A Corvair could slog through all kinds of snow drifts, mud, and rough terrain because the weight was on the drive wheels. If only GM had added that $8. front sway bar to the 1960-63 Early models, it might still be with us today...
Most drivers I doubt knew to keep the correct tire pressure which varied from front to rear. Gas station attendants didn’t know that either in most cases!
@@pete79602 Whatever. I let the facts speak for themselves. They are indeed fun cars to drive, but they understeer radically and provide no protection in a frontal collision. They are also high emitters of smog precursors and carbon monoxide.
@@johne6081 Franklin Roosevelt said that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Look at those new self driving cars crashing and killing. The electric cars catching on fire sitting in the garage in the middle of the night. Gee, if the garage is connected to the house, the entire home may burn down. I'd sleep a little better having a Corvair in my garage overnight.
Hell -- you can shut the engine off. :) We just bought our first push-to-start car, and I still have reservations about the system and have yet to figure out any advantage over twisting an ignition key.
I thought the bit where they drove through the water was quite cool. You NEVER see anyone doing that today in a car demonstration, unless of course it’s a truck or SUV type vehicle. I also love how cars back then were designed for little niche markets. It was intended to be a secondary family car to travel about through town, getting errands done (that’s why they show the lady loading her groceries in the front). It was actually quite a practical little car for its time. Cars today are all about pleasing the masses with all these touch-screen, gimmicky electronics and creature comforts and SILVER SILVER beige SILVER. Not a lot of cars today have personality or flair anymore. Even exotic and sports cars are all starting to look too similar and less exciting, with all these garish fenders and body kits.
That's what I say. Cars today look so much alike, you couldn't tell the difference without reading the name on it. Plus no fancy electronics, the 2nd PERFECT car!! The 1st one, of course being the beetle!!
It is a joy driving my 60, 2 speed automatic. I especially love coming in and out of driveway aprons - since the weight is more in the rear, and the front tires get less air pressure, it just floats and I feel very little, if any bump crossing a gutter, etc. 4 wheel independent suspension is great. Not power steering, but it feels like it once you get over 5mph. Very fun and relaxing to drive. I can work on everything too.
The green Corvair looks exactally like the one my parents owned..Affectionately named "The MonZter". My first driving experiance was in this car... My dad took me driving..Watching this video reminds me of those "driving lessons"!
When I was in Sapporo, Japan from 1968-1970 I owned a 1960 Chevrolet Corsair. It was a four-door sedan with a Powerglide transmission and a wonderful gasoline heater in the front trunk. A very reliable car for a place like Sapporo.
My first car was a "66 corvair. ..best car I ever owned. I never got stuck in the snow with it. It was dependable despite Nader's comments. I still miss that car.
I commute from Portola to Reno in this car 5 days a week. It works and gets somewhat decent mileage. Not interested in a new car payment at the moment.
I watch this video over and over because as a kid these cute cars were everywhere. It's great watching a Corvair navigating down a road or river. I have a friend that owned several of those little cars and he loved them. In my humble opinion, I would feel some safer driving a Corvair than a new self driving vehicle. What's with the new electric cars burning to the ground even if sitting in the garage. If you have a connected garage to your home, I would sleep better if I had a Corvair in my garage. Dick York drove a 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa convertible on Bewitched for a short while. Back then that was groovy.
American engineering at its best, thanks mr. Cole. He designed and was the genius behind it.i own a "67"Monza....most enjoyable, fun car i have ever driven.easy to work on. They DONT BREAK DOWN💪👍😊❤🇺🇸
I grew up in the Boston Mountains in the 1940s and 50s when there were few paved roads. The cars that could handle the roads and some roads were rocky creek beds, were Chryslers and Packards. Otherwise people drove mostly Dodge flatbed trucks, Model A and Model T Fords were still popular. My Dad would buy Chrysler cars in Chicago for re-sale in Arkansas. Chevrolet didn't have much of a presence due to the tendency to break rear axles. If you drove a Chevrolet you carried a spare axle and tools to replace it. Oh, about the Corvair. I owned a 1963 in the early '70s, in Texas. It was one of the best cars I ever owned. It's driving and handling was superb. All cars killed people in head on collisions. The steering shafts were steel rods and they penetrated ones chest, generally pinning the driver to the seat back. The momentum drove the passengers head through the windshield, then the snap back into the remnants of the windshield removed the head, The first government intervention in the manufacturing of cars was to force Ford to equip cars with hydraulic brakes and sealed beam headlights, in 1940. Ford was still using light bulbs and cable brakes.
My dad bought us one of these in 1966 or 67. He was soooo excited!! It was his dream car but it worked as a family car too! I'm pretty sure he bought a used one, we bought secondhand stuff all the time. Clothes too, until he got my mum a (secondhand 😁) sewing machine.
No, if you the article it clearly say: "The handling and stability performance of the 1960-63 Corvair does not result in an abnormal potential for loss of control or rollover, and it is at least as good as the performance of some contemporary vehicles both foreign and domestic."
Even within GM, there was considerable discontent about the stability of the early Corvairs, with a couple of executives loosing loved ones in accidents. John Delorean successfully torpedoed a Pontiac version of the rear-engine platform (though the "rope drive" front-engine, rear-transmission Tempest was based on the same body shell). Yes, a Corvair could do anything an Impala could do, and do it safely, but beyond that, it was hard to predict at what point things would turn ugly. If GM had just made the less than $50 worth of suspension upgrades that became standard in 1964 part of the original package, it would have avoided a lot of bad press.
Nader was right about the safety issues on the early model Corvairs. I know from personal experience with a `61 Monza I had for a while. It lots of problems, I didn't have a proper garage for it, and never got it fully restored like it should have been, but boy could it hug the curves. And the sound of that engine when it was in tune. I miss it. Chevrolet addressed the safety problems in the later models, but I wish they hadn't also changed the body style when they did. I've always loved the body designs of those early Corvairs, along with those of other domestic cars from the early 60s. Voted for Nader in both `96 and 2000.
A 1964 model is the "early style" and has many of the 1965 improvements. Get yourself one of those. But really, it wasn't that the 1960-63 models were made badly, the later years were just made better. Like any car through the years.
