Vehicle Description
1964 Chevrolet Corvair Spyder Convertible
The Corvair was highly unusual for a domestic car, with its
air-cooled, rear-mounted engine featuring the compact horizontally
opposed piston layout of Porsche and VW Beetle engines. It also had
an all-independent suspension and unitized construction. Some
called the Corvair the "poor man's Porsche". A bit of trivia to
leave you with, the Corvair name is derived from a combination of
Corvette and Bel Air!
For consignment, this Corvair Monza Spyder convertible which
originally cost $2,636, with the additional $317 Spyder option
package. This Monza has the 150-horsepower "turbo" engine, chrome
dress-up under-hood items, shorter final drive for faster
acceleration, heavy duty suspension and a race-style multi-gauge
instrument panel with a tachometer and brushed-metal trim. The
four-speed manual and more-effective sintered-metallic brake
linings were "mandatory" options.
Exterior
During the 1991 restoration, a respray of the factory-applied
Palomar Red has covered this drop top and presents in good
condition. A few scratches and scuffs 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 good badging are all there, and correct, with gaps
that are straight and true. Badging is all correct, and except for
a few dings in the passenger's rocker trim all brightwork is
straight and true. The headlights and lower bumper are all good, as
is the Corvair badge in front. A black 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 chromed
exhaust tip. When the top is down a black tonneau covering
compliments the black interior. Bowtie badged faux spinners grace
the wire wheel coverings and 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 top of the line Corvair offered
up for the time. Door panels are solid black vinyl with various
panels in smooth and horizontal stitched ribbed centers, a black
armrest, and shiny actuator and window crank. Some horizontal
trimmings break up the different black vinyl panels, and a Corvair
badge is in the very center of this door. 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 an original padded dash, but mostly original condition. It
shows in a padded black dual eyebrow dash top with the brushed
stainless instrument panel with tachometer and round gauges for
this Monza Turbo edition. On the passenger side is a stainless
glove box door under the second black padded vinyl eyebrow. The
factory AM radio resides in the center of the dash and just below
is an aftermarket AM/FM/Cassette stereo. Deep pile lightly faded
black carpeting is underneath black carpeted mats in the front and
in the rear. What a fantastic interior!
Drivetrain
These pre-pony pocket performers may not pack the grunt of an LS6
big-block, but they do offer a tantalizing power-to-weight ratio
for a much more affordable entry fee. That being a 164ci
horizontally opposed turbocharged 6-cylinder engine, with a piston
stroke increased to 2.94 inches putting out 150hp. The Turbo
boosted HP from the standard 120 to 150! A 4-speed manual
transmission is attached to the engine. The differential was
integral, technically a transaxle, due to its rear engine rear
wheel drive configuration and was set at 3.55:1 for better
performance.
Undercarriage
Underneath we see some light surface rust and lots of patina black
surfaces with covering of mostly road dirt. 4-wheel drum brakes in
sintered metal, independent coil spring suspension on front, and
swing arm with coil springs for the rear suspension are noted.
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 for the stopping we noted a distinct pull to the
left. 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
1964 all over again.
Overall, a very good example of the Monza Spyder turbocharged
4-speed showing an older restoration holding up well. Garage kept
by our consignor, never in bad weather and let's face it...darn, it
sure looks good, and it is the Monza and the Spyder version, so we
have a sporty economical air-cooled turbo charged rear engine
convertible. Wake up! We are not in Europe!
VIN DECODE
40667W106969
4-1964
06-Corvair Spyder
67-Convertible
W-Willow Run, MI Assy Plant
106969-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
09B-2nd Week September Build
STYLE 64 0667-1964 Corvair Spyder Convertible
BODY WRN281-Willow Run Body #
TRIM 712 2-Black Imitation Leather Buckets, Black Top
PAINT 948 E-Palomar Red, Black Interior Paint
2L-4 Speed
3C-Padded Dash
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.