Custom Conundrum: 1966 Chevrolet Corvair
As a Corvair fan, I always do a little excited start when I see the word “Monza,” which is followed by a bit of disappointment if it turns out to be in reference to Chevrolet’s second use of that name, a Vega-derived mid-70s sport coupe. In this case, however, this photo had me thinking I was looking at a ’70s Monza, and it took a minute to realize that it is, in fact, a Corvair! And it’s far from being just any Corvair, even before you get to the extensive modifications—but there’s a lot to unpack here and we’ll get there in due time. To begin with, you can find it here on craigslist out of Kennewick, Washington, with a $30,000 asking price (yes, we’ll get to that, too).
Let’s start out by acknowledging that this is obviously the seller’s pride and joy. It’s been in the same hands since the late ’70s, and in the family even longer than that, and this is one of those sad cases where a disability—in this case, making it impossible to drive a manual transmission—is forcing the sale. And the mélange of stylistic influences is interesting, to be sure; in addition to the Monza-esque snoot, there’s a second-gen Camaro-style blind rear quarter (even a similar rear window shape, just more upright) and I detect a hint of Porsche 935 around the truly wild tail.
This is not just a cosmetic makeover, either; the rear-mounted flat six has been replaced by a Chevy 350 V8 taking up residence where there once was a rear seat. Only 3,000 miles have been put on the engine since a rebuild, and I’m sure the sound coming from just over your shoulder only adds to the sensation of speed! I’m less sure about the wisdom of apparently removing large chunks of the Corvair’s unibody to make this fitment work, however.
The front buckets are a pair of groovy ’70s-style Scheel seats; the dash and doors are among the only relatively unmolested Corvair items left on this car. Here’s where you find out that I’ve buried the lede, though: this was never an unmolested Corvair to begin with. This started its life as one of 100 Ermine White 1966 Corvair Corsa sport coupes delivered to Don Yenko Chevrolet in December 1965. This is an original Yenko Stinger.
The Stinger, Yenko’s bid to campaign a Corvair in SCCA sports car races, featured a rear-seat delete, a unique sail panel to alter the appearance of the rear window—two features that this custom still has, in modified form—improved suspension and brakes, and four stages of tune for the four-carb flat-six, ranging from 160 horsepower (20 more than factory) all the way to 240 in full race spec. 100 cars were built for 1966 to satisfy SCCA homologation rules, as well as an additional 20 or so cars between 1967 and 1969, with all Chevrolet and Corvair badging removed and a unique Yenko serial number applied.
So this is Yenko Stinger #29. The seller says that he bought it as a work in progress from his nephew in the late ’70s, and we don’t know what kind of condition it was in before that. Maybe it had been raced hard, worn out, even banged up a bit. Maybe its provenance wasn’t considered as meaningful then, although given the mystique of Yenko’s later Camaros, Novas, and Chevelles, it’s hard to imagine that was the case. In any event, how do we assess the value of a car like this—or in this specific case, the $30,000 asking price? Does its Yenko status factor in when all of the Yenko bits are gone aside from a serial number? Or is its value based on the wild modifications, which—and I would say this about any modified car—are never going to be worth as much to the next person as they were to the person who did them? What do you think of this crazy conundrum of a Corvair?
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Comments
Sweet find, Nathan. I love the wing, apparently held up by ’57 Chrysler tail fins. JK but this is crazy. Looks like you’re two sticky tires and one aggressive tap of the throttle away from tossing the 350 into an adjacent lane. Definitely not a car for the average enthusiast.
As Lroy said below, you’re one smack away from having that 350 careening towards you in the passenger compartment.
Humpy tailfins more ’57 (or maybe ’60) Plymouth than Chrysler, which had fins with a smooth taper. To compliment the May basket handle attached to the fins this need some 24″ donk wheels. Just to complete the travesty.
I can admire and respect the work that goes into something like this but im sorry with all the mods and cutting up the floor pan i wouldnt drive that for a hundred bucks…just imo.
Wow. Words escape me. May be the 2nd ugliest thing ever posted here.
Now I have the sads because someone ruined a Yenko…
And
I did not realize Yenko fooled around with Corvairs, kinda sad it was not restored like Yenko built it. There was a lot of time put into this by a talented fabricator. I had a 66 convertible that was converted to a mid engine (crown) it had a small block adapted to a torqueflite trans. The tailshaft housing of the trans was removed exposing the main shaft which was machined to fit into the corvair differential. It ran strong and handled great, wish that I still had it..
oh my GOD this was a Yenko?
Who on earth does such a thing?
It’s hideous even if it used a base Corvair. Normally I try to be nice, but this is just beyond the pale.
Belongs in Japan with all the wildly funky van mods that make vehicles look cartoonish.
kill it with fire!
As the owner of 7 Corvairs – 1 currently a V8 (Crown conversion – I can tell you that there are much nicer mods to V8 (please see here for examples: http://www.v8registry.com/ ). The Kelmark V8 conversion was never as popular as the Crown conversion. And personally I view it as a poor substitute. The modifications made to this – if it really was a Yenko Stinger to begin with – are a travesty. The price – if this was a reasonably decent condition Yenko Stinger – would be acceptable. If it was a well-done Crown conversion – it might – just might – command $30k. But this abomination would be lucky to go for 1/2 of the asking price. (There are nicer V8 conversions for sale now at the $15k area).
