Corvair convertible

The Chevrolet Corvair was an automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors from 1960 to 1969. The Corvair was offered in a wide range of body styles, including four-door sedans and hardtops, two-door sedans and hardtops, convertible, and station wagon. In addition, it was built as a compact van similar to the Volkswagen bus, with styles including a pickup, panel van, and a passenger van called the Greenbrier. The cargo floor was raised above the rear engine, and the pickup featured an unusual side-loading ramp. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1022x462, 108 KB) Chevrolet Corvairs Source: Photographed at the Bay State Antique Automobile Clubs July 10, 2005 show at the Endicott Estate in Dedham, MA by User:Sfoskett File links The following pages link to this file: Chevrolet Corvair ... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... General Motors Corporation, also known as GM, an American multinational corporation, is the worlds largest auto company by production volume for the first 9 months of 2007, and by sales volume for 76 consecutive years. ... The then-innovative Chevrolet Vega was a subcompact car sold from 1971 through 1977. ... Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. ... The Rambler American introduced in the late 1950s was an early compact car. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American 1981 AMC Eagle 4-WD convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible security A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... The Peugeot 406 Coupé, designed by Pininfarina 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC coupé, noted for its large, angular design 1997 Rover Vitesse Coupe, club coupé Rover P5 Coupe, a traditional four-door coupé Mercedes CLS, a modern four-door coupé Gala-Coupé of Leopold II, Brussels 1970s Sunbeam Alpine fastback coup... A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. ... The best selling North American pickup truck, the Ford F-Series. ... This article is about the road vehicle. ... This article is about the road vehicle. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into List of GM platforms. ... 1940 Buick Coupé Straight 8 Special 4. ... The Oldsmobile Cutlass was an automobile made by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. ... The Pontiac Tempest was an entry-level compact automobile produced by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors, introduced in September 1960 for the 1961 model year. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1080x491, 78 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chevrolet Corvair Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1080x491, 78 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chevrolet Corvair Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... “Car” and “Cars” redirect here. ... Chevrolet (IPA: - French origin) (colloquially Chevy) is a brand of automobile, produced by General Motors (GM). ... General Motors Corporation, also known as GM, an American multinational corporation, is the worlds largest auto company by production volume for the first 9 months of 2007, and by sales volume for 76 consecutive years. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American 1981 AMC Eagle 4-WD convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible security A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... Dodge A100 A compact van is a type of van popular in the United States during the early 1960s. ... Volkswagen Bus may be a reference to: T1 Volkswagen Type 2, generation T1 T2 Volkswagen Type 2, generation T2 T3/Vanagon/T25 Volkswagen Type 2, generation T3/Vanagon/T25 T4 Volkswagen Eurovan, generation T4 T5 Volkswagen Eurovan, generation T5 This is a disambiguation page—a list of articles associated with... The best selling North American pickup truck, the Ford F-Series. ... An Australian Ford panel van, based on a 1990 Ford Falcon. ...

The Corvair — like the Ford Falcon, Studebaker Lark, Nash Rambler, and the Plymouth Valiant— was one of the first of a new compact class. These were offered in response to the small, sporty and fuel-efficient automobiles being imported from Europe by Volkswagen, Renault and others. This article is about the North American version of the Falcon. ... 1960 Studebaker Lark convertible was advertised extensivly; the airborne womens handkerchiefs mimicked the cars stylized lark in flight insignia. ... The Nash Rambler was an American automobile produced by the Nash Motors division of Nash Kelvinator Corporation between 1950 and 1957. ... The Plymouth Valiant was an automobile manufactured by the Plymouth division of Chrysler Corporation in the United States from 1960 to 1976. ... VW redirects here. ... For the author, see Mary Renault. ...

But the Corvair stood out with its significantly different engineering approach from other American offerings. The Corvair was part of GM's innovative A-body ("Z"-Body from 1965-on) line of cars, but this was by far the most unusual, due to the location and design of its engine. It was an air-cooled flat / opposed rear-engined vehicle inspired by the Volkswagen Beetle and the Porsche 356. The 1948 Tucker Torpedo had also used this layout to mixed reviews. Most other compacts such as the Chevy II / Nova and subcompact Vega were smaller versions of conventional automobiles with in-line water-cooled front-mounted iron 4 or 6 cylinder engines. But the Corvair's powerplant was an aluminum, air-cooled 140 in³ (2.3 L) flat-6 engine. The first Chevrolet Corvair engine produced as little as 80 hp (60 kW). Later versions developed as much as 180 hp (134 kW), comparable to V6 engines of the 1980s. The General Motors A platform (commonly called A-body) was a mid-size car automobile platform. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the original Volkswagen Beetle. ... The Porsche 356 was a sports car produced from 1948 through 1965. ... 1948 Tucker Torpedo cars on display at the Gilmore Car Museum A Tucker Torpedo at the Blackhawk Auto Museum Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tucker vehicles See also Preston Tucker The Tucker Torpedo was an advanced automobile conceived by Preston Tucker and briefly produced in Chicago, Illinois in 1948. ... Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silvery appearance, due to a thin layer of oxidation that forms quickly when it is exposed to air. ... Engine cooling is the process of cooling an engine by using either air or liquid. ... The flat-6 engine of the Honda Valkyrie motorcycle A flat-6 is a 6 cylinder configuration of a flat engine or boxer engine. ... For other uses, see Engine (disambiguation). ... The Corvairs innovative flat-6 engine The Chevrolet Corvair engine was a flat-6 piston engine used exclusively in the 1960s Chevrolet Corvair automobile. ...

The Corvair was initially marketed as a sporty sedan before the Mustang became popular in the compact segment. Its final design evoked the later Camaro, and is considered by many to still look contemporary in the 21st century.

History

Corvair convertible

The Corvair's innovative flat-6 engine left room for the spare tire, creating even more room in the forward trunk.

The Corvair name originated as a fastback show car in 1954, which, like many Chevrolet concept cars of the period, including the Chevrolet Nomad and Chevrolet Impala, was based on the Corvette. The design was Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1080x595, 103 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chevrolet Corvair Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1080x595, 103 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chevrolet Corvair Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 141 KB) This isnt the turbo, this is the low end 2 carb engine. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 141 KB) This isnt the turbo, this is the low end 2 carb engine. ... The flat-6 engine of the Honda Valkyrie motorcycle A flat-6 is a 6 cylinder configuration of a flat engine or boxer engine. ... The Corvairs innovative flat-6 engine The Chevrolet Corvair engine was a flat-6 piston engine used exclusively in the 1960s Chevrolet Corvair automobile. ... This 1968 Ford Mustang has a fastback body style. ... A show car, sometimes called a dream car, is a custom-made automobile created specifically for public display, rather than sale. ... 1955 Chevrolet advertising art designed to promote its station wagon vehicle. ... 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible The Chevrolet Impala is an automobile built for the Chevrolet division by General Motors. ... The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. ...

championed by Ed Cole, Chevrolet's chief engineer in the early 1950s and general manager in the late 1950s, as an answer to the growing popularity of small, lightweight imported cars. Edward Nicholas Cole Born September 17, 1909 in Marne, Michigan. ...

