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Chevy Corvair

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Ken Layton:
I have a friend that restores old cars. He's doing two Corvairs from 1962 right now. He likes them.

nostrebor:

--- Quote from: BobA on August 22, 2007, 06:06:18 pm ---I guess it is all heresay and conjecture then.  Without actual figures from Chev and I doubt that they would want them released or maybe they don't have them.    I would not want an earlier model Corvair in any case.

--- End quote ---

I still don't have time but I can't help myself.

The Federal Government finally (after the Corvair production had ceased) did rollover comparisons between severa domestic and foreign cars of the same era as the early Corvairs in question. Using Manufacturer specifications for tires, both type and pressure, the findings were surprising. The Corvairs had similar or less incidences of rollover in cornering than all the cars tested.

The bottom line: Nader's book was based purely on conjecture and hearsay and had absolutely no scientific evidence to back up his claims. He actually kept the Corvairs in production 3 years longer by releasing the book, as GM had planned on dropping production in '66 prior to it's release. Fearing a stop in production would give the impression of guilt, GM continued production through 1969, making only 5,000 cars the last year.

Contrary to popular belief, Nader did not start the demise of the Corvair, GM did. It was a marketing disaster from day one. The manufacturer never really embraced the car for what it truly was, a domestic entry level sports car.

On today's tire technology a Vair is a thing of beauty to drive. I can make muscle-car-owning-grown-men cry out like little girls on a twisty road. I am "unsafe at high speeds".  :cheers:

nostrebor:
Here's a bit of info from the net:


--- Quote ---While the Mustang quickly gobbled up market share, the Corvair continued to enjoy a loyal following who liked its distinct handling. It was this same handling, however, that was the basis for several lawsuits against General Motors. The Ralph Nader book "Unsafe At Any Speed" portrayed the Corvair as unstable and prone to rollover accidents. While many would attribute the failure of the Corvair to the book, the handwriting was already on the wall in the form of declining sales.

Interestingly, 1966 would have been the last model year, had the Nader book not drawn so much negative publicity. Even the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had opened an investigation into its handling. There was simply no way GM could halt the line without appearing to "cave in" to the charges, so production continued, albeit in limited numbers, through the '67, '68 and '69 model years. Ironically, the NHTSA report, released three years after Corvair's demise, would exonerate Chevrolet of all charges, concluding that the Corvair was no more prone to accidents and rollovers than any other comparable car of the period.

--- End quote ---

paigeoliver:
I wasn't looking for a project so much as a driver. Sure I would tinker, but I am a single apartment dwelling type guy and can't really just rip entire cars apart for long periods of time.

nostrebor:

--- Quote from: paigeoliver on August 22, 2007, 11:57:51 pm ---I wasn't looking for a project so much as a driver. Sure I would tinker, but I am a single apartment dwelling type guy and can't really just rip entire cars apart for long periods of time.

--- End quote ---

Honestly, unless you really like to tinker, don't buy a Corvair. They are much more picky about tuning than any other 60's era domestic. I would say by at least a factor of 3.

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