There are quite a few Facebook sites that I frequently visit, and one of the more compelling is the Wagons HO! fan page dedicated to all things pertaining to the Station Wagon. These were one the primary transportation module for families on the go before the advent of the Minivan, and the SUV. And look, here is a particularly tasty compact wagon in the form of a Chevy Corvair, called the Lakewood. Lustworthy or not?
According to the rather detailed listing:
“Tina” is a show winning, amazingly original car brought out of the high desert of California less than two years ago. She won trophies at the Mobtown Greaseball, Canton Natty Boh show (she even has a Natty Boh shift knob), Jerry’s Chevrolet, Stewart’s Root Beer…all last summer. She is numbers matching and wears her original paint. When my daughter asked me if I was going to paint her, I said, “No…she has great patina”. That’s when she named the car Tina. She is solid and has no “real” rust…only her patina. No Bondo and the only damage is a crease on the driver’s side rear door that I refuse to do anything with. Her floors had rusted out from sitting on the her bottom in the desert and her previous owner did a good replacement job.
She has Shelby mags with new lugs, new fuels lines, tank cleaned too, new battery, new battery cables, rebuilt generator, new choke cable, new rubber on hatch and windshield, new whitewall tires, new heater hoses, all electrics work, numbers matching three speed and 80 HP motor that runs beautifully…has some valve clatter upon start up, but they had that when they came off the dealer’s floor. Mileage is correct! Rebuilt master cylinder and wheel cylinders, new brakes and all brake lines, insulated roof, new front and rear wheel bearings, new rear shocks and springs, new headlights and adjusters, Champion 500 vintage gold metalflake steering wheel (worth as much as $500), new pittman arm bushing, new u-joints, new voltage regulator and some very nice restoration to the rear area of the interior (refuse to touch outside). If somebody DID want to restore her, she’s the perfect candidate with a laser straight body with superior gaps and panel fit. You can find shinier cars out there that have been welded, patched, repainted, cobbled together, etc., but try to find one that is untouched like Tina. You won’t. Her price reflects, in my opinion, that she is a far better find than a car somebody restored, with body repairs and work you have no idea of, that might start rudting again after the first time you wash her. With a car like this, you KNOW what condition she’s in. I’d hate to see her restored.
I’ve worked on cars for over 40 years and no car has ever been this cooperative. Guess it’s because of its life in the high desert. I have even been in contact with the original owner and the 2nd owner. I’m only the third in her 52 years. She came out of Roberts Morris Chevrolet in 1960, and was driven to Califoria’s high desert almost immediately. I even have the original owner’s spiral notebook documenting the trip, oil changes, miles etc. This booklet covers a few years. I have both previous owner’s names, addresses, etc. I know her history.
Lakewoods were only made for 18 months. Every other person at these shows tells me about their aunt or cousin who owned a Corvair, and they ALWAYS say, “Never saw a wagon”. You just can’t find them in this shape, especially in the east.
With a little under 24 hours to go until the auction ends, the top bid so far is $3,750 with an unmet reserve. What do you think it will take to sell this rather unique Corvair? See the listing here, [sc:ebay itemid=”281136204689″ linktext=”1961 Chevrolet Corvair Lakewood Station Wagon” ], and let me know what you think.
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