Design began in 1956 under the auspices of Ed Cole, and the first vehicles rolled off the assembly line in late 1959 as part of the 1960 model year (in which it was named Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year). For 24 hours, two Corvairs were tested at the Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. One car rolled over, but the other completed the drive, only losing a quart (0.946 L) of oil (Source: Riverside Raceway Palace of Speed by Dick Wallen). Edward Nicholas Cole Born September 17, 1909 in Marne, Michigan. ... Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ... Car of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best automobile. ... Riverside International Raceway (Sometimes known as RIR or Riverside Raceway) was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. ... Nickname: Location in the state of California Coordinates: , Country State County Riverside Government  - Mayor Ron Loveridge Area  - City  78. ...

The Corvair enjoyed a ten model year run, and was finally discontinued in May 1969 due to plummeting sales. A variety of factors contributed to the model's 96% drop in sales from 1965 to the last 1969 models. The Corvair faced increasing competition from the Ford Mustang and other 'pony cars' - ironically, a market pioneered by the 1960 Corvair Monza. Safety issues were raised, especially by Ralph Nader's 1965 book Unsafe at Any Speed. The car's design was costly to produce and did not command a premium price on the showroom floor. Engineers experienced difficulties adapting the basic engine design to the tighter emissions standards proposed for 1972. Lastly, a general lack of interest at General Motors, including an almost complete lack of advertising from 1967 onwards (the company's "by-request-only" 1969 Corvair brochure was a mere 4 pages long, and the 500 Sport Coupe wasn't even illustrated) contributed to the model's demise. Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an American attorney and political activist in the areas of consumer rights, humanitarianism, environmentalism and democratic government. ... Exhibit featuring the book at Henry Ford Museum, Detroit Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile by Ralph Nader, published in 1965, is a book detailing his claims of resistance by car manufacturers to the introduction of safety features, like seat belts, and their general...

The Corvair was a successful model for Chevrolet, with annual unit sales exceeding 200,000 for many years. Chevrolet deliberately designed the Corvair as a radical departure from the conventional Chevrolet. The rear engine offered enormous packaging and economy advantages, providing the car with a lower silhouette, flattening passenger compartment floor, obviating the need for power assists, reducing the need for air conditioning (due to the absence of engine heat blowing over the passenger compartment), and offering dramatic improvements in ride comfort, traction and braking balance. The radically different design also attracted customers from other makes, primarily imports. This was an important, and often under-emphasized, driver for the Corvair's success.

Unlike the Falcon and Valiant nameplates, whose conventional designs tended to poach customers from the cheaper but profit-driving full-size models from their respective manufacturers, the Corvair siphoned customers from makes such as Volvo or VW. Because such customers had not been likely to contemplate a larger Chevrolet Biscayne (which cost only slightly more), each Corvair sold did not translate into a Biscayne that was lost. This was in direct contrast to the situation at Ford, where the Falcon nearly ate its maker alive by stealing sales from the basic large Ford sedan. Corvair sales were almost entirely "extra business" for Chevrolet.

The early 1960 models were conceived as economy cars, and had boxy styling, were all four-door sedans in basic trim, and few amenities to keep prices down, despite the relatively expensive and unique power train. A novel feature available for certain higher-level two-door models was a fold-down rear seat. Passenger compartment heat was supplied by an optional gasoline heater mounted next to the spare tire in the luggage compartment. The line quickly grew from plain, four-door sedans with bench seats (the base 500 and slightly more upscale 700) to the Monza 900, a two-door coupé with bucket seats and plush trim, introduced late in the model year. An available option was a more powerful engine, rated at 95 horsepower thanks to a more radical camshaft and low-restriction exhaust. Despite its late introduction, the Monza sold 12,000 copies, making it one of the most popular Corvairs. A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... The Peugeot 406 Coupé, designed by Pininfarina 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC coupé, noted for its large, angular design 1997 Rover Vitesse Coupe, club coupé Rover P5 Coupe, a traditional four-door coupé Mercedes CLS, a modern four-door coupé Gala-Coupé of Leopold II, Brussels 1970s Sunbeam Alpine fastback coup... This article is about a unit of measurement. ... For the fictional characters of the same name, see Camshaft (Transformers). ...

1961

1962 Lakewood station wagon

1961 Corvair Van

1961 Chevrolet added an optional four-speed manual transmission (late in 1960, few produced prior to 1961 introduction) to augment the standard three-speed manual and optional two-speed Powerglide automatic. The Corvair engine received its first size increase to 145 in³ courtesy of a slight increase in bore size. The base engine was still rated at 80 hp (60 kW) when paired with the manual transmissions and 84 hp (63 kW) when mated to the optional automatic transmission in Monza models. The high-performance engine was rated at 98 hp (73 kW). To increase luggage capacity in the front the spare tire was relocated to the engine compartment in cars not ordered with All Weather air conditioning and the gasoline heater was replaced by a system of ducts that redirected warmed air from the cylinder heads to the passenger compartment. The gasoline heater remained available as an option through 1964. Image File history File linksMetadata 1962_Chevrolet_Corvair_Lakewood_station_wagon. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 1962_Chevrolet_Corvair_Lakewood_station_wagon. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Corvairvan. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Corvairvan. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... -1... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission (commonly abbreviated as AT) is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad...

Corvair was the first of the compacts to offer factory air conditioning, as a mid 1961 option introduction. The large condenser lay flat atop the horizontal engine fan. A large, green painted reverse rotation version of the standard GM Frigidaire air conditioning compressor was used, and an evaporator housing was added under the dash with integrated outlets surrounding the radio housing. All Weather Air Conditioning was not available on wagons, Greenbrier/Corvair 95, or the turbocharged models introduced later due to space conflicts in those body styles.

A station wagon, the Lakewood, was also added to the lineup in 1961. This was similar in layout to the Volkswagen Squareback also introduced that year which placed a flat engine under the cargo floor. It contained a total of 68 ft³ (1.9 m³) of cargo room — 58 in the main passenger compartment, and another 10 in the "trunk" under the hood. Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with VW Type 4. ...