Unlike lousy Toyota and Ford commercials that just tell you where you can go, or "Our car is 'better' than any other brand", this commercial actually tells you why you should buy the vehicle. Funny thing is that I used to hate this car for having an 89hp engine. Now that I know how frickin good it is, I want one. What the heck 😄
I was hired to be a part-time driver for a mercantile market that used a Corvan (probably around 1963 or 64) cargo van for their home deliveries. I was hired to drive because their regular driver had his license suspended because of a DUI (who was still a good friend -- his family was a previous neighbor to ours in a small town -- which happened to have Coors Beer factory located there). Anyway, me being 18 y.o. and my buddy (who still did the "on foot" deliveries to each house) who was 17 y.o., we weren't exactly the best employees of this mercantile -- we did everything we were hired to do ... and a bit more. We were both car guys. He owned (but temporarily couldn't drive) a '56 Blue & White Chevy 150 2-door wagon with a 283 V8 and 3-speed transmission with shifter on the floor. I owned a '59 Blue/Blue Chevy Impala convertible with "everything" -- 283 V8, PowerGlide Trans, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Power Windows and Power Seats. Along with a buddy of ours, who had a repainted "Forest Green Metallic" w/Black interior '64 Valiant Signet Convertible, we would "tear up" this small town's streets for fun. So, back to me driving for this Mercantile. They had a '63-4(?) Corvair cargo van which, of course, had its 6-Cyl engine way in the back which displaced most of the weight of this van. So, one day after driving for them for at least 1 month, I asked my buddy if this Corvair van could do any wheelies since most of the weight was in the rear. If anyone would have done a wheelie in this, it would have been my DUI buddy. But he said he didn't know since he never tried it because the engine was just the stock engine it came with. So, I asked him, if he thought we could do a wheelie in this with both of us and a load of grocery deliveries (usually enough for 5-7 house deliveries (including a few times to the rear of Coors Brewery private house). He said he didn't think so because the 6-cyl engine didn't have enough torque to spin the tires and lift up the front axle, especially with the weight of both of us and the groceries in it. I then asked him, if he thought that from doing a standing stop or a running go at it? He told me, probably both. I thought, Hmmmmm, I wonder. So, in a fairly quiet area of town on a couple of small streets after delivering to a couple of homes, I decided to try for a wheelie from a standing stop. After revving up as high as I could do it and released the clutch a few times, it didn't really do anything of a wheelie -- I don't think I could get the van to rise up any more than just a couple of inches, if that. I think we felt it rise, but not enough to call it a "wheelie." I wasn't totally satisfied with this. So, after delivering to another couple of homes, I realized that many of the intersections of this area had dips in the crossings of several streets. So, I wondered, if we got a bit of a "running start" and then if I could pop the clutch just as we were crossing one of those dips, maybe I could get a bit higher jump to classify it as an actual "wheelie." So, I tried this for 3-4 of the dips that were on our route to deliver the groceries. With each dip, I tried to pop the clutch and spin the rear tires enough to attempt to propel the front of this light-weight van upward even just a few more inches than what I could do from a standing start. After about the 5th or 6th crossing of the dips, I was finally able to rise the front of this van enough to recognize that it did, indeed, do a wheelie of at least about 6 inches, if not a bit more. I know I did, because the steering went crazy and I could turn the wheels like butter for an instant, then we felt the van drop back down after passing that last cross-dip in the road with a noticeable "thud" from the front wheels and tires. I realize that it wasn't all that much to raise up the front of a Corvair cargo van, but it did raise up enough to call it a legitimate "wheelie." Fortunately, no one complained to our boss about the squealing tires and other noises we made trying to do this wheelie. And there wasn't any damage to the front tires and axles either. But we had fun trying to do this and later that night after work, the 3 of us celebrated with a few Coors beers each for doing a wheelie in a Corvair cargo van.
In the 60s my Dad drove a bug. My best friend's dad drove a corvair. I was incredibly jealous of the corvairs back seat. Where I spent a lot of time. The Corvair was a lot more comfortable in the back. And bug back windows dont roll down. An important thing to an 8 year old.
Its' styling was very influential on Europe in particular. Definitely an influence on the 1962 BMW "Neue Klasse" whose design themes BMW has been rehashing ever since.
I was just a little kid in the 1960's ! If my memory serves me correctly....Life was clearly MUCH "BETTER" then, of course I could be "Senile" or just completely "Toasted" ! Whoooaaaaa ! Run Faster, Jump Higher with "P.F. FLYERS" !
I use to be about the fastest in our neighborhood wearing my Buster Brown shoes. Us kids played outside most of the time, playing cowboy and Indian, hide and seek, tag. We caught lightning bugs. I still fortunately have my 1965 Jaguar Schwinn made in Chicago Illinois. It was made to last. My mechanic friend is fixing up my old J.C. Higgins bike I also had as a kid. I use to get bubble gum with a baseball card inside. I used some on my bicycle spokes to make my bike sound like a V8. I regret not keeping my Mickey Mantle cards. I miss the candy at our little neighborhood store. Bottle Caps candy. Bean Shooter we used at school. Yo Yo at recess. My prize Yo Yo was a dark green Duncan. I miss those Slo Poke Caramel Pop candy. Sugar Babies. Grab an ice cold coke in a water cooler, glass of cola dripping wet. Add peanuts to a small bottle of coke a cola. Oh, and I fondly remember catalogs, Sears or Penny's and looking over National Geographics as I got older. Speaking of Sears, I live in a 1924 actual Sears and Roebuck house. I kept the old 72 Chevelle that's been in the family since 8/12/72. I sometimes still take it out to our country drive in theater which has been in operation since 1950. Anyway, I loved it back when, and am trying to obviously hold on to it as long as I possibly can.
The big problem was people didn't follow the 18 psi front 30 psi rear rule and instead inflated the tires evenly. Really what Nader did is pick the most European car to come out of Detroit to demonstrate what was wrong with American cars. He used antidote information on the cars safety and quoted a GM engineer who probably just didn't like the unorthodox design.
Yes, well he did make a name for himself and destroy a great design. That is more important than being right or honest. In fact, that is all that counts.
I know you could drive one in the snow with a couple of snow tires and nothing could stop it The heater system had papers zip tubes which would get covered in oil, and would gas you out when you turn the heater on
+Mosin54R Sure, except for that boat-anchor of an engine in the rear, with swing-axle suspension below. Could it be that GM cheated a little with the cars shown, like with camber-compensators? Just a little cheating? And ... with the rigid steering shaft connecting to the steering mechanism in front of the axle, scalping was possible. Wannabee Corvair buyers, welcome to Darwin's List.
