1960 Corvair body work.......how much $ am I looking at?

Hey Shane,

May I suggest that whyle your having that "dutchman" panel repaired/replaced that you also think about removal of the back glass and repair to any rust in the pinchweld area/s of the window's frame. That era of GM was notorious for rotting in the areas where the stainless steel, window gasket and glass all came together.
As for bidding rust repair without seeing a vehicle in bare metal, well it's about like tryin' to guess how big an iceberg is by how much of it is above the water line.............too bad we can't ask those who were aboard The Titanic how that worked out!

The damage, as seen in the photos, doesn't look like much of a problem for anyone who knows what they're doing to begin with, perhaps 4 hrs R&R with the window out and a replacement panel, to straighten......again anyone's guess without seeing her in the ''buff".

I once knew an airline pilot who had one of those with a Cadillac 472 in the back seat. The thing handled like an autistic shopping cart that had jus' gobbled a jar of ''whites", but in a straight line was like a rocket.

Good luck,

" Meanwhyle, back aboard The Tainted Pork"

 

I wonder how the bondo or when the bondo was added. My mom has had the car since I was like 8 years old. Early 80's and the car was mint when she got it.

 

Thanks Pimpin Paint. 4 hours I can deal with...

 

thats what a spitzenagle is for. no need for access

 

I had to Google spitzenagle. I have never heard of one.

 

Yep...since I'm not a bodyman, I'd forgotten about that handy little item...even used one on my Caddy a couple of years ago...it's a bitch getting old...

Thanx for the reminder...

R-

 

once had a 62 or 63 monza 4-spd back in the 60's. loved the car no matter what ralph nader said about it. it blew oil on the rear grill and smoked lik hell. guy wanted to buy it, told him about the oil situation and said he was coming at night. he didn't get to see it sending up smoke signals , but bought it on the spot

 

I sent my Mom the link to this thread and this is what she had to say:

First, it is a 3 speed, not 4.
The motor is a 900 Manza. I believe there was about 1,100 made. I can't really remember.

I do have the original hub caps in great condition!
I also have the original AM only radio!

And, what is wrong with the wheels??

 

Generally most areas that need to be repaired (if repairable) that do not require panel replacement, you can figure about 2 hours of labor for an area about the size of your hand with your fingers spread. In Nebraska the body labor rate is almost $50 an hour - it looks like you have 4 to 6 hours of area there once the grinder digs it all out.

Also you have to figure in materials cost for body supplies... and then the paint cost for materials will blow you away. Your car would also be a challenge to get an exact match and blend as far as just spotting in the damage, so most guys would try to steer you into a complete re-paint....before you know it you'd be putting alot of money into the car.

IMO what you have is a fun little car that is a head turner, and I would personally invest just enough money to make it a "striking 20 footer" - So to do that without breaking the bank, you need to find a local reputable person that does "wholesale body work". Ask local small used car dealers who they use, or ask friends or local parts store people. My guess is you could get that in primer ready to paint for under $400.

 

20 footer?

 

An old bodyman term : 20 footer - Looks excellent from 20 feet away, but upon close scrutiny a trained eye can find flaws. Most cars on Used car lots that are over 10 years old are 20 footers.

 

I mentioned that doing a Corvair was one of my big mistakes......maybe you are starting to see that for yourself.....hope not...........but maybe.

Look at the gap between the body panel and the rear window. At the edge, it has a little bigger gap and in the middle there is no gap at all. I for one would not want to tear into that. I had the same thing on the panel where the wipers are on my 65 Corvair. Turned out to be a big mess....cost a shitload of money ( before I would do my own work) and still leaks there to this day if the car is in the rain.

Good Luck !!

 

Astro Supremes....

This is from the Lowrider Thread;

 

Love your project, what are your plans?
heres sum inspiration fer ya! ....

 

Damn i was uploadin while you posted!

 

A car that looks good from 20 feet away...there's also 50 foot cars and 100 foot cars...up close they are disasters...

R-

 

20 Footer is good enough for me.

 

I have not read the entire thread, just speculation on my part, but I beleive the bondo lifting on the back is something someone sculpted to use those chrome pieces.
They are not correct for a 60 Corvair, they are off a later year.
I beleive it should be a flat area in that location, the later year had the contour for that particular chrome.........

It may be real solid underneath there.

 

You can get the axels and drums re-drilled to 5 lug GM pattern, same with the front hubs or go to late model Corvair front spindles and hugs which are 5 lug.
Other than that, Datsun 240 Z has the same bolt pattern, and some aftermarket wheels.

 

Brad54 has 240Z wheels on his Corvair Wagon- pm him for a pic!

 

I have a 64, astros would be sick. I heard the 65 (5 lug) and up running gear is inter changeable. I think i heard it was alot of work. Maybe somone will come along thats done it.....










anybody?

 

I beg to differ, but those chrome pieces are factory correct for a 1960 Monza 900 coupe. This is a 1960 Monza 900 after being restored, unmodified:



Strip it down. If it is a dent, it will be cheaper to fix. If it is rust, well... you will find out.

I doubt a late model '65-'69 suspension will swap out, but I believe the '64 transverse spring might be an option. Improvements can be made with string/shock/tire swaps. The handling of a 1960 is the worse of any year. If you haven't joined the Corvair Club, you should. They were a life saver when I had a 1964 Monza Convertible as my daily driver.

Also, the flat six Porsche engine and transaxle measures exactly the same as the Corvair's, but that is an expensive swap.

 

I used to sell Impalas I bought in Sacramento to this guy (or his brother) in Oakland, Ca. They made "scrapers" out of both the Impalas and Corvairs, with metal or flint (?) blocks at the back end, so when they dropped the air-bagged rear ends these huge rooster tail of sparks would fly out the rear ends. Mid-seventies, and these guys were totally nuts. I guess I was, too.

 

that sticker has significant history to that car, and its a laughable testament aimed back at Ralph and how he didnt kill the corvair or the convertible market.

 

You're kidding, right? Here's an idea. Send it to me next winter and I'll do it up for ya. Just the body and metal work. Then you can do something for me

 

name it

 

The entire front suspension from a late model, 65-69 will bolt in. This includes the K-member, and now will be upgraded with a front sway bar the original 60 suspension did not.
The rear suspension though, is not directly interchangeable, it can be done, but certainly not worth the effort. Design of the rear suspension is a complete different concept.
The easiest way to get 5 lug on the rear is to get the axels and drums re-drilled.

My 62 Corvair has the 64 rear suspension with the additional transverse leaf spring in it.
When a previous owner did that though, he neglected to install the 64 rear coil springs making the car sit too high. I had to get the correct 64 springs which are different left to right on a 64.......
Car handles real nice.

 

Why did Ralph Nader say they were so unsafe? Do I need to be worried?

 

Ralph Nader was a poser.... i wouldn't be worried

 

^^this is basically what i was going to say, but with fewer curse words.