That same year, Chevrolet also introduced the Corvair 95 line of light-duty truck, which used the Corvair driveline and were forward-control, with the driver sitting over the front wheels, as in the Volkswagen Type 2. The Corvan model was available in a myriad of configurations as both a panel van and a window van. There were also two models of pickup available. The Loadside was a fairly typical pickup of the era, except for the rear engine, forward controls, and a strange pit in the middle of the bed, The more popular pickup was the Rampside model, which, as its name implies, had a large fold-down ramp on the side of the pickup bed. Rampsides were used by the Bell System because of the ease with which cable reels could be rolled in and out of the bed. Fleet sales of Corvair commercial vehicles were poor due to an approximately $100 premium over competitive Ford products: If you bought 25 trucks, you essentially got one extra Ford for free. This disadvantage would seriously affect Corvair 95 sales, and ultimately cause the line to be discontinued in favor of a basic Chevy II-based panel truck in 1964. For other uses, see Truck (disambiguation). ... The Volkswagen Type 2 (aka Transporter) was the second automotive line introduced by German automaker Volkswagen. ... For other uses, see Myriad (disambiguation). ... An Australian Ford panel van, based on a 1990 Ford Falcon. ... The best selling North American pickup truck, the Ford F-Series. ... The Bell System was a trademark and service mark used by the United States telecommunications company American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T) and its affiliated companies to co-brand their extensive circuit-switched telephone network and their affiliations with each other. ...

The Greenbrier Sportswagon used the same body as the Corvan with window option, but was marketed as a station wagon like the Lakewood, and was available with trim and paint options similar to the cars, arguably making it the first American minivan. Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... It has been suggested that Mini MPV be merged into this article or section. ...

Continuing from the end of the previous year was the Monza, heavily promoted and sometimes considered "the poor man's Porsche." The Monza was expanded to a four-door as well as a two-door coupe and garnered around 144,000 sales. This article is about the auto company. ...

1962 – 1963

The Corvair's innovative turbocharged engine

In 1962, Chevrolet introduced the 150 hp (112 kW) turbocharged Monza Spyder option for Monza coupes and convertibles mid year, making the Corvair one of the first two production automobiles to come with a turbocharger as a factory option, with the Oldsmobile F-85 Turbo Jetfire of the same year. The 500 station wagon was dropped in favor of the Monza wagon at introduction, however all station wagons were discontinued mid year to create more capacity for new models like the convertible and Chevy II. Metallic brake linings and a heavy duty suspension consisting of a front anti roll bar, rear axle limit straps, revised spring rates and recalibrated shock absorbers were introduced as optional equipment and recommended for Spyders. Monza Spyder featured a multi-gauge instrument cluster which included a tachometer, cylinder head temperature gauge and intake manifold pressure gauge in addition to the turbocharged high performance engine. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 1243 KB) [edit] Summary [edit] Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Turbocharger Chevrolet Corvair Chevrolet Corvair engine Portal:Cars Portal:Cars/Did you know Metadata... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 1243 KB) [edit] Summary [edit] Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Turbocharger Chevrolet Corvair Chevrolet Corvair engine Portal:Cars Portal:Cars/Did you know Metadata... Turbocharger Cut-away A turbocharger is a device used in internal-combustion engines to increase the power output of the engine by increasing the mass of oxygen and fuel entering the engine. ... Air foil bearing-supported turbocharger cutaway made by Mohawk Innovative Technology Inc. ... The Oldsmobile Cutlass is a type of automobile made by General Motors. ... Tachometer showing engine RPM (revolutions per minute), and a redline from 6000 and 7000 RPM. A tachometer is an instrument that measures the speed of rotation of a shaft or disk, as in a motor or other machine. ...

The 1963 model year saw the end of the Loadside pickup, and the availability of a long 3.08 gear for improved fuel economy, but the Corvair otherwise remained largely carryover with minor trim and engineering changes (self adjusting brakes) from 1962. The best selling North American pickup truck, the Ford F-Series. ...

1964

Significant engineering and safety changes occurred in 1964, while the bodies and models available remained the same.

The lineup remained relatively unchanged for the 1964 model year, with the exception of the engine growing from 145 to 164 in³ (2.3 to 2.7 L) due to an increase in stroke; the base power growing from 80 to 95 hp (60 to 70 kW), and the high performance engine growing from 95 to 110 hp (70 to 80 kW). The Spyder engine remained rated at 150 hp (112 kW) despite the displacement increase of the engine. The Rampside pickup was discontinued at the end of the model year. The best selling North American pickup truck, the Ford F-Series. ...

1964 also saw a critical improvement in the Corvair's suspension; the car's swing axle rear suspension was tamed by use of an additional transverse leaf spring carrying a high proportion of the rear weight in an effort to diminish rear roll stiffness and foster more neutral handling attributes. Spring rates were much softer at both ends of the car in 1964 compared to previous models, and the heavy duty suspension was no longer optional although all models now had an (even larger) front anti roll bar standard. Brakes were mildly improved by finned rear drums.

However, a young lawyer named Ralph Nader had written a book called Unsafe at Any Speed in which the 1960-63 Corvair (accused by Nader of a greater tendency to cause loss of driver control, spin out or even roll over in many situations) was used as a dramatic case study. The Nader book, which was published in 1965, came as a blow to sales of the Corvair line. The sporty, inexpensive Ford Mustang, based on the conventionally designed Ford Falcon and introduced in April 1964 in response to the market pioneered by the Corvair Monza, also hurt Corvair sales. Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an American attorney and political activist in the areas of consumer rights, humanitarianism, environmentalism and democratic government. ... Exhibit featuring the book at Henry Ford Museum, Detroit Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile by Ralph Nader, published in 1965, is a book detailing his claims of resistance by car manufacturers to the introduction of safety features, like seat belts, and their general... For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ...

1965

1966 Chevrolet Corvair

Cover of IND 1965 Cars publication, featuring Corvair

A dramatic redesign of the Corvair body and suspension and two powerful new engines came in 1965. The new body style showed influence from Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and the 1963 Buick Riviera, with 'coke bottle styling' that set the trend for GM cars for the next fifteen years- foreshadowing the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro that eventually replaced the Corvair. Many consider the second generation to still look contemporary in contrast to the first generation body. A new fully independent suspension similar to that used on the Corvette replaced the original swing axle rear suspension. Car and Driver magazine's David E. Davis Jr. showed wild enthusiasm for the 1965 Corvair in their October 1964 issue. For the first time, none of the passenger cars had a "B" pillar, making all closed models true hardtops. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 400 KB) Summary Picture I took of a1965 Chevrolet Corvair. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 400 KB) Summary Picture I took of a1965 Chevrolet Corvair. ... Cover of IND 1965 Cars publication, featuring Corvair. ... Cover of IND 1965 Cars publication, featuring Corvair. ... The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. ... The wave shape (known as the dynamic ribbon device) present on all Coca-Cola cans throughout the world derives from the contour of the original Coca-Cola bottles. ... The Chevrolet Camaro is a pony car made in North America by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors. ... Independent suspension is broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically (i. ... A swing axle is a simple type of independent suspension first used in early 20C. aircraft, Sopwith, Fokker et al, 1910 or earlier usually with rubber bungee and no damping. ...

