Following the hype of large boat cars, manufacturers created more compact cars like they do in Japan. This craze resulted in some memorable cars such as the Studebaker Lark, Ford Falcon, Plymouth Valiant and the distinguished Chevrolet Corvair.
The Chevy Corvair is most unique from its rear-engine layout. It was the very first and only car that Chevy would apply that layout to. The Corvair’s uniqueness does not end there, it comes air-cooled, meaning it does not have a radiator.
“I really like the rear-engined setup, though I can see some faults but cosmetically I think it’s cool,” Olivia Villa Said.
The Corvair was also the building block for one of the most esteemed American muscle cars ever, the Camaro.
All other car brands chose to make their small compact cars even more powerful by doubling their cylinders and giving them V8 engines. All but Chevrolet, the Corvair stuck with its flat plane 4 engine until it ended in 69’.
Craig has owned Corvairs since he was in high school, he owns more than 5 Corvairs and he can’t stop loving them. Because of his love of Corvair, he decided to do what the Chevy designers would not, he put the V8 out of a 61 F85 Cutlass in his Corvair. He bored the engine large, turning it from 3.5 liters to 4.2 liters of fury. This new creation makes about 200 BHP and roars like a beast.
It resembles a 1st generation Camaro with similar headlights, mirrors, and wipers. The Corvair has triangular-looking body panels that form a line straight down the side. There were two options for them, 2-door and 4-door, and in some cases, the 4-door would not have a b-pillar. The Corvair had the looks of most other cars during that time but it was good at hiding the fact that it was rear-engined, the only tell was the air vents near the rear windshield.
“I like old Camaros, so it’s great to see where they were inspired, ” Sophomore Brandon Eastin said.
The Corvair is easily a good family car, although advertised as “compact” it truly has the space. The interior has two front seats with only lap belts and the shifter going down the middle. In the rear, there is a bench that can fold down giving plenty of room for storage and the whole family. The bench in the rear does not come with seatbelts meaning the family dog is comfortable for the entire trip.
Craig with his 66 Corvair chose to take the interior into his own hands by taking some black leather seats from a Nissan 300ZX and throwing them in the front. Along with his front seat change, he made the back bench black leather as well.
“I think it’s really cool how he turned the interior more modern,” Villa said
Overall the Chevy Corvair is great for its uniqueness and its ability to turn heads, and without it America would not have one of the greatest cars ever made.
