The Corvair | A Brief History

[@BryceFasig-qy9tf]

49 years driving my corvairs on highway without a single accident eat that Ralph

[@thejuiceman883]

The Corvair was a very beautiful car. I liked that the rear section was a tad bit longer than the front. That and the no grille look was super slick!

[@jamesbosworth4191]

I never had one, but was 5 when it hit the streets. I, even then, loved cars and was drawn to it

[@johnbyard6676]

Thank you for a very even handed and well researched piece. I had heard about the Corvair being abandoned in the forest, but I never knew it was because it had run out of gas. I got my drivers license in 1971, and my first car was a used and abused ‘63 Monza coupe. I drove that car all thru high school and most of college. I replaced it with a ‘65 Corsa 4 carb that someone had taken a hammer to the secondary carbs on. I paid $50 for that car in 1975. I am trying to create a clone of that car now - just spent $4000 on a set of rebuilt 140 heads. How times have changed. Thanks again.

[@fomfom9779]

My father ordered a 1962 Monza sedan to replace my mother's 1955 Mercury Montclair. One thing he kept secret, was that it would have a 4 speed manual, and not an automatic. That did not go over well. One day, my mother was taking me to school, and the thing threw a belt. That was it for keeping the Corvair. It was replaced by a new 1963 Olds F-85 Cutlass convertible. As a kid, I liked the Corvair.

[@ericbrunner4140]

My first new car out of university was a '64 Spyder coupe with the LSD. Had the John Fitch quick steering arms and short shift. Also put Pirelli radials on. Radials being quite new at that time in Canada and the US. I think mine was made at the Canadian plant? Rallied and slalomed it. Great fun. Two years later, traded it in for a Mk 1 Lotus Cortina which I still have. Memories of the Syder still make me smile. Was also beautiful in that metallic maroon with black interior.

[@corvairguy8844]

"the LSD"?!?

[@ericbrunner4140]

Positraction option

[@ACF6180T]

I still own 3 Corvairs. 1 a 1964 FC 95 Greenbrier Deluxe 6 door; 2 a 1965 Turbo Corsa Coupe, & 3 a 1967 Monza Convertible. I did own 4 at one time, & that was a 1960 4 door sedan . This was a very well done video on the brief history of the Corvair. It was pretty neat to see some period film of Corvairs actually being driven on the streets; Both 1st, & 2nd gen. & some of the footage looked like it was from 1966. Thanks for a well done video.

[@berniemcfadden7760]

Wow I'd love to have a Greenbrier 6 door some day. I'd pack the family in it and go to the drive in movie every weekend. I have a "66" Monza convertible with a 140hp 4 speed trans. So much fun to drive!

[@ACF6180T]

@@berniemcfadden7760 That sounds like a pretty sweet drop top Monza. We have driven the Greenbrier more than the other 2 Corvair's, & it is a pleasure to drive with the optional 110 FC engine, & Power-Glide trans. I personally drove the 60 model 700 more than any of the Corvair's; The gasoline heater was my favorite thing on the 60. I like all Corvairs pretty much; I would like to get a late model 4 door hardtop sport sedan ( Monza ) either a 65 or a 67 some day. That was the 1st Corvair I ever drove, & I was only 14 at the time🙂.

[@JohnSmith-bh8um]

Just bought a 63 greenbrier camper yesterday. It's a project. Both engines it came with are out so I'll be doing an overhaul on the stick engine and selling the spider engine. Maybe you'll know how much they sell for? Idk

[@ACF6180T]

@@JohnSmith-bh8um I would need to know the engine no. Stamped by oil fill. & over all condition, & how complete it is. If all the sheet metal is there,& turbo assembly. Congratulations on getting a 63 Greenbrier Camper.