"And it is here too, that we have to go on record and say that the Corvair is - in our opinion - the most important new car of the entire crop of '65 models, and the most beautiful car to appear in this country since before World War II."

"When the pictures of the '65 Corvair arrived in our offices, the man who opened the envelope actually let out a great shout of delight and amazement on first seeing the car, and in thirty seconds the whole staff was charging around, each wanting to be the first to show somebody else, each wanting the vicarious kick of hearing that characteristic war-whoop from the first-time viewer."

"Our ardor had cooled a little by the time we got to drive the cars - then we went nuts all over again. The new rear suspension, the new softer spring rates in front, the bigger brakes, the addition of some more power, all these factors had us driving around like idiots - zooming around the handling loop dragging with each other, standing on the brakes - until we had to reluctantly turn the car over to some other impatient journalist. We were actually annoyed about having to drive the new Sting Ray and the new Impala SS with a great, storming 409 to propel it"

"The '65 Corvair is an outstanding car. It doesn't go fast enough, but we love it."

Many new options and refinements appeared in the beautiful (according to critics such as Car and Driver) new 1965 redesign. Fully integrated in-dash All Weather Air Conditioning, a much better heater system, larger brakes borrowed from the Chevelle, a stronger differential ring gear, a Delcotron alternator and significant carburetor and small chassis refinements all occurred. AM/FM radio, FM stereo, telescopically adjustable steering column, and a Special Purpose Chassis Equipment ("Z17") handling package, consisting of a special performance suspension and quick ratio steering box, were significant new options that became available for 1965.

The previous 150 hp (112 kW) Monza Spyder was replaced by the normally-aspirated 140 hp (104 kW) Corsa and the 180 hp (134 kW) Turbocharged engine. The Corsa came standard with an instrument panel featuring a 140 mph speedometer with resettable trip odometer, a 6,000 rpm tachometer, cylinder head temperature gauge, analog clock with a sweeping second hand, a manifold vacuum/pressure gauge and fuel gauge. Also standard was a short throw shifter for the manual transmission (no automatic was offered). The standard equipment Corsa 140 hp (104 kW) engine was notable for the fact that the engine used 4 single-throat carburetors, larger valves, and dual exhaust — the factory's response to a modification hot-rodders had been making since the car first appeared; it was available as an option on other Corvair trim levels. The base 95 hp (71 kW) and 110 hp (82 kW) high performance engines were carried forward from 1964 for the 500 and Monza models. The carburetor (or carburettor, carb for short) is a device which mixes air and fuel for an internal_combustion engine. ...

By this point, the more utilitarian station wagon, panel van, and pickup body styles had all been dropped in favor of the sportier coupe, hardtop sedan and convertible styles. 1965 would be the last year for the Greenbrier window van, which was retained only because of a few fleet orders, with 1528 being built. Chevrolet replaced the Corvair-based vans with the Chevrolet Sportvan/GMC Handi-Van, which used a traditional front engine/rear drive axle borrowed from the Chevy II. Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... The best selling North American pickup truck, the Ford F-Series. ... General Motors has made many vans for North America, encompassing several platforms and nameplates. ... Modified 1965 Chevrolet Nova The Chevrolet Nova or Chevy II was an American compact car introduced by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors in 1962. ...

1966 – 1969

The 1966 lineup remained essentially unchanged from 1965, and sales began to decline as a result of Nader's book, the very popular new Mustang that offered V8s up to 271 hp compared to Corvair's 180 hp top powertrain, and rumors of the upcoming "Panther'- the code name for the forthcoming 1967 Camaro slated as the replacement for the Corvair in the sporty car market. The sales decline was also accelerated by a decision at GM to discontinue further development of the Corvair. One change of note was a more robust 4 speed synchromesh transmission for 1966, using the standard Saginaw gear set with 3.11:1 first gear ratio used by other GM 6 cylinder vehicles. The new 3 and 4 speed transmission was capable of handling more stress, though generally much more truck-like in operation than the prior 4 speed transmission which was modeled more along the lines of a Warner, but also a Saginaw product. It was a great improvement over the older 3 speed transmission, having a synchronized first gear. Also, the gear ratios were carried over from other GM cars, and were not optimal for a street-driven Corvair. The Powerglide two-speed automatic returned as an option on Monza and Corvair 500 models for those who didn't like to shift. A small flexible plastic air dam ("spoiler") was installed below the front apron to conceal the front suspension and underbody, and lessen crosswind sensitivity to virtually nil. It is a popular retrofit to the 1965 models both for functional and aesthetic reasons. Corvair fans can easily tell the difference between the 1965 and '66 models by the taillights; the '66-'69 lenses protrude further from the bezels, and the backup light is less obvious, located inside the inboard lens. In front, the Chevy emblem is painted red on the '65s; '66-'69s are blue. Saginaw is the name of several places in the United States of America: Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw, Texas This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

1967 Corvair Monza

In 1967 the Camaro was introduced and the Corvair line was trimmed to the base 500 sedan and coupe, and the Monza sedan, coupe and convertible. The 140 hp (104 kW) and 180 hp (134 kW) engine options were deleted as well, although the 140 hp option would be later reintroduced as a regular production option and would remain available until Corvair production ended. This model year was the first equipped (along with all other domestic GM lines) with true collapsible steering columns, a final response to one of the most valid safety criticisms. GM introduced a 50,000 mile engine warranty on all 1967 models, including the Corvair. Dual circuit master cylinder with warning light, nylon reinforced brake hoses, stronger steel (instead of aluminum) door hinges and soft contoured instrument panel knobs and a vinyl edged day/night mirror were all made standard equipment as well. Image File history File links 1967_Corvair_Monza_Cvt. ... Image File history File links 1967_Corvair_Monza_Cvt. ...

In 1968 the line was trimmed even further by discontinuing the four door hardtop models, leaving just three models; 500 Sport Coupe, and Monza Sport Coupe and Convertible. Sales were down to 15,400. All Weather air conditioning was dropped as an option, due to concerns about thermal loading added by the now-standard air injection reactor ("smog pump") which probably hurt sales as factory air became more popular generally in automobiles. Additional safety features, including side marker lights, and shoulder belts for closed models, were fitted per the Federal government's requirements.

Corvair production finally ceased in 1969 with sales of only 6,000 cars, less than one to each Chevrolet dealership, a victim of Nader's book, Ford's Mustang, and Chevrolet's own Camaro and Nova. Although negative publicity hurt the Corvair, ongoing litigation is believed to have extended the production life of the vehicle, as ending production would have been construed as an admission by General Motors that the product was flawed.

