shot and posted by Benoit
Yes, the Corvair Greenbrier is something I’ve always coveted. More so back in the day, when I was besotted with all things Corvair, and a van version would have served my lifestyle much more pleasurably. No having to curl up in the back seat on a cold, rainy night, never mind things other than sleeping.
But no; a Greenbrier was not to be. They were always farily rare, as of course they were not a success in their day; turns out Americans didn’t want a better VW bus. The Greenbrier could have been America’s first genuine minivan, instead of those bucking-bronco compact vans like the Econoline and the Chevy Van that replaced the Greenbrier all-too soon. It was not to be, for me as well as America. Our loss.
One factor was that the Greenbrier was collectable from almost the get-go. Everyone who appreciated Corvairs knew that the Greenbrier was something special, especially when equipped with a 140 hp swapped out of a coupe along with its four-speed, if it didn’t have one to start with. Just avoid the base engine, especially the smaller 145 incher (1961-1963) teamed with the Powerglide. According to a contemporary test, it was actually as slow (or slower) than a VW bus, despite the much bigger engine and twice the hp. The VW bus had very low (high numerical) gearing and its slick four speed box could be rowed to make the most of its power.
But with a 164 inch ill and the four speed, the Greenbrier was the only genuine sportsvan of its time, even if the Chevy van that replaced it in 1965 had the gall to use that name.
I’ve said enough; if you want the long version, head to my CC on the Greenbrier.
There’s an abandoned gumby green and white Greenbriar in a wooded area in the east side of my town. I’m surprised no one’s cared to save/restore it.
Car and Driver is showing a 1962 Corvair Rampside for sale on Bring a Trailer. All original patina but running and says the current bid is $4400. Here’s the link:
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a39455572/1962-chevrolet-corvair-pickup-bring-a-trailer-auction/
I had a ’61 G-box in highschool, Powerglide, and ten years later another ’61, four speed. Both were good vans. Heating them took some time but both were arguably much better for American roads than the ’67 VW bus I drove in between. Bone stock, manual or automatic, the Greenbriers would cruise at 70mph. The VW was geared way too low for that.
I can attest to the 70 mph. The only one I’ve ever seen on the road passed me at about 70, going uphill, last year.
The whole heat thing in these early vans is funny. With the air-cooled VW and Corvair, you got very little. Conversely, with the mid-engine Dodge A100 and Ford Econoline, you got too much.
I had a 69 VW window van in the mid-70s, and on a winter road trip through upstate New York my feet almost froze, even with thick wool socks and boots. You could feel the cold radiating through the front sheet metal at highway speeds.
Did Chevy ever offer a gasoline fired heater like VW did?
They did 61car 63 van both had it. If the block at. Gas pump has one line in and three out of it two one each carb one to heate
Yes. As I recall, in the Greenbriers and Corvans it was mounted in the right rear, next to the spare tire mounting. On Loadsides and Rampsides it was mounted on the passenger side firewall.
Neither of my Greenbriers had a gas heater but the stale air heaters would work OK if the thermostatically controlled exhaust air damper doors on the engine were functioning. Had to stay on top of engine oil leaks, though, or else the smell was awful.
My ’71 Westfalia had an Eberspacher that heated the bus pretty well. It needed it as that fiberglass top didn’t hold much heat in.
Well Said.
That was my first thought – trying to get heat into those old vans for passengers was a rare thing even with an old iron engine making gobs of 210 degree water. Trying to get heat farther back than the front seats in these must have been a real trick.
How did the Greenbriar compare to a VW bus weight-wise?
I think the Greenbrier weighed about 500lbs more than similar year Transporter. If I remember from driving them the Transporter would beat the Greenbrier up to 25mph or so, then the Greenbrier would pull away. Depends how it was geared. My Greenbriers had the standard 3:55 rear axle ratio but a 3:89 was optional; or vice versa…I forget.
never mind things other than sleeping
PN dug the swinger axles, or do I have a dirty mind?
A friend had one in 1972. Panel van, bench seat, 3 speed. He commuted bout 50 miles in it for a while. It was dependable to a fault.
When he would show up at his apartment, an old man with coke bottle glasses would shout “Junk Wagon! Junk Wagon! Take it to the junk yard!!” Whereupon my friend would rev it to the max. It had no muffler. They did this every day.
If a $ sign followed by what looks like a phone number means collectable then the odd few we have here certainly are, even more overpriced than early VW vans, that one is too low for our obstacle strewn streets hope it has air ride.
As fond of 4 speeds transmissions as I am; I would still rather have the Powerglide automatic in a Corvan.
That loonnggggg shift rod travel to the back made for some slow, vague, clumsy shifting up and down the engine’s rpm range.
In ’64 Chevrolet redesigned the shift linkage from the convoluted, around-the-gas-tank contraption to a straight through design. They welded a pipe through holes in the front and back of the gas tank and ran the shift rod right through it. They shifted much nicer.
There are quite a few Corvair cars in the Edmonton area. As for Greenbrier models, they are not to be found. And then, I came across this Corvair 95 pickup in an upscale neighbourhood a couple years ago.
Growing up Corvair, dad had a windowed and a panel. The panel he put the 140hp 4 speed in, made it our tow vehicle to pull his Yenko Stinger to the SCCA races (in D production). In Florida, heat wasn’t a big concern.. I now drive a Dodge grand caravan and used it to pull my road racing motorcycles all over the southeast. Apples don’t fall far from the tree.
I thoroughly enjoyed the article, thoughts and all of the memories submitted.
I admit that I’m crazy, but I’ve always considered anything Corvair to be “lustworthy”!!
I never was able to purchase one (or more!) for myself, and now so close to retirement, I cannot afford one.
My dream would be to travel in a Corvair Ultravan.
My dream would be one of the ramp vans…but they are probably close to “unobtanium” now.
For some reason I have vision of wheeling my lawnmower on/off it…even though I don’t currently need to do it…something about “I could if I wanted to ” is the appeal. Even ramps to a pickup bed don’t really do it for me, guess the height difference is meaningful.
It’s my ex greenbrier in picture from France