Custom Corvair Camper: 1961 Corvair Greenbriar
When most of us think of a van camper we think of something with maybe a slightly raised roof or one with a roof that raises up with a canvas and/or screen portion added. This 1961 Corvair Greenbriar camper is a different animal altogether. This custom camper project can be found here on Craigslist in Warrenton, Oregon with an asking price of $800 or best offer over $700. Thanks to Roger for sending in this tip!
The Corvair Greenbriar was GM’s van based on their new Corvair 95 designation, which also included more just than vans, the famous Rampside pickup was also one of the same family of forward-control, rear-engine rear-wheel-drive trucks. This particular Greenbriar looks like it has been photoshopped with a mailbox added onto the rear portion of it.
This van doesn’t look like the most aerodynamic thing to ever hit the roads, does it? Or, at least with the mailbox camper attached to the back of it. The trailer is a 1947 Rolling Homes Trailer made by Aircraft Products Company out of Los Angeles. There were a lot of aluminum trailer manufactures in postwar America.
I believe that this is a Rolling Homes Invader but I’m not sure of the model number. As you can see, it’s mounted on what appears to be a frame of some sort so there will be a lot of work to do on this one to make sure it’s sound and then finish it up.
And, then there’s the interior to do. The Corvair Greenbriar van portion actually looks pretty good, considering that it’s probably been sitting outside for who knows how long. There is rust lurking almost everywhere here, though, so be prepared.
And once you’re done with the cab interior, you can start restoring the camper portion. As you can see, it may be a total gut job back there, although parts of it look sound and just need some updating.
Kudos to the seller for including a photo with the engine cover off! This should be Corvair’s 2.4L 145 cubic-inch flat-six with 80 hp. The seller says that “the motor ran when it was parked” but now this whole rig needs a total restoration. If a person had some fabrication skills and a lot of time on their hands, this could be a unique camper project.
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Comments
There is only one thing to do with this camper, take it to the nearest scrap metal business and have it crushed!
There is only one thing to do with this camper, take it to the nearest scrap metal business and have it crushed!
Wow. I’ve seen purpose-designed campers from back in the day mounted on Corvair Loadsides and Rampsides. This looks like a TOTAL NIGHTMARE! Even if this rig was registered, insured and modernized that power plant should be replaced with a 140 hp or better ‘Vair motor as you won’t get anywhere fast.
Or go with a 110 for reliability. The 140 is a bit more prone to drop valve seats.
I noticed two cutouts on the metal engine cover. Looks like the owner might have asked occupants to A) rev the engine through the center hole over the throttle rod or B) tap the firewall to get the starter working again, or C) both at the same time. This truck has spent time on the coast. I wouldn’t trust any fabricated parts to be rust-free. The trailer is pretty rough too! I wanted to like this listing, I really did. But…I say…crush it…
Ye Gads–with the added height and weight you will have this thing in the weeds if you can get it to go fast enough, trying to squeeze enough power out of the Windmill will bring it to its knees. Dangerous at any speed…
Cheers
GPC
80 hp to haul all that around? Just say no to bad ideas. Take the camper off it and make it into a play house for the kids or a man cave and maybe make the Corvair thingy into a little stake body. Or, best idea yet, just walk away. Kudos to the guy for trying something creative but, let’s be honest here, this thing kind of got away from him.
Like the stake bed idea!
LIberate the vehicle from that thing on it’s back. Use whatever parts are needed to keep another Corvan or Stepside on the road. Give the rest a decent burial in the scrap yard.
Yes, I agree with every one. I think I would take the camper off and turn it into a flat bed.
I agree with the flat bed idea. Only make it a stake side with really short, well done wood stakes. My original thought when I saw this was to have fun viewing/checking out the original modification to see if structurally it was done correctly. Sure would have a lot of storage underneath! The thing that actually scared me the most about this setup was the rear wire wheels. I can not imagine the flexing going on there driving down the road in a wind storm!
The tendency nowadays with the German VW equivalent is to replace the gutless 4 with a 914 engine or a Subaru ( the water cooled version of a VW)- as Tim Allen would say, you just need MORE POWER!
Not as easy with a Vair since the engine spins counterclockwise.
As much as I love Corvairs, this thing looks awful. Honestly, considering the overall condition, this thing looks like it’s best left for parts.
Remove the camper from the back and mount it on a heavy duty trailer frame. Refurbish each one individually.
Was kinda thinking the same thing. Or sell the trailer portion to someone who wants to resurrect it.
I wish I could un-see this.
I am going to buy this, if I can get my boys on board with the idea! However first I will have to kinda wade into the idea! LOL, they have their hands full with the 356 project going on! This is winter, so bringing things back here isn’t a big surprise to them! However when it’s time to work the ground in the spring they don’t have time to do anything! Heck they don’t have time to hear me yelling and screaming about crap that is annoying the ol’man! LOL, they are both excellent guys tho, but I think that I instilled the value of working hard in them too deep! Not a bad thing, I don’t think anyway!
Wrongway, great car to teach the kids on. some of the first cars I worked on were corvairs, had a schoolteacher friend who had 2 of them, and a relative had a greenbrier. had the engines out of all 3 or them Good stuff had fun and made some $$. Get that mailbox off it and see where you stand. There was a reason they were built light! Good luck
Cheers
GPC