According to researchers such as noted GM historian Dave Newell, GM had already planned on ceasing Corvair production after the 1966 model year to make way for the Camaro. But the timing of Nader's book turned out to be an inconvenience. Not wanting to appear as though they were buckling to Nader's pressure, GM kept the Corvair in production for another three years. The only developmental changes made were to keep in line with government safety and emissions requirements. Another indication of the Corvair's imminent demise was when the 1969 models were introduced: GM equipped its 1969 models one year ahead of Government requirements, with a steering column-mounted, anti-theft ignition switch, and a new, square-shaped ignition key. Nineteen sixty-nine Corvairs got the new key but were the only GM cars to retain the ignition switch on the dashboard, no doubt due to the lack of interest by GM engineering to adapt the Corvair steering column accordingly. How those last 1969 Corvairs were assembled (and the press event held by Chevrolet when car number 6000 rolled off the assembly line) is an interesting part of the Corvair story.

1969 Corvairs and Novas were being assembled at the same facility in the Chevrolet/Fisher plant complex in Willow Run, Michigan. However, demand for Novas was high and almost nonexistent for Corvairs, so a decision was made in November, 1968, to move Corvair assembly to a special area in the plant, dubbed the "Corvair Room," making Corvairs built between that time and May 14, 1969 essentially hand-built (once the bodies were delivered from Fisher Body). A number of well-known Chevy collectors and GM executives expressed interest in purchasing the last Corvair, number 6000, but GM management decided that the Olympic Gold Monza hardtop would not be sold. Most accounts relate that GM scrapped it shortly after it was built. Representatives from the press, along with corporate bigwigs, were present at the small ceremony when car number 6000 got its final fittings and drove off the line to where railroad cars full of new '69 Novas were ready to be shipped to dealers. Reaction to the death of this sporty car was mixed, and extended to both ends of the spectrum, from sadness and regret that such a fine car couldn't make it in the marketplace, to sharp criticism of Chevrolet's decision to continue building the car at all. It should be noted that GM's policy has always been to forbid non-employees from visiting their assembly plants, and certainly, photographing the area. It was the Corvair that again, proved to be the exception.

General Motors did have plans for a 1970-on model Corvair, essentially a re-skin of the 1965-69 body with new exterior sheetmetal. The car likely would have debuted as a "1970 1/2" model, much as Corvette and Camaro did for 1970. The overall appearance of this third generation Corvair was very similar to the 1973 GM A Body intermediates-- particularly the 1973 Pontiac Grand Am. It retained Corvair proportions, with a rounded sweeping body, terminating in a tapered tail with a glassy roof, featuring fixed quarter windows. This program progressed past the point of full scale clay models before being dropped in early 1968. One interesting project at GM was the Turbo Hydramatic 350 transmission, introduced in the 1968 Camaro and later adopted by most Chevrolet models. It was laid out in a manner that would permit its use in the Corvair, unlike the Turbo Hydramatic 400 and most other designs. Had the 1970-on Corvair been built, it is clear this transmission would have been adapted for the Corvair. The last word on the 1970+ "third generation" Corvair was, "Mr. Cole (GM President Ed Cole, ex-Chevrolet General Manager during Corvair development) is not enthused about this program..."^{[citation needed]}

In what may be the automotive industry’s greatest irony, NHTSA, the federal agency created from Nader’s “consumer advocacy,” investigated the Corvair and issued a report in 1971 clearing the car’s design, two years after the car went out of production. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, often pronounced nit-suh) is a U.S. Government agency, part of the Department of Transportation, responsible for setting safety standards and verifying compliance by automobile manufacturers. ...

Part of Nader’s evidence against the Corvair was a promotional film created by Ford Motor Company, in which a Ford test driver purposely turned the Corvair in a way to make it spin around. Such films were not uncommon. GM also had films showing the Ford Econoline pickups standing on their noses under heavy braking.

Engineering

The Chevrolet Corvair engine, unique for a United States car, presented a different set of requirements for mechanics, many of whom treated the engine in the same way as they would an engine of normal design, leading to problems. Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... The Corvairs innovative flat-6 engine The Chevrolet Corvair engine was a flat-6 piston engine used exclusively in the 1960s Chevrolet Corvair automobile. ...

An engineering weakness not generally highlighted related to fumes and gases entering the passenger area via the heater system, a problem endemic to an air-cooled engine that uses heat radiated from the engine directly to heat air for the passenger compartment. Carbon monoxide and other noxious or deadly gases could enter the passenger areas if exhaust system gaskets aged or failed using this system, since the gaskets were inside the heater box air intakes and air for engine cooling was used for passenger–compartment heating when the heater was on (or leaking). The 1960 model Corvairs used a GM Harrison division gasoline heater located in the front trunk area as its standard heater, similar to the Eberspächer heater offered as an auxiliary heater by Volkswagen as a dealer-installed option. This feature became optional in 1961 and was dropped in 1965 due to weak consumer demand. R-phrases , , , , S-phrases , , , , Flash point Flammable gas Related Compounds Related oxides carbon dioxide; carbon suboxide; dicarbon monoxide; carbon trioxide Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ...

Chronic oil leakage from the pushrod tubes, caused by GM's poor choice of pushrod tube seal material, also contaminated the passenger heating air. That air might also become noxious if a 6-inch (152 mm) wide rubber seal almost 16 feet (5 m) long, located between the engine assembly and the body, was not maintained in like-new condition. Another common problem in the earlier years was oil leakage caused by dissimilar metal thermal expansion on the aluminum–and–steel engine. Chevrolet wrestled with several problems of this nature the entire time the Corvair was in production with varying degrees of success. Sandwiching cast iron cylinders between an aluminium case and alloy heads is highly magnified by putting another cylinder on each bank.

The interior air would also be contaminated if the voltage regulator allowed an over-voltage condition and the original battery vent hoses were not attached. The battery, which was mounted in the engine compartment, could emit hydrogen if overcharged. Chevrolet installed special battery caps and hoses that vented the battery to air outside the engine compartment, but these were often discarded by owners during the car's life. This article is about the chemistry of hydrogen. ...

The Volkswagen Beetle (Type I), another automobile with an air cooled engine, had a heater system which better isolated fresh air from engine cooling air fumes, and was only susceptible to carbon monoxide contamination from the two heat exchanger to muffler seals at the rear of the engine, as opposed to the eight exhaust joints in the Corvair system. This air contamination problem is illustrated by the fact that many American cities' taxi regulations had prohibited air-cooled engine cars from being used as taxicabs when they derived their heated air from engine exhaust heat, decades before the Corvair and VW Beetle entered the market. This article is about the original Volkswagen Beetle. ...

Another problem that the Corvair did not share with Type I Beetles was the fan on top of the engine. The fan and generator were operated by a belt on the rear of the crankshaft. It had to turn around two ninety degree pulleys (each twisting it sideways) to get to the fan pulley, and was described, at the time, as the worlds longest belt.

