Unsafe at Any Speed - A summer time project?

Nice car. I don't think I've ever seen one in person but have always been fascinated by them. Sort of like 150% scale VW 411. And a turbocharger is always a plus in any car I think Nader exaggerated the problem. The Corvair did behave differently compared to just about any American car of the time, and that probably was the reason for many accidents.

That'll make a nice car if the body is not too bad. If it is bad and you end up not buying it, please offer $5 for the hubcaps and toss them, they are a disgrace

Long ago I saw an article about a Corvair with an Olds Toronado FWD driveline installed in the back in a mid-engine layout, that was pretty awesome and really fast

Whoa, whoa, there you go!  Looks like everything is there, chrome trim, hub caps, Rusty bumpers.  Nothin that a little lead or Bondo won't cover. As long as the rest of the mechanicals are complete, a good ole Earl Schieb ** paint job and you be crusin'!!  I've always disliked Nader for bad mouthing the Corvair. My best friend in HS had one, it wasn't the turbo but still was a cool looking and fun to drive car. Biggest problem we had was keeping the fan belt on the darn thing. It never rolled over on us, and we drove it like teenage boys!!

** for you youngsters, Earl Schieb, would paint Any Car, Any Color* for $59.95. (1960's)
* from their standard color chart of 5 colors!

Oh yes forgot

Sticker is from Tripple A* with Liberty bell is for Penna AAA

In this case Pennsylvania Tripple A (American Automobile Association) a you pay for road side assistance membership with free towing, battery jump, emergency fuel or flat tire service...they even had trip interruption coverage that would pay for motel, reimburse of food costs and help tow to nearest mechanic. Also had a trip planning service with maps

With the in car GPS and most auto insurance companies offering Road side assistance I am amazed they (AAA) even are still in business

I did get them to issue me an international drivers license back in 2002 when I took a team to Germany for 4 months

I was a member for decades with never any need for Road side assistance so cut costs in the early 2000s
The other loss of $$$ with never a claim for assistance was our Good Sam membership

Thanks Fred, I'm a member but couldn't make the (liberty) bell connection. You made the Pennsylvania AAA connection that I couldn't. I keep it (AAA) due to my MX-5. I don't own a smart phone, but keep my flip handy when out on the road in it. 127K miles and runs like a top. Love that little car. It's in no danger of leaving the barn if the Corvair arrives.



Inspiration





Bob

Now all you need to do is find a little badge on that car that says Yenko

Bob

I see a LOT of hard work--- but from the photos it seems to appear to be complete so odds are good the running gear should all be stock

This is a somewhat coveted version so if done well will probably command a good resale price some day...never will recoup the man hour labor tho

I am kinda glad I got most of that hard work out of my system early in my life. I resurrected quite a few in similar shape but come " let it go" time always took a bath

I recently saw a, local to me, for sale 1965 Ranchero (Identical to my fist one) with all the right running gear and no cancer but interior totally trashed...the guy knew what he had and wanted too steep a price ($4500)... if Custom upholstery (big $$$ here) and Paint was not nearly $800 a gallon now, I might have seriously considered it

I am just now finishing up a 2 year long restore with a friend on his true 67 Camero RS... he has over $15K into it and we did not do much special

I still think the Big Three could make a mint doing a limited run, period correct, re-issue of several 1960s muscle cars

I would gladly get on a list and Pay $50K for a exact new production version of Shelby GT 500 with all the options ( I had a White and Blue GT 350)

Big Three can afford the DOT EPA penalty, and I am sure the lawyers could find a way around no air bags or shoulder belts...say sell them as replica antiques


I had a waiting list number for the Ford Bullet Mustang a few years back but the owners son wanted the last one they got allocated so I got saved from a big buck mistake.... he wrecked it on day two...same son got the one and only Ford GT and also crashed it ----and he also got a Dodge Viper V10 and crashed it too.... I know daddy and he is so indulgent it is sickening.... and I also know daddy's dealership GM who agrees with me... that kid has destroyed some super fine machines just cuz he could

Fantasy car: 59 El Dorado Caddy rag top, two door, re done professionally by Foose or similar ---with modern running gear nearing 800 HP

