RADICALLY DIFFERENT

The Rise and Fall of the Corvair

Ford got to work on the Falcon; Chrysler had the Valiant; and GM conceived an affordable car with more of an import flavor. At the time, consumers were beginning to purchase the Volkswagen Bug, and for a while the Renault Dauphine made its appearance. GM figured that by combining elements from the imports with a domestic flair, it could create a winning combination with the dramatically new Corvair.

After the Corvair was introduced in 1960, GM thought it might have found a winner, as the price for the Corvair 500 coupe was an affordable $1,984, and $2,038 for the 500 four-door sedan. With more than 62,311 model 500s sold that year, the future of the Corvair looked promising. The car did flourish through 1961 and 1962, and by 1963, more than a half-million Corvairs were on the road.

The Downfall of the Corvair

This happy marriage was all about to change, however. Front and rear sway bars were optional and were occasionally omitted from the ’60-’63 models, eventually leading to an attack by Ralph Nader, which contributed to the demise of the Corvair. It was claimed that the car’s overall handling was affected, and with improper tire pressures, it could become dangerous. The properly maintained Corvairs were just fine, but the damage had been done. GM followed Nader, and the bad publicity quickly affected overall Corvair sales, eventually leading to its demise in 1969, when only 6,000 units left the factory.

It’s interesting to note that over the years many Corvairs were transformed into very good racecars, as the basic principle was sound. In spite of their on-track success, many old Corvairs were crushed, making these cars rare today.

A Unique Approach to a Rare Classic

The image of the Corvair doesn’t bring to mind a rounded, high-performance muscle car, despite the fact that there was a turbocharged Corvair Monza offered. Brian Paul of Chesterfield, Michigan, is a huge fan of Pro Touring and the muscle car scene in general, and he has owned Impalas, Chevelles and tri-5s, but his current creation is not your run-of-the-mill muscle car. After selling his Chevelle, he began looking for another muscle car to replace it, something he could build from the ground up. What he had in mind was a real high-performance, high-G machine. After looking at several Camaros and more Chevelles, he happened upon this Corvair Sport Coupe, and he thought the car had tremendous possibility.

The Build Begins

The car was solid, and the underside had been completely refurbished by the previous owner. For the asking price of $11,000, the little car was solid enough, but most everything still needed to be restored or replaced. Since Corvair hardtops (also known as Sport Coupes) are so rare, it would prove a bigger task compared to his previous projects. He also thought that, with the right tricks, the Corvair could be transformed into a spectacular car. After careful debate, Paul decided this was the perfect candidate, and after paying for the car, he trailered it home and began the arduous task of revitalizing a vintage and rare Chevy.

Chassis and Suspension Modifications

Since the underside of the car was new, Paul did not have to worry about rebuilding the original chassis; his focus was on bringing the car back to life. He began by modifying the coil-spring cups and installing airbags on all four corners. This allowed the large-diameter rubber to tuck into the fenderwells. To fit the massive 10-inch-wide wheels on the rear, the rearend was narrowed 10 inches on each side! This required shortening the half-shafts and incorporating S-10 control arms. After making the necessary modifications to the chassis, Paul added KYB shocks on all four corners.

Engine Enhancements

Beneath the trunk lid you find the original 165ci Corvair air-cooled flat-opposed six-cylinder engine. Since the engine and trans were in such good shape, Paul simply freshened them up and added some trick components, including Offenhauser finned-aluminum valve covers and oil pan. The original points distributor was removed, disassembled and reinstalled with a new PerTronix electronic ignition conversion. To add a little more power to the 165ci engine, a set of custom headers was built and ceramic-coated. Now it’s not the underside of the Corvair engine that’s impressive—it’s what’s revealed when the trunk is raised.

The LS7 Look

To make the car stand out, Paul decided to add a visually attractive engine bay and cover. He began by locating a set of Corvette LS7 coil covers along with an LS1 intake manifold, pressure line and air breathers. A tubing structure was built around the original Corvair engine designed to allow the Corvette components to be mounted and popped on and off—just as they would on a factory LS7 Corvette.

Paul completed the top-end transformation by installing hand-formed polished-aluminum engine compartment panels for a clean and custom look. Okay, initially you might think there’s a Corvette LS7 lurking under the hood.

The Body and Paintwork

With the suspension and drivetrain fabrication complete, Paul began working on the 41-year-old sheetmetal. Actually, the Corvair didn’t need much work, as it was an original 12,000-mile vehicle in excellent condition. Before applying the fresh paint, the door handles, locks and emblems were shaved and the wheel openings smoothed. After completing the necessary body mods, Lil’ Gig applied the outstanding PPG black-and-red-flamed paint job. Gregg Bock applied a light blue pinstripe to complement the flames. After the car was rubbed out, all of the original stainless glass trim was reinstalled, along with ’50 Pontiac taillights on the rear panel.

A Custom Interior

On the inside, Paul knew he would need a great-looking interior to complete the package. With the car back from the paint shop, he had a clean interior to work with—no panels, no seats, just a broad imagination and creativity. Paul first installed a tilt column and billet steering wheel and finished it off with a new molded red carpet kit. Rather than simply replace the stock rubber pedal pads, he opted for a set of brushed-aluminum pedals. After searching eBay, he found a set of great-looking seats that looked as if they fit the car, and they did. Seats by Willys Work Shop rebuilt and upholstered the bucket seats in rich, red leather to complement the exterior. Paul fabricated custom door panels and upholstered them in red and black leather, along with a beautifully polished aluminum strip and door handles. Hidden in the rear package tray is a quartet of Sony subs fed by a Sony head unit. The interior looks great and is every bit as functional as it is good-looking.

A Rare and Unique Masterpiece

After only one year of construction, the Corvair is now complete and looks great. Paul wanted something different, and he got it! In a world full of early Corvettes, Camaros and Novas, this Corvair is a breath of fresh air. It’s a fun car, looks good, handles well and is a great example of what can be done with a little creativity and imagination.