To Build or not to Build

I know that Corvairs are not the most desireable car in the world. Most people think that they should be sent to the crusher. This is my first car when I was 16 so it has a special place in my heart. So I'm looking for feedback. I'm thinking about doing some body mods to it, to fix some of the bad lines. This is just a concept done in photoshop. Give me hell. You love it? You hate it? Or Vairs are just plain dumb.

 

actually i dont think that looks to bad at all....looks kinda sporty

 

It needs to talk to you on a deep personal level.
If you lie awake at night,dreaming of Corvairs,then Go For It.





Just don't paint it flat black,with white walls and red wheels.

 

I wish I had the cash to dream about a 40 merc. But what I do have is a corvair and now it has become my obssesion. Many restless nights.

 

This guy i know has a corvair like that. One of the nicest, most beautifull cars around. He put a 383 in it, up front. Its real low with 18s and 17s on it, white with orange racing stripes. Its probably one of my favorite cars in the area.

Nick

 

Small block in the back seat. That was always my dream, when I was a youngen.-MIKE

 

I don't think that the engine in it is going to do it for me. So at some point there may be a V8 in it. I'm also wondering if I should do the body mods out for fiberglass or sheetmetal. I know that sheetmetal is the way to go, but is also expensive as well. I would say fiberglass would be fine, but I do'nt want it ricer style.

 

FIBREGLASS Noooooooooooooooooooo.

 

Yep, I know a guy a few blocks from here with a Mid-Engine Corsa Convertible.
The Corvair guys have a kit to run the power in the front of the transaxle, like the Tempest was, so you can use the stock Corvair trans with the mid-mounted SBC V8.

 

I know it maybe a sin but I am 28 and poor. Must 28 year olds are putting coffee cans on their mufflers. I do have an in with a master fabricator, english wheel and all, but it still won't be cheap.

 

mid engine corvair with the fenders and quaters bubbled out has a killer look to it. I love looking at them when I see one done right.

 

DO IT! Why be the same as everybody else?
There were lots of customized Corvairs in the sixties, hotroded ones, too.

GM built some really nice prototype/show car 'vairs.
Customs by Barris, Starbird, and others come to mind.
And you know about the John Fitch Sprint Corvairs and Don Yenko Stingers?
Pics to follow later

 

It will last though. If it's worth puttinh money, than it's worth doing it right. Plus you could learn a shit load from the fab guy! Corvairs are pretty cool as is they don't need a ton of mods. What year and style is it?

 

Could be pretty cool. We had a professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota (Professor Thomas E. Murphy) who was really into them. He even went so far as sawing a junker longwise and carting it down the steps of basement so he could mock-up parts over the winter for his 350 Ponitac V8 conversion. I think he may have used the Tempest transaxle in his conversion. He was a real hands-on teacher. He rebuilt his own engines. Taught me everything about how engines work -- applied thermodynamics, otto cycle, diesel cycle, effects of timing, EGR, temperature, compression ratio, and all that. He passed away about ten years ago. I miss talking to him.

 

here's a customish looking sketch of a 4 door with scallops. If you build it you should get a license plate that say's

FUK NDR

http://bigdaddyjo.free.fr/images/custom/corvair gf.jpg

 

"Not to offend anyone"
But I don't have the desire to build a Mustang, Camaro, Chevelle ect... I want to do something different. I work for a car mag and every g-machine Mustang, camaro or Chevelle seems just the same now. It's not my taste. I like the early 60's styling. But I think that there is problems with the early corvair styling. It looks like it is sapose to be driving the other way. It doesn't have a forward motion to it. I think by squareing up and extending the rear downward will salve that problem. The same with the front end.

 

I remember seeing a site with a guy who did a front engine V8 Corvair,with a Temptest transaxle.Same guy did some EFI work,perhaps on a Jag,IIRC.

Another idea:
http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/communityalbums.cgi?action=openalbum&albumid=9980138836765

 

The Vin is a 62 but was built as a 64 110. The Funny story about it is that my father told me that if I keep up the good grades that when I'm 16 I could have any car I wanted with in reason. I told him that I wanted a CORVETTE. The grades stayed up and when I turned 16 I was droiling waiting for my new vette. The my father comes home with the Vair. He tells me "Well at least we got half way there with the "COR"." I guess it really is the poor man Vette.

 

And will the Corvair ever come around. Is it dead? Was it ever Alive?

 

If you've got it, and you like it, then go for it. If you're luke-warm about it then it may not be worth the effort considering the time, money and effort you'll be putting in. Corvairs are kinda like VW's [and not just because of the air cooled, flat-opposed motors]. Some people love 'em some hate 'em, but they generally cause some sort of reaction.

I've pondered doing up a Corvair in full sixties show custom style. Custom paint[kandy, metalflake, panels, lace- the whole nine yards done up with Watson flair], chrome reverse wheels with bias skinny whites, lowering and body mods, wild interior and as much chrome as I could afford.

 

Think of it like this. He could've gotten you a CheVETTE.. I didn't care for Corvairs back in the '60s, but looking at yours now, they seem pretty cool. What I'd do is a mild dechrome, do an early '60s type paint scheme... red with gold scallops maybe, over white, find some chrome reversed rims and drive the hell out of it.

Jan

 

I have seen some great Artwork by Jeem with a Corvair in it.

What I dont like about the Photoshop at the top of the page is the extended rockerpanels ( looks too much like a Ricer Trick to me...)

What I would do with a car like that, if it were mine, is put 15" Americans on it (8 and 10" wide.) and lower it.
Bubble arches, like the old Group5 FIA Road Racers, and a SBC in the backseat area...

If you want those Wheel arches in Glass, you can buy them pretty reasonable in England.
The ones they sell for the Mk1 escort look really good, and you should be able to adapt them to your car.
They are sold in steel too, but more expensive ( that is what I was going to do with the Falcon Sprint V8 I used to own...)

 

I have other oppertunities to build other cars (68 Cutlass g-machine), but I don't think I could ever let the vair go. And I kind of like it when people dislike it for the wrong reasons. Mainly because no one told them it was cool.

I'm having a hard time finding any photos of custom corvairs. A way of finding out what has been done and what not to do.

 

The rockerpanels have not been extended. The chrome rocker is just taken off. Also the suspension has not been lowered.

 

I don't really care for the Wheels now. Whats Everyone opinion?

 

ll I see now is a red X for your photochop.

I had Corvairs (I'm getting one of them back, but that's a lng story)

This is how Pininfarina cleaned up the Corvair


kinda NSU-ee, and the hubcaps a butt ugly early Corvair.

 

UH......Natas as in Kaupas?????

 

No but he is my favorite skater and going to be my first born boys name if I have anything to say about it. Steve Cab is a HAMB member though.

 

Yeah, I know about Cab & I thought you being a magazine guy and all... but Natas Kaupas probably resides in sunny Ca. Oh, Corvairs are kinda neato.

 

My Geocities account got overloaded the photo will be back up in an hour.