BTW wife and I both have fantasy stupid purchases depending on who passes first... one of the several Life insurance policies is destined just for these passions

Surprisingly her car of her dreams is a Fully tricked out Jeep CJ lifted to the moon also with unlimited HP

I came real close to getting her that Jeep last year....but she balked and asked me to get her a new Grand Cherokee with EVERY new option so I did and she loves it

While I am NO MoPar Chrysler fan, it is fun to have a motor head wife who we share many similar passions.... this woman has been up to her boobs in oil and grease right there with me many many weekends just getting our daily ride fixed for next weeks work

IN the 90s I got her her own Harley and she did her own wrenching on it.... occasionally bragging to her cohorts that her bike was better and faster than mine (and it was true)

Sorry for running on and on with divergent thoughts...BUT you started it with one of my most fondest child hood memories

Like this.... In our neighborhood the houses were only single car garages... in ours was the station wagon so dads work car was on the street

In Minnesota they do a real good job of plowing even the neighbor hood streets after a night of hard snow so the school buses can do their thing.

Dad came back in one morning and rousted me and my brother to come help...... flip is Corvair BACK on its wheels....the hidden under snow car, had been flipped on it's roof by the plow truck into our front yard... we rolled it back on the wheels, dad got in ...it started...smoke a little and off he went to work...

Good memories

I enjoyed your Minnesota story Fred with sympathy.  We parked on the main road into town in New Hampshire and Dad's car got plowed in regularly.  Never got flipped though.  I can see smoke.  Oil on a flipped car goes everywhere.  

I heard third hand that they were looking for $500.00 for the Corvair.  I'm thinking more like $200 or they pay me $25 to haul it away.  

There are several nice Corvairs out there ranging $7K to $27K.  But that's not me, I'm in the market for something that needs work.  I would think that a month later it would be stripped down to a shell.  If I do all the work myself I break even, if I don't I'm under water in a hurry.

Bob

and ya...that Yenko thing.

a little incentive..

$500 is a pretty good deal for a complete car Bob. Heck the engine/turbo unit are worth that much.

My Dad used to own a Corvair Monza before I was born, he still speaks pretty highly of it. The car was totalled when he was rear ended in 1966 by a guy who fell asleep at the wheel.

If I had $500, I would buy it on the spot.

Naders moronic book was not just bashing the Corvair, but also the VW. Somebody should have pulled his "man card"

Edit: spoke with my Dad, he own the turbo version like you are looking at.

My parents went through a couple Corvairs. I was too young to remember much (Mom called them "Red Rats" because they all happened to be red), but push rods would bend when over revved. I recall a rather large bundle of push rods, say about 4 inches in diameter, and my brother telling me the story of Dad having to pop the valve cover and replace push rods on a very regular basis. Sometimes between destinations. Dad said it was true after listening to the story.

Phil

I saw this on TV a while back.. and thought it was awesome... just in case you'd like to build a custom..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hKn8idEaZE

pkrankow wrote:My parents went through a couple Corvairs.  I was too young to remember much (Mom called them "Red Rats" because they all happened to be red), but push rods would bend when over revved.  I recall a rather large bundle of push rods, say about 4 inches in diameter, and my brother telling me the story of Dad having to pop the valve cover and replace push rods on a very regular basis.  Sometimes between destinations.  Dad said it was true after listening to the story.

Phil

Assuming the valve lash was correct, it sounds like Mom and Dad had really heavy right feet.

Cribbs74 wrote:

pkrankow wrote:My parents went through a couple Corvairs.  I was too young to remember much (Mom called them "Red Rats" because they all happened to be red), but push rods would bend when over revved.  I recall a rather large bundle of push rods, say about 4 inches in diameter, and my brother telling me the story of Dad having to pop the valve cover and replace push rods on a very regular basis.  Sometimes between destinations.  Dad said it was true after listening to the story.

Phil

Assuming the valve lash was correct, it sounds like Mom and Dad had really heavy right feet.

Before computers my dad would have a LITERAL GLOVE BOX FULL of speeding tickets. Since each was from a different municipality, and departments did not communicate like they do now, he got away with it, more or less, as long as they were paid.