[@keithad6485]

From an Aussie. Thank you for the time, effort and inspiration in producing this video. I found the history fascinating, very fascinating. Thank you. My first car was a rear engined aircooled 1.1 liter Beetle and I have been a fan of the concept ever since. Engien in the rear, aricooled and simply and fast removal and installation of the engine. I have been in manufacturing for 40 years and of that, 10 years as a heavy vehicle component manufacturer dealing exclusively with Defense in that time. With my experience with old air cooled VWs and aircooled Porsche 911s and my engineering experience, and marketing, I am convinced that there is room for a rear engined aircooled car in the market place even today, Imagine a rear engined flat six air cooled engine behind a modern VW seven speed auto/manual. I own a VW transporter T5 with this auto and I keep thinking about a Corvair engine, coupled with this VW auto. and rear engined. Gotta be possible, I have just bought a Corvair 140hp motor not working with the intention of reconditioning the engine. My first ever Corvair purchase (other than books going back to the 1970s such as How to Hotrod your Corvair Engine. I am picturing, hydraulic valve lifters, fuel injection, engine computer management system. tweeking the compression ration, perhaps a 911 aircooling shroud, or VW Tyoe 4 air cooling system. It is in my imagination at the moment but that is where dreams begin and may materialise into reality in time. BTW. several years ago I was driving in Melbourne Australia and saw a second generation Corvair in front of me, I had to laugh out loud when I saw the number plate - RNADER,

[@davidpayton8336]

Great video sir. I just bought my first Corvair, a 1965 Monza coupe, in October 2022. This is my first General Motors hobby car. I started with a 58 Edsel when I was in high school in the early seventies. That led to another 58 Edsel and then to a 57 Ford and on to a 1926 Model T Ford and then to a 1936 Ford. 🤷‍♂️ So like a little over 40 years tinkering with old cars. And with driving the Corvair down interstate 5 and over the Grapevine, and then on to Palm Springs a few weeks ago, I’m extremely happy with the Corvair. 😊😍👍

[@whatoddsautos7327]

Great video...i have a 64 Monza 4 door. This is by far the best coverage and explanation of the Nadar debacle. Excellent work!

[@daviddavis4444]

I had a 65 Corsa 4 Speed 14 inch enkei's and dual glass paks. I welded pig iron boat anchors to the front end to put some weight on it. I loved that car.

[@keithad6485]

Porsche put weights in the front of their first 911s in the mid 1960s cos of the weight distribution. Engineer who authorised this mod, got fired. They solved the problem in the 1969 model by moving the rear wheels further to the rear by about 6.5cm.

[@A_Litre_of_Farva]

Fantastic video! Although the coupe wasn’t necessarily a Monza when it came out in January ‘60, Monza was a performance package (correct me if I’m wrong) 😊

[@jamesbosworth4191]

You are correct.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

@@henry-e8o You could get it in late 60 and in 61, but it didn't become the biggest seller until about 62.

[@rdmineer1]

I was a kid in the '60s, fascinated with cars. I never saw much of the Corvairs. The Chevy II/Nova, looked like a mini Impala, and was more prominent. In fact, the second generation Nova was the base for the Camaro and Firebird. Many preferred the Nova because it came with smaller insurance rates.

[@jim7544]

Good to have the truth out on Ralph Nader! Thanks!

[@RyanFeatherston]

+James So sorry that Ralph didn't orgasm over the Corvair like you did back in the day.

[@lennyharp]

I had a Corvair Monza, maybe a 1960-62 model. I spun it out to see if handling was a problem! It did spin out but with bad conditions. I am currently looking for another Corvair.

[@denismpoiriersr3339]

I had a 63 and 64 Spyder and a 65 Corsa, races one, loved them all.

[@RichardBaroneOfficial]

A great Amercan car. I loved my 1962 Monza!

[@keithseadler3683]

I‘ve always wanted a corvair . I drove my first one in 1980. I was 17

[@ChrisandraDavis]

I'm looking at a beautiful 1964 currently. This was very informative. Thank you!

[@basvanderhoek9293]

Buy it, we only live once.

[@annelarrybrunelle3570]

IIRC, the Chicago Tribune reported the Darien Gap expedition in its Sunday magazine section. Not sure whether Popular Mechanics or Popular Science did also.

[@michaelwhite2823]

This was excellent. I mean better than network TV excellent.