@@jacquesblaque7728 My family was in an accident in a 1961 Corvair. An 18-wheeler slid into our lane, forcing us off the road into a small ravine. That little car didn't even roll. It made a perfect landing on all four tires. There were six of us in the car, and all we had were a few little bumps and bruises--and of course, those cars didn't have seat belts back then. The tow truck hauled it back onto the highway, and it didn't even require any body work or repairs. Nowadays, an accident like that would total any car on the road. The only reason people had trouble with Corvairs was that they were too stupid to read the manual, and they didn't inflate the tires properly.
@@packingten Bit peevish eh? First phrase incomprehensible. My dad got one, quite used, which I kept running for him. Too bad if that doesn't meet your rqd quals. Being an engineer who's hands-on, I'll ignore your "armchair" bit. What I stated is well-documented, fairly obvious to one accustomed to exercising his/her brain. If you can talk specifics, reply is possible. Else ...
@@jacquesblaque7728 I'll be specific if you like--with regards to "scalping" by the steering column, every car made in the 60's before 1967 came standard with a non-collapsing steering column. The whole country was getting impaled on them from the Model T onward, not just Corvair owners. Was your father's Corvair a 1960 or 61? Those would be the only models with swing axle problems. And since they were only problems if the car were driven by a drunken speed freak (who would probably crash anything) I reject the idea of it being a real problem. Which of your statements are documented and obvious? You provided nothing. The Corvair engine was the same style as in a Porsche, and I've never heard of one referred to as a "boat anchor." Corvair engines are usually in Dune Buggies and airplanes, if they aren't in one of the cars.
I enjoy my 65 corvair as a daily driver, but, they do require periodic adjustment of the carbs, brakes, and they go through clutch cables. But other wise, they are really fun to drive, and their very peppy if you got the 4 speed!
Yeah, I drove a '65 - aside from the engine blowing oil like crazy, and the steering going bad it was a great car! I loved it! It was my Dad's car, and my Grandfather and brother had one too. When we were done with ours, it went to some guy building an airplane!
jamesmegill Our family’s first was my dad’s 1963 Monday. I just parted with my 1966 Corsa three years ago. I look every day on eBay. I hope to own another one before I’m in an urn!
Of course you had no problems with your 1965 model. The 1960 through 1964 had the swing-axle rear suspension which ruined the reputation of the Corvair. Your 1965 and later models had improved rear suspensions equipped with lower control arms which eliminated the camber and "tuck-under" problems. Had Chevrolet chosen to not use the swing axle, we would be discussing the features of the new 2018 Corvair today.
@@rjs1jd like most critics of the book, you didn't even read the book. only one chapter is focused on the corvair... and he was just using that car as an example. the chapter was actually about car safety and corporate negligence.
@@williamj.mchale6923 @A Jones The Corvair actually had the "sway bar" as an option in 1963 and standard in 1964, before the 1965 model came out. Nothing that Nader claimed about the Corvair was true, even in the 1960-1962 models. A Congressional investigation confirmed that. As for whether those design flaws killed the car; no. It was the popularity of other cars, plain and simple. There weren't enough Corvairs being sold, so it was discontinued. GM made a LOT of cars in the 50's and 60's that it doesn't make anymore, including the Corvair, the Bel-Air, and tons of Buicks. Sure they still make the Camaro--which is just a Corvair with a front engine--but there was no guarantee that any of those other cars would continue. There never was--who knows, maybe it was the Saturn cars that came along and needed the factory space. These things happen with cars all the time.
@@playerpage Thanks for your prompt response. Please take the time to re-read my comment. My point was that the 1965+ models had a far, far superior rear suspension to the earlier models. Al Cameron confirmed that! Too bad Chevrolet took five years to implement the improvement--shame on them! Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the sway bar installed on the front suspension? How does that correct the rear suspension problems? Did introducing the Chevy II in 1962 also fix the Corvair's rear suspension? Did a Congressional Investigation ever fix anything? Gee, I never knew a Camaro was "just a Corvair with a front engine." Up until now, I thought the only parts interchangeable between a Corvair and a Camaro were the license plates. I can't wait to tell my friend that his beautiful and cherished 1969 Firebird 350 Coupe is really a Corvair! Would you like to deliver the message to him in person?
@chromeforme I'm 50 and have driven both a 62 Monza and a 67 coupe. Honestly, those cars were shaky at highway speeds, prone to over-heating, and VERY dangerous in a crash. Most cars of that era had similar or worse problems. Safety is an illusion and always has been. I figured that out riding motorcycles. And yeah, Ralph Nader was a Dork trying to make a name for himself - he did too!
Meanwhile, modern car commercials say: *DRIVE THE NEW CHEVY CRUZE IT HAS BACKUP CAMERAS BLUETOOTH AND COMPUTERY STUFF ONLY $15999!!!* Back then, cars were cars. They weren't plastic computers like the cars you see today. And while companies like BMW and Dodge continue to build proper driver's cars, the general automotive industry has become more about technology than cars. As an enthusiast, that is a depressing fact to face.
What more should car manufacturers need to do to prove their product is good? Cars have gotten very good. Almost any brand or model you buy in the last decade will be fairly reliable. People know that and it's gotten boring (not for me really but for the average consumer). Plus, most people are just needing a car to go to work, grocery shopping, etc. They need a car in which they feel comfortable and things like heated seats during winter deliver that need.
Among other things, potential buyers did not like the engine in the rear, fearing the car could be wrecked in a rear-ender (funny, for everyone hit in the rear, there is one wrecking the front in their car). More powerful (and heavier) engines became available, requiring the front wheels to be filled to only 16psi for traction - many owners did not heed this unusual requirement. Many drivers pushed the car too far, and with the usual 32psi in front, it would become an unguided missile.
No really dude. It is a compact car. These things are tiny little go-karts in person. I have a 65 Corvair. I'm 6' 3 and I barely fit in it hahaha but it's very fun to drive!
@@robscafidi4070 3 inches in length, more like 5 inches in height. One of the lowest four-door sedans ever made, something like 51". By today's crossoverized standards anything less than 60" seems low. We've all become Mr. Bean, driving from a Barcalounger on the roof.