So yes, my dad had a foot made of lead. There is a good chance when he gets cleared to drive he still will have a lead foot. (complications from knee replacement, and a torn tendon.) He just got stairs figured out again.

I kinda wish the apple fell a little further on this one, cruise control saves me money in SOOOO many ways. I wish it had worked properly in the first few cars I had.

Phil

That's hilarious.

Never been a top speed guy, but love the hole shot. I'll rag a vehicle all the way to the speed limit.

Acceleration is a blast, blasting along at 120mph is just scary

Waaaay off topic, but a couple years back, on the topic of speed I restored this 1966 Honda CL77. The 305 Honda engine is a thing of beauty small, lightweight but way more powerful than it looks. One night after working late, I found the highway to home completely devoid of cars. Cool Texas dry evening, what the hell let's see what she can do. Brought that tiny bike up to 95mph. I chickened out knowing that I was running on 40yr old wheels and bearings. Got to thinking about what would happen if I came off at that speed.

Boy, this is a no brainer, just walk away.  But it keeps gnawing away at me.  There are bushes growing inside it for crying out loud.  But for $300 I'm close to pulling the trigger on this Corvair monstrosity.  I have successfully tackled and made road worthy MGB's almost as bad.

But it is the turbo Spider option with a four speed.  Cover your eyes.



























Ron understands.........  

Bob

UGH! UgH, Ugly!!.  I just got a quote from the local scrap yard for my totaled 2007 Ford Focus wagon, $120-$160, as scrap. I'll get 35-50 for the cat converter at another yard.  I think you might ask them for that $25 to tow it away.  You do have the experience to know what you're getting into.....yeah it's a spyder!  I just hate headliners.  What? No pictures of the engine?  

Oops, Nevermind I must have scrolled past it the 1st time thru.....TURBO!

Brother Bob...well it is as I suspected from the first photos... A lot of cancer that is NOT easy to fix

ON the other hand low enough cost to flip the parts.... but this takes time to properly remove, advertise, package--- and all that fussing

I would have been initially interested...but having done a few this deteriorated...I would pass even if offered for free

It looks worse in person, the photos present a rosy picture.

But, the owner is a good friend of my son and his wife said that it ran well when parked five years ago. Surprisingly, the doors close as well as it did the day it left the factory as do the hood and trunk lids. Replacement floors and panels are available and the brand has a dedicated following. I joined a couple of Corvair forums.

I'm thinking a $100 offer would be more in line. I have to sit on it for at least another week as the owner is out of town.

Bob

For $300 you probably could do a well advertised sale to someone else and double or triple your money.

Alternately look at it as a car to have professionally rebuilt... but new cars cost less.

That looks a little far gone for a backyard project.

Phil

I've seen much worse. It all looks workable to me. You could always pull the engine gearbox, and Spyder emblems. Restore the motor, sell the package to a Corvair owner as a Spyder hop up kit.

Or you could find a cleaner Corvair and use the Spyder drivetrain in it.

Marleysky wrote:... Rusty bumpers...

Marley... love the way you capitalize Rusty bumpers. Oh lord, that's worse than Rusty Nail. I still haven't completely lived that down with the Huntersville gang.

Hey, my Dad had a Monza too. Not for long, as I recall. I hear-tell guys used to cram 327s in them, but I have no idea how.
These stories are great.
Rusty Bumpers

Robert.. if you buy that car to restore... we probably won't see any vids of you flying model airplanes for a while..  but then again.. being a classic "car-guy".. you'll surely get involved in the restoration of something sooner or later. Seeing that replacement-floors/panels are available....... (Roddie poking Bob.. ) you and your son could strip the drive-train/suspension/interior.. and source a reputable shop to weld-in new floors and possibly "tub" the wheel-wells for running wider-rubber. Don't let that headliner scare you off.. Cut the freakin' roof off!



The car reportedly "drove" a few years ago.. so that's a good sign. Contact "Clarks"  .. and see what they offer for suspension-upgrades/brake-systems/5-lug rotors etc. Allow me spend your money..