By Tim Odell
Legend has it that GM scrambled to launch the Camaro, having failed to anticipate how much of a success the Mustang would be. The lack of a dedicated long-running design study mean the Camaro actually borrowed a lot of its shape from the second generation Corvair. For me, the second generation Corvair is really the better looking, especially black or blue. Alas, too many have automatics or need tons of body work. And yet, here we have this ’66 Corsa: 140 HP engine, four speed manual, clean black paint and a decent interior. Hell, it even has AC that blows cold. The paint’s not original and there might be 25% too many shiny chrome bits installed, but for somewhere between the $5k current bit and $9k Buy-It-Now, that’s still a bargain.
1966 Chevrolet Corvair – eBay Motors
Jeff Glucker
More proof that the greatest wheel ever designed is a Cragar S/S
If I only had a spare $9k laying around. And lived 1200 miles closer to Texas…
I just talked myself out of a $7200 ’62 convertible with the turbo and a 4-speed because I just don’t think I’ll be able to sell it for that in a couple years. That’s a bad way to look at car ownership, but I’m holding out for something else right now and kind of want an old car to drive in the interim.
Oh, and you’re absolutely right about the looks of the 2nd gen Corvair. I’d argue it’s the prettiest domestic car of the 1960s, although I could be talked into the first-gen Riviera.
I agree that they are very pretty cars and the second generation is definitely the better looking one,but there are a lot of good looking cars under the domestic cars of the 60s umbrella. Rivieras, Toronados, Thunderbirds, suicide door Lincolns, Eldorados just off the top of my head.
Oh yeah, but I still think the Corvair wins out.
I would take this over a comparable-condition Camaro any day. I was raised on Fords but always thought the second-gen Corvairs had great looks and interesting drivetrains. This could be a great deal.
That is pretty! It seems odd that there are no images of the engine.
I thought the same – but they are engine pics. Pretty extensive too.
Here’s one of about 5, waaaaayyy at the bottom of the ad.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q258/fast4401/66CORVAIR/IMG_4787.jpg
UGH! I DESPISE luggage racks! Everything else, though is perfect! 🙂
LOVE the luggage racks. They’re just putting that long rear deck to good use. I like form derived from utility.
Normally I’m with you, but it kinda works here.
Dang, that’s nice.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t factory A/C pretty uncommon in any Corvair?
Can’t say I’ve ever seen one with intact, working AC.
Why did GM never try selling the Corvair in Europe? I understand that by European standards it would have been a big car, but it seems a natural fit to me.
Actually, they did! They even assembled them (from CKD kits) in Switzerland, Belgium, and Denmark, and exported them from there into Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and likely other countries. However, I don’t think they sold very well (probably due to large size, high (usually engine bore and/or displacement-derived) taxes, and high fuel consumption).
gavelled for just under 8k. Well bought I’d say.