Technical Is this corvair a lost cause? (frame rust)

Something like the '65 Fairlane or the '66 Valiant advertized above would be much better. Both the Ford inline 6 and the Dodge slant 6 are very tough engines that can be made to produce decent power. Both are simple to work on and not hard to get parts for. Corvairs were death traps when they were new. I have always been scared of interior heaters that burn gasoline--yes, they produce instant heat, but they look like they would be a fire and/or carbon monoxide hazard. Not every old car is desirable. The front suspension all attaches to a crossmember that unbolts from the unibody. Corvair front suspension was popular under hot rods in the '60s, but there is better stuff available now, and I wouldn't put Corvair front suspension under anything heavier than a Corvair, remember Corvairs were rear engine cars that were light in the front. The Corvair steering boxes used to see a lot of use, valued for their compact size, but better stuff is available now and I'd stay away from the aluminum case steering boxes. Corvairs are crusher food, right up there with Chevettes. Actually, the Chevette was a much better car, and that's not saying a lot.

 

Sadly a pig with lipstick ...run!

 

Mustang guys consider a car in that shape to have "some surface rust". I had one in the early 70's with 39,000 miles on it. I had jacked the rear but forget my new parts in the front trunk. The keys were in the ignition but I couldn't open the door as the car was folding. My dad's looked like the one in your photographs. His, like the one you pictured is about to lose the front end.

 

There is a lot of uneducated propaganda in this post, and I'm not going to bother trying to spin your world the other way by changing your mind. I will say that I have years of experience with a couple dozen Corvairs, and they were excellent daily drivers, long distance travellers, and could be set up to be angry corner carvers. You have to be willing to understand how they work, and to step outside the average hot rodders thought process to get there.

Both my wife and I dailied late models in the 90's. They were dependable as any other 60s car. One was show quality, the other was autocross quality. I still miss them at times. Anyway... counterpoint.

 

If you know for sure you will be building a Corvair you might want to consider picking this one up for parts.. i am ***uming it is a currently running, driving , shifting, stopping car. there are a lot of usable parts there (aside from a fully operational driveline) trim pieces, interior, dash parts, hood and trunk lids, etc. There is probably $900 in parts if you had to go out and buy them individually. just my $0.02
Chappy

 

If that car were in Florida you'd never get the chance to buy it. Airboat guys love those Corvair engines. Of course, that's one rusty sum***** right there and unless I were familiar with them, and I'm not, I'd leave it for true Corvair fans. They know how to fix these and have the willingness to put the effort in.

 

Go look at it, if it exists. Check this one out too. Either would be a great 1st car.

https://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/6655631629.html


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That comet looks super clean!

That corvair, id offer them 500 and part it out. Or, if you scored one with a good floor and a crunched quarter you could use that crusty one to replace it. As for rebuilding it, only if I wanted to build a tube frame and put a new floor, call it a drag car and put a nasty motor up in front of it

 

Even a restored Corvair is a lost cause

 

buy a ch***is and big block crate engine and Make it a funnycar.cheers .....

 

They're around, you just have to be patient to find a good one less the rust. Find a local nut that is into them. I went to school with one but lost track of him.

 

Build a Kelmark or a Piranha. You'll lose your HAMB cred but have a cool car nonetheless

 

Here's one not to far away that came from drier country not spider https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/d/1962-chevy-corvar-great-patina/6670807485.html

 

I don't know if you would be interested but, I have this solid, running, driving, stopping Studebaker Commander that I am entertaining offers on. It is local to you as well!

 

Cool picks. That would kick ***.

But this thread is kind of deceiving, if you only read the ***le; Essentially the OP’s 16 year old daughter wants to buy an old car and get into the hobby (cool right? Yes it is).
She happened to see the “Corvair in question”, and thought it’s sub-$1000 price tag made it a great deal, but general consensus is that it’s not.

In the end, she ISN’T really looking specifically for a Corvair, and the OP is looking into Falcons, Fairlaines, and other sub-$3000 four or two door starter cars that are already roadworthy that she could get into and drive while she learns. It won’t be her daily driver, so it is totally reasonable, as it breaks down it can catch a ride home on a flatbed a-la-AAA, and wait to be fixed, perfect way to hook a young one on old cars. Cool thread.

 

Stay with what you know. Better to find a good body with a bad motor where you can do the work yourself. You would need to pay a body guy and on a corvair you would be over budget in no time. Or buy this and find a non running body in the south.