Chevrolet Corvair
The Chevrolet Corvair is a rear-engined, air-cooled compact car manufactured by Chevrolet in two generations between 1960–1969. A response to the Volkswagen Beetle,[1] it was produced in 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, convertible, 4-door station wagon, passenger van, commercial van, and pickup truck body styles in its first generation (1960–1964), and as a 2-door coupe, convertible or 4-door hardtop in its second (1965–1969). Total production was approximately 1.8 million vehicles from 1960 until 1969.
Chevrolet Corvair
1960–1969
1960–1969
- US: Ypsilanti, Michigan (Willow Run Assembly)
- US: Kansas City, Missouri (Leeds Assembly)
- US: Oakland, California (Oakland Assembly)
- US: Van Nuys (Van Nuys Assembly)
- US: St. Louis (St. Louis Truck Assembly)
- US: Flint, Michigan (Flint Truck Assembly)
- Belgium: Antwerp (CKD)
- Canada: Oshawa (Oshawa Car Assembly)
- Mexico: Mexico City (CKD)
- South Africa: Port Elizabeth (CKD)
- Switzerland: Bienne (CKD)
- Venezuela: Caracas (CKD)
The name "Corvair" was first applied in 1954 to a Corvette-based concept with a hardtop fastback-styled roof, part of the Motorama traveling exhibition.[2] When applied to the production models, the "air" part referenced the engine's cooling system.
A prominent aspect of the Corvair's legacy derives from controversy surrounding its handling, raised aggressively by Ralph Nader's Unsafe at Any Speed and tempered by a 1972 Texas A&M University safety commission report for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which found that the 1960–1963 Corvair possessed no greater potential for loss of control in extreme situations than contemporary compacts.[3]
Chevrolet would more directly compete with imports the size of the Volkswagen Beetle with the subcompact Chevrolet Vega a year after Corvair production ended from 1970 to 1977. Today the Corvair has a devoted following among owners and collectors as average prices for Corvairs from any year have reached an all-time high.[4]
Corvair Series 500[22]
Corvair Deluxe Series 700[22]
Corvair Monza Series 900[22]
1959–1964
1960–1964
- 2-door convertible
- 2-door coupe
- 4-door sedan
- 4-door station wagon
- 6/8-door van
- 2-door pickup truck
- 2,296 cc (2.3 L) air-cooled flat 6 engine
- 2,375 cc (2.4 L) Flat-six (1961–63)
- 2,683 cc (2.7 L) Flat-six (1964)
- Three-speed manual
- Four-speed manual
- Two-speed Corvair Powerglide automatic
108 in (2,743 mm)[23]
180 in (4,572 mm)[23]
66.9 in (1,699 mm)[23]
2,270–2,305 pounds (1,030–1,046 kg)[22]
1964–1969
1965–1969
- 2-door convertible
- 2-door hardtop
- 4-door hardtop (1965–67)
- 6-door van (1965)
2,683 cc (2.7 L) air-cooled flat 6 engine
- 3-speed manual
- 4-speed manual
- 2-speed Corvair Powerglide automatic
108 in (2,743 mm)
183.3 in (4,656 mm)
69.7 in (1,770 mm)
52.8 in (1,341 mm)
2,385–2,770 pounds (1,082–1,256 kg) [22]
Generations[edit]
Overview[edit]
The Corvair was sold in two generations, the first from 1960 to 1964, the second from 1965 to 1969. It sold more than 200,000 units in each of its first six model years, and 1,835,170 in all.[20][21]
Chevrolet positioned the under $2,000 car as an economy compact, and highlighted its rear-engine design, which offered a low silhouette, flat passenger compartment floor, and spacious interior. There was excellent traction, no need for power-assisted steering or brakes, good ride quality, and balanced braking. The design also attracted customers of other makes, primarily imports. The Corvair stood out, being larger, more powerful, and offering more features than comparable imports, and engineering unique from other American offerings. It used GM's Z-body, with design and engineering that advanced the rear-engine/rear-wheel-drive layout, which at the time had recently been popularized by the exploding success of the Volkswagen Beetle.
The Corvair's engine was an overhead-valve aluminum, air-cooled 80 hp (60 kW; 81 PS) 140 cu in (2.3 L) flat-six, later enlarged, first to 145 cubic inches (2.4 L) and then to 164 cubic inches (2.7 L). Power peaked with the 1965–66 turbocharged 180 hp (134 kW; 182 PS) Corsa engine option. The first generation model's swing axle rear suspension, which offered a comfortable ride. The design was replaced in 1965 model year with a fully independent trailing arm rear suspension similar to that of the Corvette Sting Ray.
Legacy[edit]
Design influence[edit]
The first-generation Corvair (1960–1964) has been credited with influencing car design worldwide.[45] Styled in GM's advanced styling studio in 1957, under the leadership of then director Ned Nickels, the compact design was made using cues from earlier Oldsmobile and Chevrolet models. The most notable design feature, its high, wrap-around beltline, was "borrowed" by other carmakers not long after the Corvair's release. These cars included the BMW 1602/2002, NSU Prinz, Hillman Imp, Fiat 1300/1500, Volkswagen Type 34 Karmann Ghia and the Mazda 800.[46]
The Corvair's combination of power and light weight introduced European manufacturers to an American market niche for small popular-priced sedans with more power and driveability than the contemporary European economy sedans and a more versatile and practical design than European sports cars. That overall concept was exemplified by Volkswagen's Type 34 Karmann Ghia and Type 3 "notchback" in 1961 and BMW's "New Class" sedans in 1962. BMW developed the concept further by mass-marketing higher performance high-quality sedans, setting the trend of the "sport sedan" category that would soon include offerings from a variety of European, and eventually Japanese, manufacturers.