With honed skills, and understanding the influence of the rear engine's leverage, this car can make up most time in turns while leaving competition horsepower far behind. Though precise nerve and grace is unforgivably required or else instant loss of traction and control is unrecoverable in an instant. That, and the engines could dislodge from mount and viciously ram forward into the cockpit.
@inkey2 It's cool, and I really dig Boston (MA), since you mentioned the place. You owe it to yourself to make a trip to the roughest part of the Ozarks, enjoy a float down the Buffalo River, and check out the sights. I haven't lived there in years, but I still love to visit. And I also like a trip to Boston and dinner at Jimmy's...
I agree. I would've thought that Chevrolet would've taken on the likes of Volkswagen, since it too had the air-cooled boxer engine in the rear of the car.
That is a valid test back then. Many roads were still unpaved and would destroy most modern cars. Even today there are still unpaved roads, but most people don't know about them as there are so many paved roads to choose from.
No. The Corvair is one of the most stable cars on the road, than and now. It was known at the time as "the poor man's Porsche," because it accelerated just as well and was just as fast as the Porsche 911 of its time, with the same rear-engine setup. wobcars.com/the-air-cooled-iconoclast-1965-chevrolet-corvair-corsa-vs-porsche-911/
My '65 and '62 both leaked oil, think they all did. Owned my "65 in 1971, way before Viton "O" rings. No problem with the "62 now. Just plain fun to drive, and I like the "what is it" from the younger generation as well.
@madslipknot stiffer suspension = good, but lower clearance actually hinders it. going over those bumbs for example, you could bottom out just a little, which could easily cause you to lose control.
lol that was just a smear campaign by Nadar. The Corvair was tested by the National Highway Taffic Safety Administration and actually was the SAFEST car within its class. Its competitors were the VW, Renault, and Fiat.
My first car was a 1961 Corvair...which I traded for a 1960 Corvair that was in better shape. I loved both of them!! The 1960 had a gas heater that was great after I figured out that what was running after I turned the car off in winter was the heater cooling down. The 1961 had a manifold heater and if you ran thru a mud puddle with the defroster on the windshield would fog up. Both were great for the snow in Indiana winters....I could go anywhere. And with gas at 25 cents a gallon I could drive forever on a dollars worth of gas. Great memories in those 2 cars in 1967-1969. Unsafe at any speed... I think not... In the winter I parked in the barn and had a dipstick heater...never a problem starting and it made the 1961 have heat immediately.... also great for doing donuts in the snow. :-)
2020 and im 14 thinking about this as my first car
Good kid they aren't terribly expensive. Just be careful about rust and know how much and easy parts are to get. 👍
It was mine! Im 29 now. Bought it at 15, and spent many many hours going through it. Still have it today!
I recieved a 1961 Corvair Monza 900 for my 16th birthday this year.
Happy 24s!
Dang Awesome !
You still own it today?
Aight’ we little bit late but.. do you still own it today?
A Corvair could slog through all kinds of snow drifts, mud, and rough terrain because the weight was on the drive wheels. If only GM had added that $8. front sway bar to the 1960-63 Early models, it might still be with us today...
The Mustang killed much more than the piece of shit as known as Ralph Nader.
I commute to work in my ‘60 model 5x’s a week. It’s a good car.
Just don't try to make a sudden turn in the snow. The light front end had a tendency to slide.
Most drivers I doubt knew to keep the correct tire pressure which varied from front to rear. Gas station attendants didn’t know that either in most cases!
orion deschamps
Ralph Nader was instrumental in improving car safety.
My 64 Monza Spyder convertible is STILL a hoot to drive, and it's 50 years old!
It's a hoot in a collision, as well.
@@johne6081 idiot
@@pete79602 Whatever. I let the facts speak for themselves. They are indeed fun cars to drive, but they understeer radically and provide no protection in a frontal collision. They are also high emitters of smog precursors and carbon monoxide.
@@johne7345 I bet u drive a Honda
@@johne6081 Franklin Roosevelt said that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Look at those new self driving cars crashing and killing. The electric cars catching on fire sitting in the garage in the middle of the night. Gee, if the garage is connected to the house, the entire home may burn down. I'd sleep a little better having a Corvair in my garage overnight.
The car: *Driving regularly*
The music: Someone got murdered.
The Corvair has one BIG advantage over a modern GM car. You can shut the lights off.
Apply the parking brake to turn the lights off.
I friggin’ HATE my Malibu for that reason.
Canadians: they are the same picture
Hell -- you can shut the engine off. :)
We just bought our first push-to-start car, and I still have reservations about the system and have yet to figure out any advantage over twisting an ignition key.
It's amazing to see an American rear engine car.
I thought the bit where they drove through the water was quite cool. You NEVER see anyone doing that today in a car demonstration, unless of course it’s a truck or SUV type vehicle. I also love how cars back then were designed for little niche markets. It was intended to be a secondary family car to travel about through town, getting errands done (that’s why they show the lady loading her groceries in the front). It was actually quite a practical little car for its time. Cars today are all about pleasing the masses with all these touch-screen, gimmicky electronics and creature comforts and SILVER SILVER beige SILVER. Not a lot of cars today have personality or flair anymore. Even exotic and sports cars are all starting to look too similar and less exciting, with all these garish fenders and body kits.
Where I grew up, we had a viaduct and everyone drove through it. Now, that thrill is gone. Blocked off. No more spontaneous fun anymore.
That's what I say. Cars today look so much alike, you couldn't tell the difference without reading the name on it. Plus no fancy electronics, the 2nd PERFECT car!! The 1st one, of course being the beetle!!
@thomasschwarting5108 cars in the 70's looked alike too.
It is a joy driving my 60, 2 speed automatic. I especially love coming in and out of driveway aprons - since the weight is more in the rear, and the front tires get less air pressure, it just floats and I feel very little, if any bump crossing a gutter, etc. 4 wheel independent suspension is great. Not power steering, but it feels like it once you get over 5mph. Very fun and relaxing to drive. I can work on everything too.
The green Corvair looks exactally like the one my parents owned..Affectionately named "The MonZter". My first driving experiance was in this car... My dad took me driving..Watching this video reminds me of those "driving lessons"!
That Corvair has probably been off-road longer than most SUVs/Crossover ever will
When I was in Sapporo, Japan from 1968-1970 I owned a 1960 Chevrolet Corsair. It was a four-door sedan with a Powerglide transmission and a wonderful gasoline heater in the front trunk. A very reliable car for a place like Sapporo.
