An original: Chevy's Corvair Monza Spyder | Drive it!
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
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Chevrolet's Corvair Monza Spyder wasn't a typical American car: it had a small body, rear engine and the first turbocharged engine in a mass production model. By US standards, the Corvair was a compact - though it was longer than a Mercedes Ponton.
I owned a 66’ Corvair Monza in high school. To this day I wish I still had it. Wasn’t any muscle car but man it cornered like crazy. I had Crager mag alloy 14” x 8” wheels and wider polyglass tires. Oh and a Cherry Bomb muffler. Ohh yeah !!
55 years later, I still love the corvair. It was my first driver. Like a bug, you froze in the cold but you couldn't beat it with a stick.
all mine have great heaters
Not if you had the optional gas heatet
I got instant heat from my 1964 turbo 4 speed convertible. The main heat came from under the rear seats and the rest came from under the dash in the center. It had good start ability traction in the snow. because of the weight over the drive wheels. But the rear would want to come around when it was slippery too. So I had to be careful.
The Corvair looks a lot cooler now than it did in the '60s.
My first car was a 1964 Corvair Monza Spyder 4-speed that I purchased in September 1970 for $300. I bought it from a guy that worked in the General Motors plant in St. Louis paint shop. He painted it a 1970 Cadillac gold with a black roof. That's the color of Cadillac that he was going to buy. He did such a great job of painting it that I could sit on the front of the car (trunk) and slide off without even scratching the paint. It ran great for a little while. It started leaking and burning oil real bad, but I didn't care. Man, that was a fun car to drive.
I love Corvairs! Awesome to see people in other parts of the world sharing the love too!
The story is wrong at the very end. He says the Turbo was eliminated in 1965. The 150hp was eliminated and replaced with a 180hp turbo in 65 and 66. There was a 140 4 carb engine in 65.
and there was a 110hp and a 95 hp as well.
and there is always clarks corvair parts.
Absolutely correct. Just drove my 66 Monza from Pittsburgh 350 miles B"H, didn't even breathe hard. Got 20 mpg with the A/C on full blast and going 65-70 mph the entire trip. What a fantastic car!
blue nor way overpriced
@@gojoe2833 Ive got a 66 Monza myself thing runs beautifully
If you are going to put out a video about classic cars you should know about them. The Turbo was not discounted in 1964. The 1965, 1966, and 1967, Corvair Corsa all had improved turbo chargers, and an increased engine displacement, increasing the engine to 180 horse power. The 64 model Spyder also had the 180 in it. The 63 spyder was the only model with the 150 hors power engine. The 64 also had a modified suspension with a heavy duty leaf spring that crossed from side to side to stiffen the rear suspension. Even before that in 62 the rear drive axels were changed from solid axels, to much stronger tubular axels. All of these improvements greatly improved the handling of the car. The 64 through 69 models all handled extremely well. If driven properly, the 61 through 63 models were fun cars that handled better than most cars on winding roads. The issue was that the nuts behind the steering wheels didn't know how to drive.
Almost rolled my '62 several times but never had problems with my 63, 64, and of course my 66. Started a refit of my 63 convertible to a Spyder and drove 800 miles to pickup a 150hp engine but never installed it - It became an unfinished project car that I regrettably ended up just getting rid of. I miss all my corvairs.
In 1965 Chevrolet took the rear-end out of the new Gen-II Corvette Stingray and put it into the Corvair along with large front and rear anti-sway bars. The wildest version for 1966 was the Yanko Stinger Stage-III and Stage-IV which was insanely fast but handled incredibly well for those willing to learn road racing.
If you ever had one, and especially in a specific color/paint job/interior, it was fun driving for all age groups, especially teenagers. This was a 'design' more in line w/what we auto enthusiasts thought the proponents of Electric Vehicles had in mind or planned for middle class America, not what we see currently!
my dad had a couple corvairs when i was growing up. i drove them both and they were nice driving and handling cars.