[@basvanderhoek9293]

I was a Skoda and Dauphine driver in the Netherlands, and a DS19. Unfortunately, I never owned a corvair , but loved them from day one. Yes ,I am that old now. Still drive a Citroen ,albeit now in Vancouver BC and am tickled pink when I see proud young Corvair owners at our car meetings. The worst car I ever owned, but loved the most, only the Lord knows why , was a Renault Caravelle. Mr. Camo, thank you for making me forget for 30.38 minutes that I live in a world i still like, but don't like most people around me. (read Tesla drivers) 2 exceptions. Greetings from a still warm YVR, Bas.

[@bryanayers6104]

The horsepower increase in 1965 Spyder came about from an engine displacement increase from 2.4 to 2.7 liters along with turbo tweaks.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

As far as I know, the 64 had a new 164 cubic inch version, up from 145 cubes. The 65 and later used the 164, with the 65 turbo version making more horses. We didn't rate engines by litters in this country.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

@@henry-e8o I thought the 164 came out for 64. Sounds like you really like it.

[@noelfelty338]

No such thing as a 1965 Spyder. Spyder models were only 1962-64

[@jamesbosworth4191]

@@noelfelty338 I think the 65 equivalent is the Corsa.

[@bryanayers6104]

@@noelfelty338 I added Spyder by accident... 164ci displacement started in '64.

[@John-i3t9o]

At the end of the day, let's just be frank- it was a big gamble to produce a rear-engine car. The 1965 Corvair was a beautiful car, but if Chevrolet had done the same stying on the Nova, they would have had a huge hit.

[@545x39Rat]

The king returns

[@zokhrozzWoomzy]

slava poop lives matter!

[@callmecamo]

More to come, I blame the government for the slow uploads.

[@chrisambrose8838]

I restored a 1962 Corvair 700 coupe for my wife and she loves the little car! Since I drive Corvettes , she refers to it as Corvette’s little sister ! lol. 🇺🇸💙👍🙋‍♂️🖖🏻😊

[@colearmas6540]

I have two right now and I like to call them "corvettes ugly cousin" I think they look better than Corvettes, but it gets a laugh and they usually understand what I mean lol

[@kevinamundsen7646]

Inside my grandmother's house on a hot summer day I was staring out the window watching cars pass when a Corvair passed with some flames coming out the rear in the vicinity of the exhaust pipes. The Corvair slowed and turned onto our street. Running out the front door, the car sat smoldering in front of our house. Miraculously, a fire engine appeared out of nowhere, someone must have called them. The fireman sprayed some water, lifted the hood and sprayed some more. I was standing close at this point. As the smoke dissipated, the generator pulley and fan were turning on their own, there was no question the belt had broken and was gone. The fireman grasped one of the battery terminals with his gloved hand, effortlessly twisted the battery cable and lifted it off. The generator stopped rotating. I felt so sorry for the nice little Corvair. Now fifty years later I know how important it is to check and maintain the fanbelt of an air-cooled engine, and how important it is to stop driving any car when the GEN light comes on. I learned something else that day, battery terminals are tapered and if correctly installed can be removed quickly in an emergency. This knowledge has saved me more than once.

[@aaronbrandes7456]

Good video. In my opinion, the Corvair is the most interesting car ever built. The fact that GM built it is even more impressive.

[@ohboykaboy]

I thank you for the history starting with Cadillac...... so many corvair videos, books or know-it-alls never ever cover that history......... I have had 6 corvairs and have a 66 today, Again thank you telling the truth with the start of the car.

[@isaaccan3155]

Both Vw and Corvair later switched to IRS rear suspension, but VW did end up designing a Z bar Camber Compensator. You can still today buy a leaf spring version today.

[@daveridgeway2639]

Hi Camo, nice video! I just want to add that the Corvair station wagon was discounted in favor of the Monza convertible due to lack of room at the factory to produce both. In the mean time, the Monza convertible out sold the station wagon anyway. Please reply. Dave...