I had a 60 2 dr W A gasoline heater Z Z As you prob know it really didn't use much gas,I loved that car!.
In high school in 1984 I had a '62 coupe - I did almost everything to it like on this old test vid, and it really was a tough little car!
what car was it??
Would love to have one of those prototypes.
Having owned 16 Corvairs I love these video histories. Thank you.
I love old videos like this. Something as mundane as a car driving around and the music is as dramatic as a drama flick.
I have to watch it over and over. It's fun seeing a car I use to see everywhere and none today.
My first car was a "66 corvair. ..best car I ever owned. I never got stuck in the snow with it. It was dependable despite Nader's comments. I still miss that car.
I commute from Portola to Reno in this car 5 days a week. It works and gets somewhat decent mileage. Not interested in a new car payment at the moment.
I’m interested in buying one to daily, how’s the reliability?
@@2023-Sucked these cars from this era are more than used up. I would say anything after 1964 would be worthy of a daily driver if maintained.
So nice to see great old footage like this.
I watch this video over and over because as a kid these cute cars were everywhere. It's great watching a Corvair navigating down a road or river. I have a friend that owned several of those little cars and he loved them. In my humble opinion, I would feel some safer driving a Corvair than a new self driving vehicle. What's with the new electric cars burning to the ground even if sitting in the garage. If you have a connected garage to your home, I would sleep better if I had a Corvair in my garage. Dick York drove a 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa convertible on Bewitched for a short while. Back then that was groovy.
my parents had 2 of them at the same time. we all loved them
American engineering at its best, thanks mr. Cole. He designed and was the genius behind it.i own a "67"Monza....most enjoyable, fun car i have ever driven.easy to work on. They DONT BREAK DOWN💪👍😊❤🇺🇸
I grew up in the Boston Mountains in the 1940s and 50s when there were few paved roads. The cars that could handle the roads and some roads were rocky creek beds, were Chryslers and Packards. Otherwise people drove mostly Dodge flatbed trucks, Model A and Model T Fords were still popular. My Dad would buy Chrysler cars in Chicago for re-sale in Arkansas. Chevrolet didn't have much of a presence due to the tendency to break rear axles. If you drove a Chevrolet you carried a spare axle and tools to replace it.
Oh, about the Corvair. I owned a 1963 in the early '70s, in Texas. It was one of the best cars I ever owned. It's driving and handling was superb. All cars killed people in head on collisions. The steering shafts were steel rods and they penetrated ones chest, generally pinning the driver to the seat back. The momentum drove the passengers head through the windshield, then the snap back into the remnants of the windshield removed the head, The first government intervention in the manufacturing of cars was to force Ford to equip cars with hydraulic brakes and sealed beam headlights, in 1940. Ford was still using light bulbs and cable brakes.
Luling Texas BBQ #1
My dad bought us one of these in 1966 or 67. He was soooo excited!! It was his dream car but it worked as a family car too! I'm pretty sure he bought a used one, we bought secondhand stuff all the time. Clothes too, until he got my mum a (secondhand 😁) sewing machine.
No, if you the article it clearly say:
"The handling and stability performance of the 1960-63 Corvair does not result in an abnormal potential for loss of control or rollover, and it is at least as good as the performance of some contemporary vehicles both foreign and domestic."
Even within GM, there was considerable discontent about the stability of the early Corvairs, with a couple of executives loosing loved ones in accidents. John Delorean successfully torpedoed a Pontiac version of the rear-engine platform (though the "rope drive" front-engine, rear-transmission Tempest was based on the same body shell). Yes, a Corvair could do anything an Impala could do, and do it safely, but beyond that, it was hard to predict at what point things would turn ugly. If GM had just made the less than $50 worth of suspension upgrades that became standard in 1964 part of the original package, it would have avoided a lot of bad press.
My first car. Same year, same model. I did all of those things. Especially loved the unpadded steel dashboard.
In 1977, I was given a 1962 Corvair. Loved that car
Nader was right about the safety issues on the early model Corvairs. I know from personal experience with a `61 Monza I had for a while. It lots of problems, I didn't have a proper garage for it, and never got it fully restored like it should have been, but boy could it hug the curves. And the sound of that engine when it was in tune. I miss it. Chevrolet addressed the safety problems in the later models, but I wish they hadn't also changed the body style when they did. I've always loved the body designs of those early Corvairs, along with those of other domestic cars from the early 60s. Voted for Nader in both `96 and 2000.
Archepytus
A voice of truth and reason. Ralph Nader was invited to speak at a National Corvair Convention in Washington D.C.
A 1964 model is the "early style" and has many of the 1965 improvements. Get yourself one of those. But really, it wasn't that the 1960-63 models were made badly, the later years were just made better. Like any car through the years.
Great car. I love my 61 Monza.
My Mom and Dad had 2 of these at the same time, they were awesome!
Unlike lousy Toyota and Ford commercials that just tell you where you can go, or "Our car is 'better' than any other brand", this commercial actually tells you why you should buy the vehicle. Funny thing is that I used to hate this car for having an 89hp engine. Now that I know how frickin good it is, I want one. What the heck 😄
It was possible to get a 1962-64 Corvair with150hp. 1965-66 you could get 180hp, and 1967-69 were available with up to 140hp.
Just saw this on Turner Classic Movie Channel. I want a Corvair ....
Just go to a classic car shop 😉
I've got two of them. Rode to school in a 1969 coupe when it was new.
I was hired to be a part-time driver for a mercantile market that used a Corvan (probably around 1963 or 64) cargo van for their home deliveries. I was hired to drive because their regular driver had his license suspended because of a DUI (who was still a good friend -- his family was a previous neighbor to ours in a small town -- which happened to have Coors Beer factory located there).
Anyway, me being 18 y.o. and my buddy (who still did the "on foot" deliveries to each house) who was 17 y.o., we weren't exactly the best employees of this mercantile -- we did everything we were hired to do ... and a bit more. We were both car guys. He owned (but temporarily couldn't drive) a '56 Blue & White Chevy 150 2-door wagon with a 283 V8 and 3-speed transmission with shifter on the floor. I owned a '59 Blue/Blue Chevy Impala convertible with "everything" -- 283 V8, PowerGlide Trans, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Power Windows and Power Seats. Along with a buddy of ours, who had a repainted "Forest Green Metallic" w/Black interior '64 Valiant Signet Convertible, we would "tear up" this small town's streets for fun.