A criticism in Lawyer Ralph Nader's 1965 book concerned the steering column design. Like most cars of its era, the Corvair's steering column was rigid and could impale the driver in a front-end collision. While the Corvair's steering box was mounted ahead of the front cross-member, it was well behind the frame horns, in what would later be called a "crumple zone," and could, in a severe front-end collision, push the steering column and steering wheel toward the driver. In practice, most driver chest injuries were sustained due to the lack of a shoulder belt, rather than steering column intrusion. Any increase in risk of injury due to steering column intrusion in a front-end collision was, however, more than offset by the absence of an incompressible engine and transmission in the front of the vehicle, which commonly intruded into passenger compartments on vehicles of the era. Chevrolet, aware of Nader's criticism, changed the steering shaft to a two-part design with a frangible joint late in the 1965 model year, and a collapsible steering column was provided in 1967, towards the end of the model's life span. Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an American attorney and political activist in the areas of consumer rights, humanitarianism, environmentalism and democratic government. ... The Steering column is the column that steers. ... Categories: Stub | Death penalty | Torture ... Mercedes-Benz Fintail, an early example of a car with crumple zones The crumple zone on the front of these cars absorbed the impact of a head-on collision Activated rear crumple zone The crumple zone of a vehicle such as a train or an automobile is a structural feature...

The criticism of the 1960-'63 Corvair handling was not entirely groundless. Although it was a competent handling vehicle as delivered from the factory, with characteristics quite similar to many imported cars, such as Mercedes and Volkswagen, which also used swing axle suspensions with similar handling attributes, there was room for improvement. Advertising in 1960 from domestic competitors showing the results of shooting an arrow weighted at the rear end missing its target widely did little to foster confidence in many minds about the stability of the car. A swing axle is a simple type of independent suspension first used in early 20C. aircraft, Sopwith, Fokker et al, 1910 or earlier usually with rubber bungee and no damping. ...

Chevrolet had tailored the handling of the Corvair by using very wide tires for such a light car (6.50-13, considered wide at the time, even contemporary Corvette used only a 6.70) to bear the weight of the rear and reduced front pressures by about 11 psi to increase front slip angles to balance traction and maintain confident control. If this pressure difference was not maintained, the handling would suffer as in very hard cornering, the rear slip angles would exceed the front slip angles and could lead to spin out or loss of control at very high speeds where the car is traveling dozens of feet per second and small changes in the rate of drift between the opposing ends of the car translated into a departure from the driver's intended course down his lane or in some cases, the road.

Swing axles were a common suspension design during the Corvair era- Millions of Ford pickup trucks were sold well into the 1990's using "Twin I Beam" which is a PAIR of swing axles^{[citations needed]}. The advantages of swing axles are numerous, good handling not being one of them ^[1]; very compact packaging, tremendous strength and durability on rough surfaces, very good isolation of road harshness and a very smooth ride due to the camber changes forcing the tire carcass to absorb blows sideways as well as radially on severe bumps.^{[citations needed]}

The primary deficiency of swing axle suspensions is they create a high "roll center;" the theoretical point the car center of mass pivots around as it leans in cornering. Although a high roll center reduces body roll in cornering, and reduces sensitivity to cambered roads and crosswinds- all good attributes- high roll centers create "roll stiffness" which is resistance to body roll. This roll stiffness transfers outboard weight shifts in cornering to the outboard tire in a corner. Pre-1965 Corvair has a rear roll center approximately 13" above the road surface and front roll center just slightly below the road surface. This concentration of roll loading on the rear wheels means as the severity of cornering loads increased the weight was transferred to the already heavily loaded rear tire and the car would progressively carry a larger proportion of the car weight on the outboard rear wheel, increasing its slip angle and eventually pushing the car into lift-off oversteer The roll center of a vehicle is the notional point at which the cornering forces in the suspension are reacted to the vehicle body. ... Body roll is a reference to the weight transfer of a car towards the outside of a turn. ... Lift-off oversteer (also known as snap-oversteer, trailing-throttle oversteer, lift-throttle oversteer, or drop-throttle oversteer) is a form of oversteer in an automobile that occurs when the vertical load on the tires shifts from the rear to the front quickly due to throttle release while cornering. ...

Chevrolet had considered adding a front anti-roll bar for the original 1960 car, which would have shifted a significant part of this weight transfer to the FRONT outboard tire and reduced the rear slip angles considerably in severe cornering, but the extra cost ($6 per car is often cited) and confidence in the tire pressure differential adequately compensating for the inclination for oversteer led GM to delete the anti–roll bar from production models. This false economy was to come back to haunt GM later. The anti–roll bar did become available as an option in 1962, and was made standard finally in 1964. The 1964 rear suspension was modified considerably with a transverse leaf spring carrying much of the rear weight and vastly softer coil springs, in an effort to significantly reduce roll stiffness at the rear of the chassis. The redesigned 1965 suspension was a total solution, cutting the rear roll center down to half its previous height, reducing rear roll stiffness very significantly with fully articulated half-axles that offered constant camber on the rear tires in all driving situations. Although much is made of the 'jacking' (tendency for swing axle suspensions to go into very severe positive camber in extreme corners) and large camber changes generally during suspension travel in swing axle suspensions, the bias ply tires used at the time were very insensitive to camber and did not have very significant reductions in cornering power at high camber, unlike belted and radial tires which became commonplace later on. Ideally, when the car reaches the turn, the driver will steer it along the line marked with green dots. ...

Contemporary Mercedes W120 Ponton sedans along with rear-engined Volkswagens, Renaults, Porsches and other cars used swing axles, with mixed results.^[2] As Corvair was designed to avoid terminal oversteer by using very low air pressure in the front tires, typically 15 to 19 pounds force per square inch, so that they would begin to understeer (increase slip angles faster than the rear) before the swing axle oversteer would come into play, this pressure was quite adequate for the very lightweight Corvair front end on the already quite wide tire. Owners and mechanics, either through ignorance of the necessity for this pressure differential between front and rear or thinking that the pressure was too low for the front, would frequently inflate the front tires to more "normal" pressures, thus ensuring that the rear of the car would oversteer. It should be mentioned that the Corvair is by no means unique in requiring dissimilar front and rear tire pressures for normal controllability; even the front–wheel–drive Cadillac Eldorado years later used very low REAR pressures (16 psi) to balance handling. Ideally, when the car reaches the turn, the driver will steer it along the line marked with green dots. ...

Although Nader possibly overstated the severity of the handling problems, as was later found by US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigators, Chevrolet made changes to the suspension: Although available as an option on earlier models, in 1964 GM added a transverse leaf spring extending between the rear wheels to limit rear wheel camber change. The camber change on the early models created a "tuck under" with resulting "air out" in one or both of the rear tyres. According to Nader, a GM Board of Director's son died in an early Corvair. Nader's book, as well as On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors, ISBN 09603562-0-7, by John Z. DeLorean and J. Patrick Wright were both highly critical of Ed Coles obsession with building and marketing a rear-engined, air cooled car that would sell at a low price. Ralph Nader Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an activist attorney who opposes the power of large corporations and has worked for decades on environmental, consumer rights, and pro-democracy issues. ... Ralph Nader Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an activist attorney who opposes the power of large corporations and has worked for decades on environmental, consumer rights, and pro-democracy issues. ... Ralph Nader Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an activist attorney who opposes the power of large corporations and has worked for decades on environmental, consumer rights, and pro-democracy issues. ... John Zachary DeLorean (January 6, 1925 – March 19, 2005) was an American engineer and executive in the U.S. automobile industry, and founder of the De Lorean Motor Company. ... Edward Nicholas Cole Born September 17, 1909 in Marne, Michigan. ...

