History of the Chevrolet Corvair - First Friday Flashback Feature for June 2024!

Thank You for this excellent year by year history of my favorite car!

Really liked the sound-track "music" on this one. Years back I had a 65 or 66 Corsa with a four speed. It was a fun car to drive up on the hilly and curvy roads in PV "not breaking the speed limit or course" LOL
Thanks to If This Car Could Talk for keeping automotive history alive.......

When I was in high school in the early seventies my first car was a 1962 Corvair Monza.
It was stolen while I was in class and a few weeks later we found in 1963 Monza.
It became the hand-me-down car for each of my two younger brothers and then our neighbor's daughter.

We had a 64 Monza (110 hp, 4sp) convertible.
My mom worked at a tire store (bookkeeper) and was given a set of Michelin tires, it was funny seeing my 5 foot and a bit tall mother trying to convince a gas station attendant the tires weren't flat. ;-D

You would think that at the age of 67, I would have known about the Monvair van. Never remember seeing them as a kid. Going uphill in an 100HP van must have been fun. Thanks for this really interesting video. I find the rare examples from 60s automotive history to more fascinating than Mustangs and Camaros. Corvairs, Studebakers, AMC etc. Always enjoy your videos. 💯

monza trim started the luxury sporty bucket seats trend , some thing lot cars have today, turbo chargers , my parents drove his and hers late models { 65-69 } corvairs , one my first cars was a 65 4 speed monza coupe with 140hp boxer 6 had 4x1 carbs , we always said the horse power of a corvair engines 95 ,110,140, or said 150 or 180 turbo , designed by bill Mitchell

Always were intrigued by the Corvair. It’s interesting in a not so good way that the Corvair and Ralph Nader will always be synonymous. Was it the best car, no, but no car in those days was the best car. Popular now for sure!!! Like many, many others! Just goes to show, even bad publicity is good publicity!!!

Got a red '65 Corsa turbo 4 spd in '71 and loved it. Wish l had it now.

Oh and particularly love the intro!!! 🤣🤣🤪🤪😂😂

I had four cars in total. All 65s and 66s. A properly tuned (carb balance is important) Corvair is a very smooth engine with adequate power. The manual brakes (which shared components with Chevy II's and Chevelles) were quite powerful as the extra weight on the rear helped the rears to slow the car. The manual steering was the most pleasant manual steering I have ever encountered. The car was just about perfect with a set of radials. The heater was weak and the design of the pushrod tubes allowed for oil leaks to be common. In the end, it was things like failed rear control arm bearings that ended my relationship with them. Beautiful styling made the Mustang look boxy. I should also mention that the seats were much more comfortable than Mustang seats on a long trip (having had experience with both in that type of driving). Sadly the 67 and up lost these seats for something that looked better but felt worse.

I always liked the design of the Corvair 2 door hardtop.
Looks fantastic in many different angles.

My brother had 3 Convertibles and a coupe, all 1969. All were stolen. All 4. I had 2 1966 Monza Coupes Black on Black and Black on Red. One neat up the other literally showroom perfect. It had ONE SCRATCH on the passenger door. One interesting fact was the Corvair was introduced on my Birthday October 2, 1969. Same exact day both of us were born! Ralph Nader never said I wasn't safe! 😂

I've been hooked on Corvairs since the 1st one I drove; I was only 14 without a driver licence, & that was a 65 Monza 4 door with a 110 HP engine, & a automatic trans. It was such a easy, & comfortable automobile to drive. I still own a 64 Greenbrier a 65 Corsa Turbo Coupe, & a 67 Monza Convertible. I did at one time own a 60 700 4 door; One of my favorite things about the 60 was the gasoline heater. I would say within 35 seconds it was blowing hot air out, & driving down the hwy. at 70 mph was a breeze. On a different note I like to ask Chevrolet enthusiast; What was the 1st Chevrolet that was not a sport car to have bucket seats; They hardly ever get it right. That would be the 1960 Monza Coupe. IMHO I've driven almost ever Chevrolet model Corvair made, & as a Chevrolet enthusiast I like every Corvair I've ever driven; & I own currently 5 other Chevrolet's 99,03,07,08, & a 2023.Thank you for the flashback series; Well done.