So, back to me driving for this Mercantile. They had a '63-4(?) Corvair cargo van which, of course, had its 6-Cyl engine way in the back which displaced most of the weight of this van. So, one day after driving for them for at least 1 month, I asked my buddy if this Corvair van could do any wheelies since most of the weight was in the rear. If anyone would have done a wheelie in this, it would have been my DUI buddy. But he said he didn't know since he never tried it because the engine was just the stock engine it came with. So, I asked him, if he thought we could do a wheelie in this with both of us and a load of grocery deliveries (usually enough for 5-7 house deliveries (including a few times to the rear of Coors Brewery private house). He said he didn't think so because the 6-cyl engine didn't have enough torque to spin the tires and lift up the front axle, especially with the weight of both of us and the groceries in it. I then asked him, if he thought that from doing a standing stop or a running go at it? He told me, probably both.
I thought, Hmmmmm, I wonder. So, in a fairly quiet area of town on a couple of small streets after delivering to a couple of homes, I decided to try for a wheelie from a standing stop. After revving up as high as I could do it and released the clutch a few times, it didn't really do anything of a wheelie -- I don't think I could get the van to rise up any more than just a couple of inches, if that. I think we felt it rise, but not enough to call it a "wheelie."
I wasn't totally satisfied with this. So, after delivering to another couple of homes, I realized that many of the intersections of this area had dips in the crossings of several streets. So, I wondered, if we got a bit of a "running start" and then if I could pop the clutch just as we were crossing one of those dips, maybe I could get a bit higher jump to classify it as an actual "wheelie." So, I tried this for 3-4 of the dips that were on our route to deliver the groceries. With each dip, I tried to pop the clutch and spin the rear tires enough to attempt to propel the front of this light-weight van upward even just a few more inches than what I could do from a standing start.
After about the 5th or 6th crossing of the dips, I was finally able to rise the front of this van enough to recognize that it did, indeed, do a wheelie of at least about 6 inches, if not a bit more. I know I did, because the steering went crazy and I could turn the wheels like butter for an instant, then we felt the van drop back down after passing that last cross-dip in the road with a noticeable "thud" from the front wheels and tires.
I realize that it wasn't all that much to raise up the front of a Corvair cargo van, but it did raise up enough to call it a legitimate "wheelie." Fortunately, no one complained to our boss about the squealing tires and other noises we made trying to do this wheelie. And there wasn't any damage to the front tires and axles either. But we had fun trying to do this and later that night after work, the 3 of us celebrated with a few Coors beers each for doing a wheelie in a Corvair cargo van.
In the 60s my Dad drove a bug. My best friend's dad drove a corvair. I was incredibly jealous of the corvairs back seat. Where I spent a lot of time. The Corvair was a lot more comfortable in the back. And bug back windows dont roll down. An important thing to an 8 year old.
I have a Chevrolet Opala Comodoro '87 in Brazil, is a best Chevrolet off all time in my country..
I had a 65 Corsa loved that car
A modern 4 wheel drive off road truck would have difficulty doing this stuff... where do I sign up!
it looks quite modern for 1960, looks as bit like some of the 80's BMW. They even made a turbo version of the corvair.
Its' styling was very influential on Europe in particular. Definitely an influence on the 1962 BMW "Neue Klasse" whose design themes BMW has been rehashing ever since.
Thanks for uploading this, I love videos like this it is a piece of history.
My son put this video for me. I did love this little car.
Thanks a Lot for UpLoads．．．
from Japan．
I was just a little kid in the 1960's ! If my memory serves me correctly....Life was clearly MUCH "BETTER" then, of course I could be "Senile" or just completely "Toasted" ! Whoooaaaaa ! Run Faster, Jump Higher with "P.F. FLYERS" !
I use to be about the fastest in our neighborhood wearing my Buster Brown shoes. Us kids played outside most of the time, playing cowboy and Indian, hide and seek, tag. We caught lightning bugs. I still fortunately have my 1965 Jaguar Schwinn made in Chicago Illinois. It was made to last. My mechanic friend is fixing up my old J.C. Higgins bike I also had as a kid. I use to get bubble gum with a baseball card inside. I used some on my bicycle spokes to make my bike sound like a V8. I regret not keeping my Mickey Mantle cards. I miss the candy at our little neighborhood store. Bottle Caps candy. Bean Shooter we used at school. Yo Yo at recess. My prize Yo Yo was a dark green Duncan. I miss those Slo Poke Caramel Pop candy. Sugar Babies. Grab an ice cold coke in a water cooler, glass of cola dripping wet. Add peanuts to a small bottle of coke a cola. Oh, and I fondly remember catalogs, Sears or Penny's and looking over National Geographics as I got older. Speaking of Sears, I live in a 1924 actual Sears and Roebuck house. I kept the old 72 Chevelle that's been in the family since 8/12/72. I sometimes still take it out to our country drive in theater which has been in operation since 1950. Anyway, I loved it back when, and am trying to obviously hold on to it as long as I possibly can.
The big problem was people didn't follow the 18 psi front 30 psi rear rule and instead inflated the tires evenly.
Really what Nader did is pick the most European car to come out of Detroit to demonstrate what was wrong with American cars. He used antidote information on the cars safety and quoted a GM engineer who probably just didn't like the unorthodox design.
brett knoss
You nailed it, Brett. Unequal tire pressures were ignored by way too many owners and gas station attendants!
Might be getting one! So excited
Never seen this footage before, sure is interesting to watch. Makes me appreciate the fact I own a 1962 Corvair. Ralph Nador was wrong....D.
Yes, well he did make a name for himself and destroy a great design. That is more important than being right or honest. In fact, that is all that counts.
I know you could drive one in the snow with a couple of snow tires and nothing could stop it
The heater system had papers zip tubes which would get covered in oil, and would gas you out when you turn the heater on
Take it from a FORD OWNER AND FAN.
The CORVAIR was a PERFECTLY FINE CHEVROLET :)
+Mosin54R Sure, except for that boat-anchor of an engine in the rear, with swing-axle suspension below. Could it be that GM cheated a little with the cars shown, like with camber-compensators? Just a little cheating?
