I’ve been wondering if an original 1960 Corvair was going to show up one of the days at the Cohort. Here it is, shot on a dark PNW day by Actually Mike. I’m going to use it for a shameless plug for one of my more ambitious undertakings: “How The 1960 Corvair Started A Global Design Revolution“, in case you missed it. And Mike, if this is a recent shot, and the Corvair is still there, I’d love to have a set of good shots of it. It never hurts to ask.
If we are having a “find the theme” day, it looks like 1960 compacts today. First, the 1960 Ranchero, now the Corvair. Could the same money for a new Corvair or Ranchero in 1960 have bought this air conditioned 54 Cadillac? Probably so, and then some.
This is a cool find. From where I sit, the 60 Corvair sedan seems to be relatively unolved. Everyone loves Monzas, Rampsides, Lakewoods and such. I cannot tell you when I last saw a basic 60 sedan. Cool.
For the first generation I like the sedans the best. The coupes look a little too short and stubby. Now for the second generation the coupes are far and away the better looking car. There aren’t as many sedans about anymore as very few folks save them and they are often viewed as parts cars for the other variants. Station wagon have only recently got any love in the collector market.
This sedan is something…
Saw an Imp recently sans camera yeah I know close but no cigar. rare cars here some made it but not many sighting a Corvair here is quite a feat. Setting up a parts supply out here was probably too much for GM and we already had Holdens & Vauxhalls so we werent deemed worthy I guess.
Corvairs were nicer looking than the Valiant,the Hillman Imp and it’s many badge engineered relatives had a look of the Corvair about them.
Too funny !!
Last night at approximately 6:30 pm ET I ran across one of these parked in the firezone of one of the million Publix we have here in Tallahassee!
A 1960, coupe, also white with seafoaam colored vinyl seats & dashboard. sweet ride!
OH, that picture is about ten years old. I took that shot in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. It’s a good thing I got some pictures of that Corvair when I saw it, because I never saw it again. It was darn near identical to the white 4-door Corvair that my parents bought when my mom was expecting me in the fall of ’59, The only difference is that Dad had the roof painted blue on our Corvair soon after we got it, since he thought an all-white car was a bit plain. I have such vivid memories of that Corvair, a car that my parents sold to buy a Rambler American station wagon when I was four years old.
in 2003 I owned a tooth enamel white 1960 Corvair 500 coupe, 80 hp, 3 speed. Very slow, very long shifts, and not the least bit fun to drive. Now I own a 1965 Corsa convertible that I keep stored somewhere in Oklahoma while the Army wreaks havoc on my life by moving me to every last post in the world.
I passed by an auto repair shop recently with a parking lot full of Corviars. I was in a hurry, so I didn’t stop. I’ve been meaning to return with my camera. I’ll make a point to go by there soon and post photos to the Cohort.
There definitely were both generations of Corvairs there.
If that four door model was red it could have been my drivers ed car. Craigs sedan is about the year of the car I spent a lot of time in. About a 66 or 67 I suppose. Liked it a lot better than the sixty.
I just got back from a month in Cuba and saw about 10 first generation Corvairs and they all had a front engine/live rear axle drivetrain swap. Ladas were the favourite donor car.
Well I didn’t take the photos myself, but this 1960 Corvair is for sale here in my town, not far from my place. We didn’t get them new, and this one is ex-USA and still LHD – it arrived in NZ in 1963. Some may hate the aftermarket wheels, and blacked-out B and C pillars – but I actually like the effect. Auction link here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/chevrolet/corvair/auction-578312101.htm