the Ontario factory. Of
those, just 211 were Corsa Convertibles, and 92 equipped with the
turbo. The CORSA club estimates that approximately ten running
examples are known to exist. This car, one of the rare
Ontario-built Turbo Corsa Convertibles, was discovered in the late
1990s by Mr. Kent Sullivan, an avid Corvair enthusiast from
Kirkland, Washington. A remarkably complete and original car when
found, it still required a full restoration. Mr. Sullivan
recognized this car as a rare and desirable Canadian-built Corsa
Turbo, and he set about performing a complete, nut-and-bolt,
rotisserie restoration to return it to factory-new standards. While
the restoration progressed, Mr. Sullivan set about documenting the
car's history. He obtained build records from General Motors
Canada, as well as ownership history back to the original purchaser
- Mr. Horst Kobs of Vancouver. The extensive history file includes
copies of original registration, selling dealer information, and
the names of every subsequent owner through Mr. Sullivan's time
with the car. Upon completion of the restoration in 2005, the car
debuted at a CORSA club concours event, scoring a remarkable 98.10
points. The accuracy of the restoration is reflected in specific
details such as the "Made in Canada" tags, and the body-color
engine bay - sprayed black on US market cars. No detail was
overlooked, including the Canadian-only battery polarity sticker,
suspension assembly paint marks, and correct finishes on every
component. Later, the Corvair featured in Hemmings Muscle Machines
(January 2009) as well as on the cover of the CORSA Communique.
Today, this marvelous Corvair remains in exceptional condition,
finished to a very high standard in factory-correct colors of
Marina Blue Metallic over Ivory trim and a white top, all per the
GM build records. Factory options include tinted glass, deluxe
seatbelts, simulated wire wheel covers, whitewall tires, pushbutton
AM radio, and of course the 180-hp engine and wide-ratio 4-speed
gearbox. The body and paintwork are finished to better-than-factory
levels, and the detailing reflects the car's multiple high-90 point
scores in Corvair concours. Correct white vinyl trim covers the
seats and door cards, with black floor liners and dash providing a
pleasing contrast. The white top is correct pinpoint vinyl, and a
matching top boot is included. This Corvair is one of the best
examples of its kind, with the added exclusivity of being built
north of the border. Accompanying the sale is a comprehensive
history file with restoration photos, extensive receipts, ownership
documents, magazine articles, and a hand-written note from Ralph
Nader... dryly suggesting he'd rather look at it than drive it!
Enthusiasts know better, and appreciate the Corvair Corsa not only
for its beautiful looks and practical nature but also for the
exciting driving experience on par with many European classics of
the same period. This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire one
of the best Corvair Corsa Turbos available.