[@andrewhowarth4578]

I have owned six Corvairs and loved them all. However I think your political bias is hurting your case, especially in demeaning Nader's motives and characterizing several moderately progressive publications as radical or hard left. Nader's basic premise that the American automotive industry had completely disregarded automotive safety and had attempted to cover up safety issues has been proven entirely correct. The NHTSA vindicated the Corvair, for sure, but it also led to the use of automotive recalls and safety advisories that we take for granted today. I'm not a Nader fan at all, but he saw something wrong with the auto industry and called it out. If GM had reacted in a responsible manner, the second generation Corvair would have both had a longer life and been more successful. Ed Coles brought the Corvair to life and was also responsible for its death. But the bottom line on both decisions was profit. On the second one he made an error, failing to see the Corvair as appealing to a new market of auto enthusiasts, not the small family car market that belonged to the Chevy II, Falcon, and Valiant. Corvairs were expensive to make and needed to sell at a higher price point. I think subsequent history proves that there was such a market. A more powerful Corvair with better styling and handling than the Mustang and Camaro would have been a great market success, with or without Ralph Nader. Andy

[@bretfisher7286]

Very well said.

[@mikerilling6515]

It was a great car with some bad press

[@Edward-r5h3i]

Remember when he ran for office at the last minute way back when and screwed up the count? I’m just glad he’s not in charge of anything important. 🙄

[@denismpoiriersr3339]

The 65+ rear suspension was nearly identical to the 63+ Corvette, but Ralph Nader never acknowledged that.

[@markward6076]

Ford played dirty against chevy and that wasn't the first time I'm sure. The corvair would have probably sold record numbers comparable to Volkswagen and Ford didn't want that.

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

64.5 mustang

[@animalcorvair]

been driving corvairs for over 45 years have 6 now ,,

[@pinkymanwee5738]

I need Corvair

[@John-i3t9o]

Very interesting video. I would however, quibble with the dealership's offer of "condiments" to prospective Corvair buyers. "Sir, may I offer you some ketchup?"

[@davidp187]

Seems like a movie could be made.

[@Java-d3h]

Sweet video, corvairs are goated

[@old-corvair-guy]

At the age of 14 I got started with them. I will always love corvairs,all of them. I will add,you do not own a corvair .it owns you.when u think it can be trusted, it bites back hard. I am now oldcorvairguy.

[@bryanpalmer9660]

An amazing story,but also a sad one-although I have read a lot about the. Corvair and Ralph Nader,I didn't realize how much nasty politics were involved and how such an innovative car,for all it's faults,could be tarnished by such muckrakers -a genuine "What if!"

[@T-41]

At the time of introduction, the Corvair could be summarized as the American Volkswagen. Unfortunately for GM , the market was much more receptive to the quite conventional Ford Falcon - which outsold the Corvair by a wide margin. GM quickly responded with their own very conventional Chevy II, a GM Ford Falcon. With the sporty Monza/ Spyder models the Corvair was cleverly repositioned as an American Karman Ghia or affordable Porsche. Ford blocked them again with the 1964 1/2 Mustang, creating the whole sporty Pony car segment. GM was faced with imitating again- the Camaro ( Chevrolet’s Mustang) in 1967. Nader’s antics didn’t help the Corvair for sure, but Ford products were simply more successful- hit the sweet spots in the market.

[@KbB-kz9qp]

So, Nader didn’t even drive much, yet he proclaimed himself expert on car safety? 🙄

[@keithad6485]

I suspect he was simply an ambitious political animal who may have achieved a certain amount of fame from his book but did not achieve political greatness. Did he ever run for house of reps or the senate?

[@ericjohnson9468]

The ‘swing-axel’ rear that ‘Nader’ harped on was nothing new when the “Corvair’ came along; VW, Triumph Herald, MB sports car… all utilized the same rear suspension at that time… … but ‘Nader’ needed to make a name for himself as a crusading ‘consumer advocate’. As a teen, my first car was a ‘1960 Corvair coupe’ w/ manual transmission, & I loved it. Because I liked the car so much & understood the ‘tuck-wheel’ issue, I installed a very simple, inexpensive ‘aftermarket’ item which countered that issue… … & I installed it myself. All these decades later, & I still stop to look at any ‘Corvair’… & think about getting one again. Per this vid, the 2nd model of the ‘Corvair’ had a completely different suspension. ‘Corvair’ died in part because it became a specific political football.

[@willgeary6086]

A perfect example of how the government should stay out of areas they know absolutely nothing about, especially private industry.

[@RyanFeatherston]

+Kb123 B123 Whataboutism.

[@maconp1119]

Nader is a capital M Moron.