Beautiful body work. Best part is if you hit a wall, you don’t have to be the concerned about the wall. Its the 600 pound anvil behind you thats going to get you.
Why would anybody want to look at that Monza’s front end over the origianl.
No, just no.
I don’t usually have a problem with finding words to describe…I do know how much went into the fab work on this car as 1/2 of my 40+ year carrier was doing custom work but…dang!
What Curt k., JammerX19, grant, jimbunte, Miguel, and Chris Kennedy said.
The only value in this would be to restore it as a Yenko, as there were only about 126 made in 1966. And to do the would cost you at least as much as the asking price, if not more. So sad, any Yenko Chevrolet is rare, to butcher one as this was is criminal.
Took the words right out of my mouth! Couldn’t agree more.
Definitely prefer the stock look, but if you’re going with a 350 and widebody to accommodate the rear-end, aesthetic options are limited. Without knowing what they had to work with, I won’t judge their choices… but that 3/4 rear view isn’t too bad, less the tailfins and spoiler.
Definitely an interesting find… As a Corvair fan it’s hard to imagine the thought processes that led to this end, and to think that it started as a Yenko makes it even more unimaginable! It would be comforting (maybe) to know what condition the Yenko was in when the mods were started. And, if the work actually started in the 70s, when the owner’s nephew had it, ‘vairs weren’t really worth much in the eyes of most enthusiasts.
I was driving early model ‘vairs in the early- to mid-70s and was looked on as something of a kook by many gearheads. And then I showed up in a 1958 Dodge panel wagon!
John
A Stinger… Say it isn’t so!
As for why the nose on this one, perhaps homely, yes, might be a better aero choice than the stock one, do a search for ” charlie friend corvair ”
Charlie is a high-speed open road racing competitor, and his Corvair has been clocked close to 200 MPH! The stock nose wasn’t adequate when speeds above 150 or so could be reached. The front he fabricated isn’t as good looking as this one, I don’t think….
I can’t believe someone did that to a Yenko car. I’m usually all for your car your money your vision, but…
Eyeroll, headshake, tear shed. RIP Stinger #29…..
I can’t help but think of this:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/9491391/Elderly-woman-destroys-19th-century-fresco-with-DIY-restoration.html
I know it’s a tragedy, but that “restored” fresco story is hilarious and makes me laugh out loud every time I see it.
But this………..this just makes me sad. The really amazing thing is that the guy apparently believes that he’s created a masterpiece.
Should stay with the family as a souvenir of better times (?). I’ve seen snouts and rear wings added to stock Corvairs when they were just battered-around used cars. I’ve viewed excellent V-8 conversions. But a real Yenko Stinger converted like this? Someone with mad skills in the CORSA group could probably bring this car back to Don’s standards but at what cost? Perhaps if the seller dropped the powertrain out of this car and sold it as a rolling shell. Priced way outside of market reality.
Holy Cow! It’s the Buttmobile!!
Are you sure it isn’t a late ’50s Plymouth Belvedere?
The fins look like those on a 1960 Plymouth Fury which rivaled those of the 1959 Cadillac.
Should have just bought a Superbird/Daytona back then when they weren’t selling in early/mid 70’s. Poor Yenko!
I don’t want to own it, but I sure would love to drive it!
Other then the butt ugly body mods which by the way look very well done , I’d buy it if I didn’t have that Italian disease, “Fundzalow”.
Yenko Stinger – $100K
Monza Anomination – $500
Bad Taste – Priceless
I live in Pasco, just across the river from Kennewick, but I wouldn’t waste even a minuscule amount of gas to drive over the bridge to look at that atrocity.
Kinda reminds me of Homer Simpson’s automotive design. Just sayi’n.
And that last photo in the listing – this car is a guy’s pride and joy and the engine after a recent rebuild looks like THAT? Dirty, dingy valve covers, oily manifold? I certainly hope that’s a pre-rebuild photo. Otherwise, show some pride, man! Clean that thing up!
Interesting .
A MUNCIE M20 you suppose, or?
: thats mine. It has a front V8.
I want to put in a 4spd.
‘The WARVAIR’
Most of the conversions used the Saginaw that came in the ’66 – 69 cars.
why?
Mr Bean made this right???
some people just get carried away !
yeah, thanks Alan . .could be a saginaw . . 🕊
: Another WARVAIR Sighting. I hope Thee’s pictures post
let me start by saying, yes, i know it’s a Monza nose, and not Plymouth, but with the way it “cones” and the the sheer “altitude” of the wing, maybe he wanted a Superbird but couldn’t afford one lol, now, to sound like everybody else, YOU DID F@#KING WHAT TO A YENKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This guy took a very unique looking car and put a very common looking front end on it.
It seems people would want to do the opposite.
I have nothing to say about the back.
Admittedly, when it comes to my imagination, certain parts, at best could be described as a “Bad Neighborhood” but,,,,