Vehicle Description
The Corvair always marched to its own drummer, and today it's
probably the most underrated collector car of them all. With great
performance, stylish good looks, and impressive economy, it's a
great hobby car for our times. This 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza
convertible in brilliant red makes for a wonderful summertime
cruiser that is just unusual enough to generate a ton of
attention.
It really is hard to go wrong with a bright red ragtop, and the
humble Corvair delivers a funky 1960s look that always attracts
attention. You can see shades of the Bel Air in the rear 3/4 view,
there's a hint of the upcoming Camaro in the profile, and for an
inexpensive car, the stylists seem to have put in a few late nights
making it look right. The restoration continued that legacy, giving
it a better than average finish, and the bright red paint shines
better than anything they were spraying in the '60s. That crease
that wraps around the body runs in an unbroken line across every
panel on the car, and they all line up neatly, so a good amount of
time has been invested in the fit and finish. The Corvair, of
course, has no need for a grille, but the trim up front looks
great, the chin spoiler adds a sporty element and the rest of the
brightwork that is on the car has been neatly polished, including a
set of chrome bumpers and rear valance trim that sparkles
beautifully against the red finish.
Inside, the Corvair offers room for five thanks to a handsome
bucket seat interior. We wouldn't be surprised if the upholstery on
the seats is original, but it's in very good shape with only minor
signs of use, and the matching door panels and carpet present very
well too. Thanks to the rear engine, the floor is completely flat,
adding valuable legroom front and rear, and nobody will be
complaining about spending an afternoon in the back seat. Gauges
are sensible and basic, and although the lens is a big cloudy after
nearly 50 years, all of them are fully functional. The original AM
radio is remarkably still in the dash, and if you're wondering
where the shifter is, take a closer on the dash and you'll see that
this is a rather rare automatic model, which makes this Corvair a
blast to drive around town. With the engine in back, the front
trunk is spacious, wearing a fresh coat of gray spatter finish
paint and a reproduction rubber mat.
You're also in luck because in 1964, the Corvair got a larger
engine, thanks to a longer stroke. Now displacing 164 cubic inches,
it makes 95 horsepower, and in the lightweight convertible,
performance is lively. The rear axle was tamed thanks to a
transverse leaf spring like the Corvette's, and the heavy-duty
suspension was standard equipment. The flat-six engine is
distinctive in the rear engine bay, with its wide air cleaner and
elaborate fan belt routing. It's highly original under the hood,
but quite well maintained and very presentable well, so it starts
easily and drives well thanks to a pair of carburetors that look to
have been rebuilt not that long ago. Thanks to a stock exhaust
system, it has a traditional Corvair grumble, and the
period-correct steel wheels are adorned with wire hubcaps and
wrapped with 185/80/13 thin whitewall radials at all four
corners.
A fun little fair-weather cruiser that's great around town and
attracts attention like a much more expensive car. Call today!
