Vehicle Description
1963 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible
Until the 1950s, most American auto manufacturers made one size of
car: large. Imports from Europe such as Volkswagen, Renault, and
Fiat showed that there was a market in the U.S. for smaller cars,
mostly as a second car or an alternative for the budget-minded. Led
by General Manager Edward N. Cole, Chevrolet designed a
revolutionary new car. It was powered by an air-cooled horizontal
six-cylinder engine made almost entirely out of aluminum. The
engine was mounted in the rear of the car, driving the rear wheels
through a compact transaxle. Suspension was independent at all four
wheels. There was no conventional frame; it was the first unibody
built by Fisher Body and the styling was unconventional for
Detroit, subtle and elegant, with no tail fins or chrome grille
This Monza Corvair has a higher performance engine, which means it
is a mid-performance model. The overall car is showing in very good
condition, mechanically sound, and true to the 1963 model. A
repainted exterior in white from a few years ago is in good
condition with no rust or denting. This is a well optioned model,
and it's a convertible with a new top. I'm in rear engine heaven,
Peabody set the way back machine for 1963 'n let's go.
Exterior
A respray of Ermine White presents in good condition. Very few
dings are present throughout the all steel body, but mostly
unremarkable. The respray shows some inclusions of dirt, however
they are minimal. Chrome and brite-work, with original badging, are
all there and correct, with gaps that are straight and true and
there is no rust seen. The headlights and lower bumper are all
good, as is the Corvair badge in front. A white convertible top is
in very nice condition and has a clear plastic rear window. Tail
lighting utilizes chrome rings to highlight the red and white
rounded taillight and backup lighting. A clean rear bumper is below
and under this are 2 nicely preserved rear roll pan vents and a
single exhaust tip. When the top is down a black tonneau covering
is present but will need some heat and stretching to fit properly.
Standard Corvair wheel coverings are wrapped in thin white wall
tires.
Interior
A swing of the driver's door reveals a clean utilitarian no frills
interior even though we are in the middle trim line Corvair offered
up for the time. Door panels are solid black vinyl with various
panels in smooth and horizontal and vertical stitched ribbed
centers, a black armrest, and shiny actuator and window crank. Some
horizontal trimmings break up the different black vinyl panels, and
polished buttons adorn the stitch crossings. 2 large black vinyl
buckets in good condition stretch across the front, and a large
bench is shoehorned into the rear of the car. The buckets have some
tuck and roll inserts and smooth bolsters, as does the rear bench.
The floor shifter sits within ergonomic reach of the driver, and in
front is the full metal jacket dash in mostly original condition.
It shows in a black steel dual eyebrow dash top with the brushed
stainless instrument panel with a wide speedometer and ancillary
gauges for this Monza edition. On the passenger side is a stainless
glove box door under the second black steel eyebrow. Deep pile
nicely preserved black carpeting covers the floors and shows with
minor soiling and fading. What a great well-preserved interior.
Drivetrain
Mounted into the rear is the horizontally opposed 6-cylinder 145ci
engine. On top we cannot miss the twin air cleaner housings in all
their glory, and all this is attached to a 4-speed manual
transmission and is fed fuel by dual 1-barrel carburetors. The rear
axle weighs in at 3.27 ratio. All clean and nice in this engine
bay, as is the same for the texture sprayed front "trunk".
Undercarriage
As I expected from this car, just surface rust and patina is seen.
Definitely a ground effects type undercarriage, whether it's
intentional or not it still looks great...look ma no driveshaft!
Everything presents as showroom, right down to the 4-wheel
independent coil sprung suspension, and 4-wheel drum braking. A
single exhaust system is seen with a newer muffler.
Drive-Ability
I love these cars as they were totally out of the norm for the
early 60's. On our test track it ran like a champ, handled like it
was on rails, and had bias free panic stopping. The top went up and
down with plenty of power and did so very quickly. It was a great
experience and made me feel like it was 1963 all over again. Thx
Peabody!
If you are in the market for a car that was truly groundbreaking
for its time, then this beautiful bowtie version of the Corvair is
the car for you. It's a sleeper and it's a Monza convertible, and
it's a magnetic eye catcher in the wonderful condition it is in.
Hurry in down to our hallowed halls as this one is going to get
snapped up as there is an aficionado waiting in the wings.
VIN DECODE
30967W117491
3-1963
09-Corvair 900 Monza
67-Convertible
W-Willow Run, MI Assy Plant
117491-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
10A-1st Week October Build
STYLE 63 0967-1963 Corvair Monza Convertible
BODY WR2936-Willow Run Body #
TRIM 2 712- Black Top, Black Vinyl Buckets
PAINT 936 7-Ermine White
ACC F-Tinted Windshield
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.