In 1965 the Corvair got a state–of–the–art fully independent rear suspension closely resembling that of the contemporary Corvette, even sharing some components. Motor Trend referred to the 1965 model as "the first American production automobile on the road with fully-independent rear suspension, (the Corvette considered limited production)." These changes were, however, viewed by critics as Chevrolet's recognition of problems with the original design. An Independent Suspension is an automobile suspension system that allows the wheels on an axle to move independent of each other. ... The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. ... Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ...

Production notes

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (800x607, 145 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chevrolet Corvair Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata 1962_Corvair_Monza_900_Turbo_Spyder. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 1964_Chevrolet_Corvair. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 1965_Chevrolet_Corvair. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 1966_Chevrolet_Corvair_Monza_convertible. ... Image File history File links 1967_Corvair_Monza_Cvt. ...

Modifications

Many sports car purists were more interested in the Corvair (particularly the 1965 and later cars) than in more conventional designs, such as the Ford Mustang, despite the latter's power advantage. From the first appearance of the Corvair, a large selection of high-performance equipment and modifications became available for it. For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ...

Yenko Stinger

A 1965 Yenko Stinger in a vintage race at Watkins Glen International.

Don Yenko, who had been racing Corvettes, could not compete successfully against the Carroll Shelby Mustangs after they arrived on the scene; he therefore decided to race modified Corvairs, beginning with the 1966 model. As the stock Corvair did not fit into any of the SCCA categories, Yenko had to modify four-carburetor Corsas into "sports cars" by removing the back seat; in the process he would introduce various performance improvements. As the SCCA required 100 cars to be manufactured to homologate the model for production racing, Yenko completed 100 Stingers in one month in 1965. Although all were white, as the SCCA required for American cars at the time, there was a great deal of variety between individual cars; some had exterior modifications including fiberglass engine covers with spoilers, some did not; some received engine upgrades developing 160, 190, 220, or 240 hp (119, 142, 164, or 179 kW). All were equipped by the Chevrolet factory with heavy duty suspension, four speed transmission, quicker steering ratio, positraction differentials (50 with 3.89 gears, and 50 with 3.55 when Chevrolet dropped the 3.89) and dual brake master cylinders (the first application of this by Chevrolet, to become stock equipment the next year). The Stingers competed in Class D Production, which was dominated by the Triumph TR4, which was very quick in racing trim; however in its first race in January 1966, the Stinger was able to come in second by only one second. By the end of the 1966 season, Jerry Thompson had won the Central Division Championship and placed fifth in the 1966 Nationals, Dick Thompson, a highly successful Corvette race driver, had won the Northeast Division Championship, and Jim Spencer had won the Central Division Championship, with Dino Milani taking second place. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,600 × 1,066 pixels, file size: 256 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,600 × 1,066 pixels, file size: 256 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Watkins Glen International (nicknamed The Glen) is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. ... Donald Yenko (May 27, 1927 – March 5, 1987)[1], also known as Don Yenko, was a race car driver who was best known for creating a high performance version of the Chevrolet Camaro known as the Yenko Camaro. ... Carroll Hall Shelby, (born January 11, 1923 in Leesburg, Texas) is an American racing and automotive designer. ... The SCCA could be considered the grass-roots level of auto racing in the United States. ... Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologos for agree, which is used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority. ... The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ... “Gearbox” redirects here. ... Steering is the term applied to the collection of components, linkages, etc. ... A Limited Slip Differential (LSD) (sometimes called positraction) is a modified or derived type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in rotational velocity of the output shafts, but does not allow the difference in speed to increase beyond a preset amount. ... A differential can mean one of several things: Differential (mathematics) Differential (mechanics) Differential signaling is used to carry high speed digital signals. ... The master cylinder is a hydraulic control device that converts physical pressure (commonly from a drivers foot) into hydraulic pressure to operate other device(s) in the hydraulic system. ... Triumph Logo (1978 version) 1934 Triumph Gloria Six 1937 Triumph Dolomite Roadster 1974 Triumph GT6 Coupé The Triumph Motor Company had its origins in 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann (1863-1951) and Moritz (Maurice) Schulte founded Bettmann & Co and started selling Triumph bicycles, from premises in London and from 1889 started... Dr. Dick Thompson in 2007 Dr. Dick Thompson (born in 1920 or 1921) is a retired American racecar driver. ...

The next year, however, Chevrolet dropped the Corsa line, and the Monza line was not initially available stock with the four carburetor engine; the engine was eventually offered as a special performance option, however, along with the 3.89 differential. The Monza instrumentation, however, did not have a tachometer or head temperature gauges, which had to be separately installed. The SCCA, on the other hand, had relaxed its ruling regarding color, and the cars were available in red or blue. It is believed that only fourteen 1967 Stingers were built, but Dana Chevrolet, who distributed Stingers on the US West Coast, ordered an additional three similar cars to be built to Stinger specifications, but with the AIR injection system to meet California emissions laws, with Yenko's permission. A total of 185 Stingers are believed to have been built, the last being YS-9700 built for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company as a tire test vehicle in 1969 – 1970. The word emission generally means sending something out. ... Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. ...

Comedian, television star, and car enthusiast Tim Allen currently owns and races Yenko Stinger #YS-043. For the documentary about Jerry Seinfeld, see Comedian (film). ... Tim Allen (born Timothy Allen Dick on June 13, 1953) is an American comedian, character actor, voice-over artist, and entertainer perhaps best known for his role in the sitcom Home Improvement and his roles in Disney films, such as The Santa Clause and Toy Story. ...