I bought a 62 spyder and it was great I enjoyed it and I worked on several because of push rods tubing leaking once the seals got hard but the car wasn’t ment for road racing I really enjoyed mine
There is a book somebody wrote about how ford paid Nader to kill the Corsair as they had nothing to complete 40 mpg
They also made a Corvair van and pick-up. My Uncle used to have a van that he used for years at his factory. It was great for running around town, because the fuel economy was way better than anything comparable out of Detroit at the time. The only problem was getting it serviced, a lot of mechanics didn't want to touch them, or charged extra.
When I was in high school, a friend of
mine got a 62 convertible Monza. It
was not a turbo, out of the factory.
In 1962, all the Monzas had consecutive
VINs. Spyder or not, there was no way by
looking at the VIN, whether the car was a
Spyder. My older brother also found a 63
Spyder. The engine was a basket-case.
So, my friend got the Spyder, for what my
brother had in it. Well, the 62 became a
Spyder. Beautiful car. Red with a white
drop top. The engine did not remain
stock, and was a bit prone to coming
around, but we knew what to do.
Ralphie (Nader) can kiss my rosy cheeks!
steve
Wrong, Covair had an automatic in 1960. A friend had one in a four door and the automatic was a powerglide mounted shifter was on the dash.
One of my high school buddies and neighborhood friend had a '66 Spyder. I'm pretty sure it was a '66. I do not remember any specifics about it. He took good care of it and we had a ton of fun in it. What a car!
@twneagle Thanks for the reply. I must be incorrect about the year, the Spider part is locked in. Thanks again.
Wolfsburger license plates on it. Love it!
the swing arm early models were the only ones that could "tuck under". that was under extreme driving conditions. chevy came out with what was basically a sway bar. it was a single leaf spring looking thing that transversely mounted under the trans axle and to each swing arm to prevent them from jacking under.
Cool car! Just changed the fuel tank on one of them today :D
we had one of those exact models only in red in los angeles back then wish we still had it
Owned 4 60,-64, and a van. They went to a private collection. My mods were to put steel belt tire's and new shocks . Then dampen the steering with a piston stolen from a jeep add-on kit. And new bushings in the suspension for better steering. Ville danka. Und. Gut video.
I had a friend who worked at the Southwest Research Institute. He told me that some years ago the institute tried to recreate the test done by Ralph Nader on the Corvair. They were, at first unable to replicate his results. When going over the results of their tests the researchers at the institute realised that they had not used the same test equipment that was used by Nader. They then acquired the same types of instruments used in the original tests and were able to replicate the results. The older equipment attached to the car in a way that caused the readings of instability. It seemed to the SWRI testers that Ralph had got accurate but flawed readings and came to an erroneous conclusion.
Timothy Sielbeck seeing as they were some of the best handling cars for decades
Yes it was completely bs
sad but true gee my 62 700 drives great with no sway bars but i have radial tires an i run 18 psi front 32 rear
Even though I was 16-17 years old when I drove my 1964 Corvair Monza Spyder, I thought that it handled great. I never had any handling problems. I remember that it had a rear anti-sway bar. It came loose on one side and I had to undo the other side to drive it to my mechanic.
ralph nader ruined the US in 2000
I own a 66 corsa 180 turbo which according to you doesn't exist.
He's a fake , defending Porsche ! As he's a Porsche fanatic ! As if Porsche had to be defended !
Looks like the Corvair is still a world wide success. Wish they would build again or at least some country duplicate it as an import.👍
Nice video, but had 2 points wrong. The Corvair was the second mass produced turbo car. The first was the Oldsmobile F85 earlier that same year. However the Corvair was the first "sucessful" turbo car. Second issue was the turbo did carry through into the second gen Corvair with first 160 hp then finally 180 hp.
I never saw a 160 hp Turbo Corvair. I almost bought a '65 Turbo and it said 180 hp on the air cleaner.
First models: no stabilizer bar un rear axle. And, variable camber, the reason was CUT cost in assembly line, to be cheaper than a Falcón, Lark, or Valiant.
I sure miss my old '66 Corsa Turbo Coupe, Artesian Turquoise w/ matching interior, headrest bucket seats.
This man is a German. Being so, he thinks his duty is to defend Porsche and the 911, which in any case has strictly no need of any defender !
