Buried Alive! 1963 Chevrolet Corvair
The Corvair was Chevy’s first foray into the compact car market of the 1960s. Unlike the Chevy II that would soon follow, it was unorthodox by Detroit standards. It had a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine that led to sales of 1.8 million units over 10 years. This 1963 edition has been captive in a garage in St. Louis, Missouri for 30 years and stuff has piled up all around it. It’s a project car that comes with a salvage title and is available for $5,000 here on craigslist. Thanks for the Monza tip, T.J.!
Production of the Corvair was divided into two generations, 1960-64 and 1965-1969, and it was the former that drew the attention of a safety advocate. Ralph Nader made the car the subject of his book, “Unsafe At Any Speed.” His negative points about the Corvair’s handling were usually conducted under extreme circumstances and changes to the car for the second-generation improved handling greatly, but the damage was done. Production fell by more than half between 1965 and 1966. In the 1963 model year, nearly 285,000 Corvairs were built with 130,000 of them being Monza Coupes like the seller’s car.
This red Monza has been sitting unattended for at least 30 years. While still registered in California, the owner drove it into the seller’s garage, and there it has remained for three decades. We’re guessing this was a rental property and when the seller acquired it, the abandoned car came along as the owner had died. That prompted the seller to secure a salvage title so he could put it up for sale.
Because there is stuff piled up everywhere, photos of the Corvair are limited. From what we can tell, the body looks to be solid, but you never know. The seller would make a better case for the Chevy if he/she removed it from its captivity and cleaned it up, but then it wouldn’t be a “barn find.” The engine, which should be an 80 hp, 145 cubic-inch flat-six, still turns, according to the seller, so perhaps herculean efforts won’t be required to get it running again. Extra body parts come with the Corvair, like a spare bumper and side chrome plates. The interior is said to be okay, but things are stacked inside the car, as well, making it hard to tell. The odometer reads less than 60,000 miles.
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Comments
Air cooled car, oily cylinders and indoor storage = pretty easy to get running again. Seems overpriced though.
It’s a piece of scrap metal, not worth $50 other lone $5,000. I’m sure there must be a fool some where’s out there that will buy that piece of scrap metal. The old saying, a fool and his money will soon part company.
Well Bob, …I guess you and I won’t be working on this automobile together after work, eh? (-;
my arms are itching just from looking at a picture of that pink insulation
If someone rented a storage space for this car for 30 years they’ve paid about 4~5 times what the car was worth in rent. Just guessing.
Not a bad looking example of the breed though.
That’s definitely a cool find! Those cross flags on the trunk says that this car has the more powerful engine. Probably the 102 hp version. I also see air-conditioning vents under the dash so that’s cool too. I didn’t see a stick shift so I’m guessing it’s a Powerglide. For five big ones, I definitely have higher expectations and would want to pay half the asking price as it sits now, but it’s at least a starting point to negotiatations.
That is a 700 to 1500 tops, I just bought a clean Arizona 66 110 running 90,000 miler with new cool looking very modern seats with shoulder belts interior is Nice new alternator, new Idler bearing Belts replaced Carbs rebuilt fully serviced steam cleaned motor 2 door coupe base 500 model for 4500 bucks runs great with working AC. Paint is faded does need new tires and wheels but they hold air. Not a bad Birthday Present.!!
Odd ad. Does the salvage title mean the car is damaged? Does “then a cash payment on hand to get the car only.” mean you pay extra for the spare parts, or is the seller keeping the debris? I don’t think Nader conducted anything under extreme circumstances, but I did see a documentary where GM tried their very best to roll the car, and were not successful; apparently, to succeed, you need to have a plowed field, or immense potholes, at your disposal. If GM started making new Corvairs today, I would jump at the chance. I find it strange that, even today, programs, such as “The machines that built America”, still credit Nader for the end of the Corvair, when, in truth, he is responsible for an extra year, or two, of production.
Oops! Unfinished posting: “Nader . . . . ., in truth, . . . is responsible for an extra year, or two, of production.”
For that, Mr Nader, I offer a grudging “thank you”.
To bad there is no pix showing the real Corvair problem spots @ asking a premium price. In my state a salvage title causes extra hoop$ to jump, but that Cali-plate adds value. Love Corvairs, learned to drive in a 65, which is the generation I prefer. GLWS
Excellent condition might be a stretch and $5000 definitely is!
Is the owner around, or is he underneath the car? (a reference to the ’62 Corvair convertible post.)
300 miles from me, if i wasnt broke id look into it, 5k way high.
Flags on deck lid indicate a 102 HP engine.
Gotta love the Corvairs… I keep thinking I need an early, I have 2 Late models, one a mid-engine. I see that this car also had/has factory AC. It looks as though there is a bumper wrapped the way they come back from having it re-chromed. Makes you wonder what is in all those boxes. $5000 *could* be a decent price if it has a nice assortment of stuff and if it wasn’t a salvage title. The engine lid sort of appears like it may have had an engine fire, that could account for a salvage title. This is one of those have to see in person, due to a lack of any decent photo’s
Nader did kill the early cars, but it made them cheap to get into for high school tweakers. A 63 Monza with a 102 hp engine and a manual, could be turned into a 356 dream with little more than wider rims, a camber compensater, and quick steer kit. Just ask the man who owned one.
This car brings back old memories from the 1960’s! Four of my friends had these Corvair cars and I remember they were fun to ride in. And they got Great gas mileage too! Virgil in San Diego, Calif.
Looks like this was reregistered in June 1974.
It would have originally had Black/Gold plates.
It’d be nice if they pulled it outside,& took lots
of pictures of it.
$5K for a non runner car, way too much for way too little. Add to that a “Salvage” title, and it kills the resale value by 90%.