John Fitch Corvair Sprint

Longtime roadracer John Fitch was particularly interested in the Corvair as the basis for a spirited road and track oriented car, due to its handling. The basic Sprint received only minor modifications to the engine, bringing it to 155 hp (116 kW), but upgrades to the shock absorbers and springs, adjustments to the wheel alignment, quicker steering ratio, alloy wheels, metallic brake linings, the obligatory wood-rimmed steering wheel (leather available for an additional $9.95) and other such minor alterations made it extremely competitive with European sports cars costing much more. Body options such as spoilers were available, but the most visually remarkable option was the "Ventop", a fiberglass overlay for the C-pillars and rear of the roof that gave the car a "flying buttress" profile. John Fitch also invented many safety innovations for the race track and the highway. ... Gasfilled Shock absorber. ... For other uses, see Spring. ... Wheel alignment Wheel alignment is a (mostly) computerized procedure routinely done in most cross-specializing mechanics shop, and in some tire shops. ... Steering ratio refers to the ratio betweeen the turn of the steering wheel or handlebars and the turn of the wheels. ... Brake linings are the consumable surfaces in braking systems, especially those used in vehicles. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

Fitch went on to design and build a prototype of the Fitch Phoenix, a Corvair-based two-seat sports car, superficially resembling a smaller version of the Mako Shark based Corvette. With a total weight of 1,950 pounds (885 kg), even with a steel body, and with the Corvair engine modified with Weber carburetors to deliver 175 hp (130 kW), the car delivered spirited performance for $8,760. Unfortunately, the Traffic Safety Act of 1966 placed restrictions on the ability to produce automobiles on a small scale; this was followed by Chevrolet's decision to terminate production of the Corvair, which confirmed the end of Fitch's plan. He still retains the prototype however, and occasionally exhibits it at car shows. The car may be glimpsed briefly in the documentary film Gullwing at Twilight: The Bonneville Ride of John Fitch[1]. 1963 Jaguar E-Type, a classic sports car 1963 Chevrolet Corvette was based upon European sports cars A sports car is an automobile designed for performance driving. ... Binomial name Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810 The Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), commonly called Mako Shark, is a large shark of the Lamnidae family with a full-grown size of 2. ... 1961 Ferrari 250TR Spyder engine fitted with 6 Weber 2 barrel downdraft carburetors Weber carburetors were originally produced in Italy by Edoardo Weber as part of a conversion kit for 1920s Fiats. ...

V8 Corvairs

The ultimate Corvair modification was replacement of the engine with a V8. As daunting as this might seem, two things made it possible:

1. The Corvair engine rotated in the opposite direction from most other engines, so that if a V8 was placed in the rear seat area (the added weight of a V8 in the original location of the Corvair engine would be abominable to drive) and coupled to the front of the transmission via a supplied custom made clutch gear and input shaft, this would drive the car in the proper direction with four speeds forward and one reverse.
2. The switch in 1966 to using standard Chevrolet Saginaw gear sets in the manual transmission could handle the torque of a V8.

A radiator occupies the former trunk, in the front of the vehicle. However, the former engine compartment in the rear now is available as luggage space. A complete kit to adapt a Chevrolet small-block V8 to a Corvair was manufactured by a company named Crown Manufacturing, for $600. The resulting vehicle weighed only 2,750 pounds (1250 kg), compared to 3,700 pounds (1680 kg) for a small block Corvette, and possessed independent rear suspension of almost the same design. Crown's prototype with 350 hp (261 kW) Corvette engine recorded an elapsed time of 12.22 seconds and 105 miles per hour (169 km/h) in the quarter mile (402 m). An advantage of this modification is that the mid-engine design provides optimal handling characteristics for the road, as well as excellent drag strip traction without the need for slick or "cheater slick" tires as seen in front engine cars, let alone modifying the wheelbase as on the FX funny cars of the time. Although a few Corvairs have been modified to accept the Chevrolet big-block engine, the added size of the engine makes the work significantly more difficult, and the result, although a great performer, tends to be unreliable. Yenko Corvair YS99 was one of the 300 or so CORV8 conversions made. It is also possible to install a reverse rotation small block chevy in place of the flat six with many modifications. Saginaw is the name of several places in the United States of America: Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw, Texas This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... In Automobile design, an MR or Mid-engine, Rear wheel drive layout drives the rear wheels with an engine placed just in front of them, behind the passenger compartment. ... A dragstrip is a facility for conducting automobile acceleration events. ... A wheel with a slick tire. ... A wheel with a slick tire. ... Funny Car is an NHRA drag racing car class, relating to the United States. ...

Eshelman Golden Eagle

The first Eshelman Golden Eagle was an ordinary mid-1960s Chevrolet Corvair retrimmed with special emblems and other ornamentation and marketed through used-car dealers by Eshelman Motors Corporation of Baltimore, Maryland. Originally the Cheston L. Eshelman Company of Baltimore and Dundalk, Maryland. ... Baltimore redirects here. ...

By 1967 the model was called the Eshelman Golden Eagle Safety Car and was based on the contemporary Chevrolet line, but now each Golden Eagle had a patented standard 15MPH impact-resistant "crash absorber" fashioned by incorporating each car's spare tire into the front bumper. Advertising claimed the cars were "Designed for the owner who has a special value for his life and the lives of his loved ones." Known Golden Eagle dealerships included the former Kislack Kar Sales in Houtzdale, Pennsylania and Plaza Motors in Niagara Falls, New York, but exact sales numbers are not known. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Dune Buggies

Corvair flat-six engines were a popular alternative to Volkswagen engines in dune buggy applications, and racing. Dune buggy George W. Bush in a Dune buggy A dune buggy is a recreational vehicle with large wheels, and wide tires, designed for use on sand dunes or beaches. ...

Concept cars

The Corvair spawned a number of innovative concept vehicles including the Corvair SS, Monza GT, Monza SS, Astro III, and even two Corrozzeria Pininfarina "Corvair Speciale" show cars. The Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT was a mid-engined experimental prototype based on the early model Chevrolet Corvair series. ... Pininfarina logo. ...

See also

• Chevrolet Corvair engine
• Chevrolet Corvair Powerglide
• Corvair Monza GT (Concept car)
• Unsafe at Any Speed

The Corvairs innovative flat-6 engine The Chevrolet Corvair engine was a flat-6 piston engine used exclusively in the 1960s Chevrolet Corvair automobile. ... Chevrolet Corvair Powerglide is a two speed automatic transmission designed specially for the all-new 1960 Chevrolet Corvair compact car that emerged in the fall of 1959 as Chevrolets competitor in the then booming small car market. ... The Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT was a mid-engined experimental prototype based on the early model Chevrolet Corvair series. ... Exhibit featuring the book at Henry Ford Museum, Detroit Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile by Ralph Nader, published in 1965, is a book detailing his claims of resistance by car manufacturers to the introduction of safety features, like seat belts, and their general...

References

• Shattuck, Dennis, ed. Corvair- A complete Guide (A Car Life Special Edition). Chicago: Bond Publishing Company, 1963.

External links

• CORSA home page — Corvair Society of America
• The Corvair Corsa — An exceptional Corvair resource
• Rear Engine Specialists — Corvair History and Customization
• Corvairs For Sale all over the web
• Complete Preparation Of Yenko Stingers For Road Racing (applies to all Corvairs)
• Corvair Autocross and Racing pages by Bryan Blackwell
• Large number of photos and some information about Corvairs
• Corvair Club Germany
• "Failure at any Speed?"
• Online Chevrolet Community Un-Official