And ... with the rigid steering shaft connecting to the steering mechanism in front of the axle, scalping was possible. Wannabee Corvair buyers, welcome to Darwin's List.
@@jacquesblaque7728 My family was in an accident in a 1961 Corvair. An 18-wheeler slid into our lane, forcing us off the road into a small ravine. That little car didn't even roll. It made a perfect landing on all four tires. There were six of us in the car, and all we had were a few little bumps and bruises--and of course, those cars didn't have seat belts back then.
The tow truck hauled it back onto the highway, and it didn't even require any body work or repairs.
Nowadays, an accident like that would total any car on the road.
The only reason people had trouble with Corvairs was that they were too stupid to read the manual, and they didn't inflate the tires properly.
@@jacquesblaque7728 So same? How many did you OWN,Or are you an armchair expert?!.
@@packingten Bit peevish eh? First phrase incomprehensible. My dad got one, quite used, which I kept running for him. Too bad if that doesn't meet your rqd quals. Being an engineer who's hands-on, I'll ignore your "armchair" bit. What I stated is well-documented, fairly obvious to one accustomed to exercising his/her brain. If you can talk specifics, reply is possible. Else ...
@@jacquesblaque7728 I'll be specific if you like--with regards to "scalping" by the steering column, every car made in the 60's before 1967 came standard with a non-collapsing steering column. The whole country was getting impaled on them from the Model T onward, not just Corvair owners.
Was your father's Corvair a 1960 or 61? Those would be the only models with swing axle problems. And since they were only problems if the car were driven by a drunken speed freak (who would probably crash anything) I reject the idea of it being a real problem.
Which of your statements are documented and obvious? You provided nothing. The Corvair engine was the same style as in a Porsche, and I've never heard of one referred to as a "boat anchor." Corvair engines are usually in Dune Buggies and airplanes, if they aren't in one of the cars.
I enjoy my 65 corvair as a daily driver, but, they do require periodic adjustment of the carbs, brakes, and they go through clutch cables. But other wise, they are really fun to drive, and their very peppy if you got the 4 speed!
This was on TCM this morning @ 0400. On my DVR! Does that 700 sedan have a vinyl top?
Yeah, I drove a '65 - aside from the engine blowing oil like crazy, and the steering going bad it was a great car! I loved it! It was my Dad's car, and my Grandfather and brother had one too. When we were done with ours, it went to some guy building an airplane!
Its amazing that ruggedness and off-road capability was a selling point for compact cars in those days
Loved all my corvairs
jamesmegill
Our family’s first was my dad’s 1963 Monday. I just parted with my 1966 Corsa three years ago. I look every day on eBay. I hope to own another one before I’m in an urn!
I had a 1965 corvair and never had a problem with it at all. Nader was a jerk!
Of course you had no problems with your 1965 model. The 1960 through 1964 had the swing-axle rear suspension which ruined the reputation of the Corvair. Your 1965 and later models had improved rear suspensions equipped with lower control arms which eliminated the camber and "tuck-under" problems. Had Chevrolet chosen to not use the swing axle, we would be discussing the features of the new 2018 Corvair today.
"UNSAFE at any SPEED " that was total bullshit he just wanted to sell a book!
@@rjs1jd like most critics of the book, you didn't even read the book. only one chapter is focused on the corvair... and he was just using that car as an example. the chapter was actually about car safety and corporate negligence.
@@williamj.mchale6923 @A Jones The Corvair actually had the "sway bar" as an option in 1963 and standard in 1964, before the 1965 model came out. Nothing that Nader claimed about the Corvair was true, even in the 1960-1962 models. A Congressional investigation confirmed that.
As for whether those design flaws killed the car; no. It was the popularity of other cars, plain and simple. There weren't enough Corvairs being sold, so it was discontinued. GM made a LOT of cars in the 50's and 60's that it doesn't make anymore, including the Corvair, the Bel-Air, and tons of Buicks. Sure they still make the Camaro--which is just a Corvair with a front engine--but there was no guarantee that any of those other cars would continue. There never was--who knows, maybe it was the Saturn cars that came along and needed the factory space. These things happen with cars all the time.
@@playerpage Thanks for your prompt response. Please take the time to re-read my comment. My point was that the 1965+ models had a far, far superior rear suspension to the earlier models. Al Cameron confirmed that! Too bad Chevrolet took five years to implement the improvement--shame on them! Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the sway bar installed on the front suspension? How does that correct the rear suspension problems? Did introducing the Chevy II in 1962 also fix the Corvair's rear suspension? Did a Congressional Investigation ever fix anything?
Gee, I never knew a Camaro was "just a Corvair with a front engine." Up until now, I thought the only parts interchangeable between a Corvair and a Camaro were the license plates. I can't wait to tell my friend that his beautiful and cherished 1969 Firebird 350 Coupe is really a Corvair! Would you like to deliver the message to him in person?
I had a 1964 Corvair when I was 16....if I couldn't flip it, nobody could....including that dork Ralph.
Even though Ralph Nader isn't a dork. You are, though.
Interesting footage of the seldom seen prototype! :) Jack
Classic Lime Rock footage! Not only is it tested on the track, but also off-road at the track! Talk about a rarity!
belle video ,j'ai moi mème une corvair monza de 1964 depuis 27 ans, je fait également parti du club des corvair de france
''Just watch how the Covair stays under control in this situation''
It span out???
It does a perfect 180 without excessive oversteer! 👍👍👍
@chromeforme
I'm 50 and have driven both a 62 Monza and a 67 coupe. Honestly, those cars were shaky at highway speeds, prone to over-heating, and VERY dangerous in a crash. Most cars of that era had similar or worse problems. Safety is an illusion and always has been. I figured that out riding motorcycles. And yeah, Ralph Nader was a Dork trying to make a name for himself - he did too!
So sorry that Ralph didn't orgasm over the Corvair like you did back in the day.
All the new car adverts be like:
the new chevrolet silverado: IT HAS BLUETOOTH, buy it now for 19,999$
*back to tv show*
And the $19,999 is the down payment.
I'm like, okay, sign me up for one.