The Corvair was marketed at least three years before the 911 was presented to the public. So, it was equipped with the very fist flat six opposed cylinders engine among the car making history. And later with the very first turbo charged engine in the worldwide car production. Period.
And in this video he never ever shows what the Spyder Monza is capable of !! Dishonestly ridiculous job !
To be honest, ALL Corvairs are still real fun to drive nowadays, sound liquor and are efficient in their own different ways, from the steady 90 to exhilarating 180 HP Corsa !
Bravo Chevrolet !!! Hats off !!
Now theres a corvair club!
Guess sales people never took the time to explain different dynamics of a rear-engine car. The Bug had just a fraction of the Corvair’s horsepower so harder to get into trouble. The Karmann Chia came out about 1956 though so guess that was inspiration for Chevy?
It was a real joy to watch your video!
Would love to own one especially a turbo convertable
You love this car.
Always good to get a German point of view, especially regarding automotive. Christoph is 100% right on Corvair's history and like his assessment too.
There is something demented about GM and the way they let Ralph Nader walk all over them and that was wrong. The Corvair could have been easily defended and would have survived and prevailed. The Corvair could have become the American Porsche. What's wrong with GM?
Yes, they seem to be incompetent in some ways. Remember what they did to SAAB ?
Oldsmobile had a turbo engines before the Corvair.
They announced them but never shipped many. I think it is accurate to say Corvair was first mass produced turbo model.
Excellent. Ausgezeichnet.
I almost blew up a friend (of a friends) Spyder when I down shifted prior to a corner.
I had believed the waist gate would handle the over pressure but after shifting it to neutral and pulling over I was told it didn't have a waist gate. Was I lucky.
Ah, the 2nd generation Corvair did have a Spyder (180 hp)
Might buy one!
So much inaccurate information.
Forgive my ignorance but I figured that The Spyder and the Monza were two different models the first being the square the second being the more round and sleek.
Nope. All 60-64 Corvairs (standard, Monza, Spyder) were rounded; 65-69 were tapered/squared; very different, but quite elegant. The turbo-equipped models were first called Spyders, later called Corsas.
There was a "Spyder" version of the 2nd generation Corvairs with a 180hp engine.
It was called a Corsa 180, not a Spyder
I'd prefer the last generation convertible - a sleek car - and very economical by US standards of the day.
Lmfao they got beck playing in the back
15psi front
26 rear
A 1972 Congressional investigation exonerated the Corvair. It was found its oversteer and accident rate was no worse than other rear engined cars of that era.
A little weight could have been added to the front.
Just think what that car could've been with years of refinement.
The Big Three wouldn't have lost so much market share to the European and Japanese brands. Of which nadir was probably either paid by or invested in.
I can't post this to facebook because: "Your message couldn't be sent because it includes content that other people on Facebook have reported as abusive.
"
Had a pristine 63 Monza Spyder. Enjoyed it...but never liked the handling. Very twitchy.
5:07 - Americans are the worst when it comes to educating them about tire pressure:
"I'll put as much air as I want in my tires!!" 🤦♂️
That drive belt system on the Corvair was a poor design, while it twisted and turn the pulley. The belt is noted to slip off.
only if you did not know how to adjust it i never lost one in 40 years i run daycos
I don't flip belts off. GM was well aware of a tendency to flip belts with spirited driving and thus solved the problem by replacing the steel cooling fan with a magnesium fan weighing 1/3 as much. This coupled with belt guides cured the problem by lightening the load on the belt lowering rotational momentum. Even without all the updates that GM provided, the stock system with the steel fan worked just fine if the belt was properly tensioned. I learned it the hard way 35 years ago thinking I could just tighten the belt like a water pumper car. Nope, looser is better for belt retention.
i run dayco topcogs no problems ,,people forget eng runs backwards an tightens the belt i only lost one in 40 years
I run wrapped belts due to the severe abuse they get on our Corvair UltraVan motorhome. We run a 105 amp alternator which regularly is tasked with charging fully depleted house batteries. We get a season out of a belt. The belts we get are about $5 a piece so it's not a big deal to replace them.
mine are all stock ..105 alt would put more load on a belt
trump voters porche