Vehicle Description
When the Corvair arrived on the scene in 1960, it was heralded as a
revolution for American compact cars. The Corvair was General
Motors at their creative best, with engineers and designers
striving to create a mass-market economy car that was truly
special. The wholly unconventional Corvair featured a rear-mounted,
air-cooled, aluminum flat-six engine making a modest 80 horsepower
from 145 cubic inches. The crisp styling bore a strong family
resemblance to the rest of the 1961-2 Chevrolet line and included a
coupe, four-door hardtop sedan, convertible, and a station wagon.
While the Corvair was a modest economy car, plenty within GM
recognized its sporting potential and the not-so-coincidental
similarities to Porsche. Soon, the high-performance, 98
horsepowerMonzasupplemented the line, and in 1962 all came good for
the Corvair when the Monza gained a revolutionary turbocharged
engine to become the 150hp Monza Spyder. GM redesigned the Corvair
in 1965 with a new body, fully independent rear suspension, and a
larger 164 cubic-inchCorsaengine making 140hp with four Rochester
single-barrel carbs. With the bump in displacement, the turbo's
horsepower rating jumped to an impressive 180hp. Now fully
developed, the Corvair continued with minimal changes for the
remainder of the production, which quietly ended in 1969. This 1966
Corvair Corsa Convertible was recently owned by a dedicated Corvair
enthusiast who oversaw its high-quality, authentic restoration. As
offered here, it is finished in its original shade of Tropic
Turquoise (code L) over a bright white leatherette interior and
white vinyl top and is detailed with factory accessories including
spinner-center wire wheels covers and luggage rack. The paint is
excellent from stem to stern, and the chrome and stainless trim are
bright and consistent, with only light polishing marks evident. It
rolls on correct steel wheels shod with new, period-correct
narrow-whitewall bias-ply tires. The four-seat interior features
front bucket seats and is trimmed using authentic upholstery
materials. All the factory-correct instruments, including the
cylinder head temperature and vacuum/boost gauges, are bright and
crisp, and even the clock works. Optional extras include the
factory woodgrain sport steering wheel, AM-FM radio, and add-on
Kraco 8-track player. The white pinpoint vinyl top is
power-operated, and the black carpets, window sills, and padded
dash top add sporty contrast to the white upholstery. The 164
cubic-inch/180hp flat-six wears the correct "RL" suffix denoting it
as a factory turbo unit, and it pairs with the preferred 4-speed
transmission. It sits in a well-detailed and tidy compartment
detailed with factory labels and a proper chrome air cleaner. The
spare tire is also new, and the jack and tools are correctly stowed
beneath it. In 1966, Porsche's new 911 made 160 horsepower in
highly tuned 911S configuration, and despite its 2+2 configuration,
it wasn't exactly a family-friendly sports car. The Corvair was
less a "poor man's 911" and more of a "family man's 911," offering
remarkably similar performance with room for the whole family - at
a fraction of the German car's price and with turbocharged thrust
an entire decade before Porsche. Then as now, this Corvair Corsa
Convertible is a marvelous all-rounder and makes an intriguing
alternative to European sports cars. This superb example is
restored to standards rarely seen on a Corvair and is prime for
regular driving enjoyment. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6941-1966-chevrolet-corvair-corsa-convertible/
