1963 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Spyder
Started on Jan. 19, 2006, 8:45 p.m.
Sometimes it becomes obvious that we live our lives according to emotion, not logic. No wonder we drove poor old Mr. Spock so crazy.
Our own proof of this tendency is sitting in the garage. It’s a 1963 Corvair Monza Spyder, one of the best examples that God ever put on this green Earth of emotion beating logic. There’s no other way to explain a car debuting to great accolades simultaneous with so many of GM’s innovative firsts: fully independent front and rear suspension; unibody design; and GM’s only attempt at a rear-mounted air-cooled engine, available with their first production turbocharger. Yet it came to be so reviled by the automotive-buying public—thanks to Ralph Nader’s sensationalist 1965 book, “Unsafe at Any Speed”—that its failure is still remembered today.
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Latest Project Updates
Dec 15, 2011
Solving the Fan Belt Blowout
Finding the solution for our Corvair project’s slipping belts.
Dec 12, 2011
The Perfect Corvair Carburetor
Getting our air/fuel tuning just right.
Apr 20, 2011
Corvair Project Nearly Sorted
Our Corvair survived its Amelia Island trip. Time to fix its last few issues.
Mar 16, 2011
Corvair Project Back in Action
Our classic Chevrolet is back in business.
Jan 12, 2011
Corvair Crossroads
Diagnosing our driveline problems.
Jun 23, 2010
Carbs for Our Corvair
Our Corvair gets some love in the form of a Weber conversion.
Mar 31, 2010
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
After a two-weeks thrash, our Corvair project car was finished in time for the Amelia Island Concours—or was it?
Feb 22, 2010
Rallye Revival
Work progresses steadily on our Corvair project car.
Feb 9, 2010
'Vair of Distinction
We resume work in earnest on our Corvair project car.
Jun 5, 2007
Bent Pushrod in the Corvair
While enjoying our recent Corvair club outing, we ran into a smallish disaster.
May 16, 2007
Meetings
We took the Corvair to the local CORSA club gathering…
Sep 1, 2006
The Corvair Gets Some Love
We take time out from the Tiger project to prep the Corvair for a club event.
Jun 28, 2006
We're Legal
Yes, we finally got a title for the Corvair.
Jan 19, 2006
Eat It, Nader
Chevy had a hit, even if Nader didn’t think so.
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1963 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Spyder Specs
- Body type:
- Convertible
- Country of origin:
- United States
- Original price:
- $2438
- Displacement:
- 2683cc
- Stock horsepower:
- 150 bhp @ 4400 rpm
- Torque:
- 134 lb.-ft @ 2800 rpm
- Engine configuration:
- flat-6
- Transmission:
- 4-speed manual
- Drivetrain configuration:
- Rear-engined
- Suspension:
- Wishbone (front)
Semitrailing swing axle (rear) - Brakes:
- drum/drum
- Body width:
- 100.0 in.
- Curb weight:
- 2500 lbs.
- Wheelbase:
- 90.0 in.