[@LawrenceRoss1906]

Former Corvair owner. Just wanted to say that the Nation isn't a 'far left' publication. It's a long respected mag on the left, but well within the political mainstream.

[@gordonteats298]

Those cars road smooth

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

The rear engine design of the Corvair caused a serious weight imbalance because the engine was too rearward of the back wheels. A possible solution would have been to move the engine forward several inches closer to the backseat... with the secondary luggage space moved from behind the rear seat to behind the rear bumper. A better solution would have been a front wheel drive transverse water cooled four cylinder engine sourced from Opel.

[@stevieray6216]

In retrospect that’s probably true. Would be interesting to know if that option ever occurred to GM engineers. 🤔 Let’s not forget, however, that at that time a lot of European cars, not only the VW Beetle, had the same rear engine layout. It only died out in the early seventies when FWD became the norm for compact cars.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@stevieray6216 The rear engine design on the several vintage European cars was better because their engine's center of gravity was much closer to the rear axle compared to the Corvair. Also, at that time there was no unified approach to small car design. There were successfully engineered small cars with a conventional water cooled front engine/rear wheel drive... others with a transverse water cooled front engine/front wheel drive...and rear engine air cooled rear wheel drive cars. The Renault Twingo III/Smart ForFour are rare examples of modern rear engine cars...which is practical engineering only in very small cars.

[@noelfelty338]

The rear engine layout has been proven time and time again. Better traction and better handling, also safer because of the large crumple zone in front. The handling problem was found to be non existent and even proven so by the NHTSA and you are still here after all of the facts and suggesting there was a problem? If rear engine design is flawed then how come almost ALL high priced race winning super cars are rear or mid engine? GM did look at front engine and front wheel drive. The reason they didn’t go that route is it would require air conditioning and power steering. 2 things that you don’t need with rear engine design. Finally, FWD handle aweful and are dangerous in rain, hydroplane, torque steer in curves, destroy tires and brakes. I have been involved in racing and autocrossing for several years and the LAST car any experienced racer wants for handling is FWD.

[@noelfelty338]

If the argument is true, then why did the NHTSA discover that the VW and Renault Dalohine rolled over in low speed crashes but the Corvair did not? You need to read through the testing and engineering rather than making assumptions under your opinion. The Corvair was capable of .58 degrees of lateral acceleration in the 1960-64 model. The second 1965-69 generation was capable of .7g of lateral acceleration and in radials and the better shocks of today they often turn .9g to one full g. Find some cars today that are capable of that kind of handling. You will be surprised when you start looking at the real numbers in comparison on how extremely well the Corvair handles.

[@denniswolfe3871]

Love my 64 convertible

[@ex-engineer6657]

Thanks. Well done.

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

the monza coupe. started the bucket seat trend in mid 1960.5 most cars had bench seats and 3 on the tree , 1961 4speed was a offered ,Monza coupe out sold other sporty compac coupes 1961-63,falcon futura ,valiant signet, lancer GT,dart GT, la mans, cutlas , nova ss, monza coupe was sale leader ,until 1964 mustang stole the show , did ford copy the monza treatment with the mustang? the late model 65-69 corvair style leaders of the 60s, see some corvair in 67 camero

[@denismpoiriersr3339]

GN always lacks balls when the going gets tough. GM bailed on the OHC Sprint 6 from Pontiac as well.

[@dalghren]

i bet that's not a picture of a caddyback.

[@balesjo]

Would love to have one of the Corvairs/Monzas from 1965 or after, particularly a convertible. It's a shame that Nader cast a pall over the Corvair and that GM management failed to take advantage of positive revjews of the car (particularly of Corvairs making it through the Darien Gap) and essentially washing their hands on the car by the mid-60s.

[@RyanFeatherston]

+Jonathan Bales Ralph wasn't wrong about the Corvair, though. It killed Ernie Kovacs.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

I think there were haters of the car within GM, maybe Ed Cole's adversaries.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

True, but what about those killed in Volkswagens?

[@gordonteats298]

Cool

[@AngelFloresOchoa]

Chevy loves to kill their best coupes via death by sedan option 😑

[@brombrom1522]

If Ralph is paranoid, it's nothing compared to the writer of this right-wing work of fiction.