Cool film - I had several Corvairs and want to buy another
Meanwhile, modern car commercials say:
*DRIVE THE NEW CHEVY CRUZE IT HAS BACKUP CAMERAS BLUETOOTH AND COMPUTERY STUFF ONLY $15999!!!*
Back then, cars were cars. They weren't plastic computers like the cars you see today. And while companies like BMW and Dodge continue to build proper driver's cars, the general automotive industry has become more about technology than cars. As an enthusiast, that is a depressing fact to face.
You should try Jaguar, and Alfa Romeo, those are proper cars.
not really they died in the mid 90s
E.T. Moss I agree as a young enthusiast I’m sad that I might not experience gas powered cars
Why not? Just buy one and restore, there's enough of them
What more should car manufacturers need to do to prove their product is good? Cars have gotten very good. Almost any brand or model you buy in the last decade will be fairly reliable. People know that and it's gotten boring (not for me really but for the average consumer). Plus, most people are just needing a car to go to work, grocery shopping, etc. They need a car in which they feel comfortable and things like heated seats during winter deliver that need.
Damn Corvair ain't playing !
Not pictured: when the car loses all grip at the rear and spins out.
Among other things, potential buyers did not like the engine in the rear, fearing the car could be wrecked in a rear-ender (funny, for everyone hit in the rear, there is one wrecking the front in their car). More powerful (and heavier) engines became available, requiring the front wheels to be filled to only 16psi for traction - many owners did not heed this unusual requirement. Many drivers pushed the car too far, and with the usual 32psi in front, it would become an unguided missile.
I'll never stop laughing at hearing "compact car" referring to what would be a very large car by modern standards.
No really dude. It is a compact car. These things are tiny little go-karts in person. I have a 65 Corvair. I'm 6' 3 and I barely fit in it hahaha but it's very fun to drive!
These cars were about 3 inches shorter than a 2020 Honda Civic, so, still definately compacts by modern standards
@@robscafidi4070 3 inches in length, more like 5 inches in height. One of the lowest four-door sedans ever made, something like 51". By today's crossoverized standards anything less than 60" seems low. We've all become Mr. Bean, driving from a Barcalounger on the roof.
With honed skills, and understanding the influence of the rear engine's leverage, this car can make up most time in turns while leaving competition horsepower far behind.
Though precise nerve and grace is unforgivably required or else instant loss of traction and control is unrecoverable in an instant.
That, and the engines could dislodge from mount and viciously ram forward into the cockpit.
Why would you ever hit a '59 impala like that?
It was just 1960.
I love our 69 Monza. Most fun we ever had with a car.
We had one when I was a kid, my mom would floor it to merge on the highway, we called her Mario Andretti, so my dad got her another one
I would love to have one of these.
Chevy needs to bring the Corvair back, and once again lead the industry
Great in snow too!!
My Mom had a 65 model
A couple friends had Corvairs, they were fun to drive. They were given an unfair image by Nader.
The Corvair was great. Wish I had owned one of these.
THAT CAR WAS WAY AHEAD OF IT'S TIME.THEY SHOULD KEEP ON MAKEING IT AND JUST REFINE IT.
It wouldn't pass modern safety tests.
@inkey2 It's cool, and I really dig Boston (MA), since you mentioned the place. You owe it to yourself to make a trip to the roughest part of the Ozarks, enjoy a float down the Buffalo River, and check out the sights. I haven't lived there in years, but I still love to visit.
And I also like a trip to Boston and dinner at Jimmy's...
Now I know where Matt's Off-road Recovery got the idea for a Corvair recovery vehicle.
This cars only flaw was it had swingarm suspension, but so did all VWs.But it got Ralphs career rolling.
I agree. I would've thought that Chevrolet would've taken on the likes of Volkswagen, since it too had the air-cooled boxer engine in the rear of the car.
The '62 red Monza wagon with all options ♥️👍😊
Probably the best engineered car GM ever built.
I want one!
yeah I did but like I said it was still prone to spinning out well it went to show you that even at moderate speed it spun out.
Now THIS is a proper car ad.
Have a 1965 Corvair!!!
xoxo The Clarences
Yes I would run through a trail in the back 40 that my dad owned. My dad is gone for many years.my dad died in the 60's.
That is a valid test back then. Many roads were still unpaved and would destroy most modern cars. Even today there are still unpaved roads, but most people don't know about them as there are so many paved roads to choose from.
"It took the punishment and asked for more!"
That's hot
I want one! But some of these or most of these had an engine in the back which made the back swing when ever you made turns.
Is the car that would like to almost rollover and loose a lot if grip when turning hard?
No. The Corvair is one of the most stable cars on the road, than and now. It was known at the time as "the poor man's Porsche," because it accelerated just as well and was just as fast as the Porsche 911 of its time, with the same rear-engine setup.
wobcars.com/the-air-cooled-iconoclast-1965-chevrolet-corvair-corsa-vs-porsche-911/
My '65 and '62 both leaked oil, think they all did. Owned my "65 in 1971, way before Viton "O" rings. No problem with the "62 now. Just plain fun to drive, and I like the "what is it" from the younger generation as well.
@madslipknot stiffer suspension = good, but lower clearance actually hinders it. going over those bumbs for example, you could bottom out just a little, which could easily cause you to lose control.
lol that was just a smear campaign by Nadar. The Corvair was tested by the National Highway Taffic Safety Administration and actually was the SAFEST car within its class. Its competitors were the VW, Renault, and Fiat.
Ralph Nadars' favorite car.
;-)
The car that made him famous.
People just didn't realize you can't inflate all tires the same pressure.
Is he the guy that plays tennis?
@@rexjolles And even if you did, The Merry Texaco Men would "fix" it for you the next time you needed gas.
Probably better than many of the current G.M. offerings.......
My first car was a 1961 Corvair...which I traded for a 1960 Corvair that was in better shape. I loved both of them!! The 1960 had a gas heater that was great after I figured out that what was running after I turned the car off in winter was the heater cooling down. The 1961 had a manifold heater and if you ran thru a mud puddle with the defroster on the windshield would fog up. Both were great for the snow in Indiana winters....I could go anywhere. And with gas at 25 cents a gallon I could drive forever on a dollars worth of gas. Great memories in those 2 cars in 1967-1969. Unsafe at any speed... I think not... In the winter I parked in the barn and had a dipstick heater...never a problem starting and it made the 1961 have heat immediately.... also great for doing donuts in the snow. :-)
I Loved Corvairs!
That was a neat car. I think I have a picture of it some wheres with me sitting on it.