Vehicle Description
The Chevrolet Corvair Monza is a unique collectible amongst
American manufacturers. It was the only mass-produced US. car with
a rear-mounted-air cooled engine, and GM produced close to 1.8
million of these versatile cars. The Corvair line up spanned
two-door coupes and convertibles, four-door sedans, station wagons,
pickup trucks and even vans. One has to wonder if given more time,
the Corvair engineers would have found a way to make them float and
fly. This beautiful '64 Monza convertible is quite the looker and
an even better driver. Ralph Nader supporters need not apply.
Professionally applied by a previous owner, the rich Tuxedo Black
exterior paint continues to present a deep and lustrous finish. The
sheet metal runs straight and the panel gaps are to industry
standards, although it seems that this one is better assembled than
factory new. The amount of chrome GM attached to a Corvair was
tasteful by 1964 standards, and it is all in very good condition.
Trim pieces run the length of the car and chromed trim letters
announce "Corvair" on both the hood and the trunk. Then of course
there are the bumpers and a conservative grille, which was not
necessary for anything but fashion. All the trim has buffed up
nicely and shines well against the black background, and although
the paint is not without a few minor flaws, it still presents very
well. The manual black convertible top raises and lowers easily so
no worries about servicing expensive electric top motors, and once
it's up, the vinyl top adds plenty of cover when the weather turns
ugly. Vision is good through the plastic rear window and the
balance of the car's glass all-around is in likewise good
condition. For a budget classic-car, you're not going to get much
better styling and presentation than this.
The interior continues the designer's straightforward approach and
the Medium Red imitation leather works well up against the dark
exterior color treatment. The optional, low-back front bucket seats
are a welcome step up from the standard bench seat, and are still
wide enough to accommodate most any drivers with great comfort. The
matching red vinyl coverings on the seats and door panels are
potentially original, and are in good condition showing minimal
wear and no splits and tears or sun fading. Spin the Retrosound
AM/FM/iPod compatible radio on to listen to '60s-correct tunes and
if it turns chilly, there is an optional heater/defroster, which is
surprisingly effective. Interior space is excellent for a compact,
and thanks to the rear engine-format, there's no tunnel to divide
the interior up. Simple and practical, the guts of this Monza are a
very comfortable place to be cruising in.
This step-up Monza model is equipped with the more powerful 164ci,
2.7 Liter. The engine pumps out a rather peppy 95 horsepower, a 15
horsepower bump from the standard Corvair powerplant. The motor
turns over easily and moves our Chevrolet at a pleasant clip down
the highway, and still delivers bright performance and good fuel
economy thanks to a fairly beneficial power-to-weight ratio in this
light compact. The first-generation Corvairs were all equipped with
a swing axle rear suspension and coil springs at all 4 wheels, much
like a certain other rear-engined car we know. The chassis is clean
and solid, and it's important that the body tub be clean and free
of corrosion due to the Corvair's unibody construction. Completing
the look, this tidy little ragtop rolls down the road on 175/80/13
BFGoodrich whitewall radials mounted on the original steel wheels
with wire hubcaps.
Perfect for all you minimalist classic car enthusiasts out there,
this slick little Corvair Monza is ready to enjoy today. Call
now!