BF Auction: 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Convertible
- Seller: Bob P
- Location: Muskegon, Michigan
- Mileage: 27,000 Shown
- Chassis #: 105675W281301
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 164 cu in Flat-6
- Transmission: Powerglide Automatic
UPDATE – The seller has added photos of the back seat. You can find them in the gallery below.
“Show car” and “1st place trophy-winner” is how the seller describes this 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Custom Convertible. I would throw in “unique” and “uber-custom” on top of that, as this one is definitely different from most Corvairs we see here on Barn Finds. A lot of work and money has gone into this custom build, including using the interior from a 1987 Pontiac Grand Am!
Chevrolet made the Corvair for a decade, between 1960 and 1969, and this car was the first year of the second-generation cars for the 1965 model year. The seller has turned this example into a highly creative one-off custom, with bright yellow paint, ground-effects painted gloss black, and other black accents, including the wheels. They say that the tires are “almost perfect but a few years old,” so the buyer should check them out as always before any highway driving.
Now that’s a wing! Based on the photos, the bodywork appears to have been done very nicely, and it sure looks like this car is in nice condition. Besides taking a hang-glider and dropping in on the next Cars & Coffee event, you’d be hard-pressed to draw more looks than you would while driving this car. The seller says he completely took the car “down to the body” and restored and customized it, so this isn’t just a bright paint job. They say the underside has been undercoated, the brakes have been rebuilt, and the shocks and wiring are new.
If the exterior wasn’t custom enough, check out the interior! Is this the same car? Yes, yes, it is. This is the interior from a 1987 Pontiac Grand Am, complete with a power driver’s seat, power windows, and the dash and steering column intact. They mention that the cruise isn’t connected, even though the controls are still on the turn signal stalk. The top is in nice condition and is manually operated, with a clear rear window.
The engine looks stock but has been rebuilt. It’s Chevrolet’s 164-cu.in. flat-six, which, when new, had 110 horsepower and 160 lb-ft of torque. It sends power through a two-speed Powerglide automatic to the rear wheels. They added two electric fuel pumps (one is a backup) and a fuel shutoff in the engine compartment for storage. This unique Corvair Custom Convertible is listed as a Barn Finds Auction!
Bid On This Auction
OnTheBrink bid $5,250.00 2024-08-23 12:07:41
Badger58 bid $5,000.00 2024-08-23 12:03:52- OnTheBrink bid $4,250.00 2024-08-23 11:47:39
- Badger58 bid $4,000.00 2024-08-23 10:39:09
R SCOTT pearson bid $1,794.00 2024-08-22 13:25:17
Manuel Rodrigues bid $1,500.00 2024-08-17 15:00:53
roWILant bid $500.00 2024-08-17 10:02:42
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Comments
Crunched front spoiler, bare wires underneath riding on the emergency brake cable, tires that look like they just came out from 20 years in a lake, and back seat speakers that must be a thrill for passengers. I’ll give it that’s it’s clean inside and out and possibly runs good with that rebuilt engine and the turbo exhaust system. Did the same with the exhaust system on our ’65 and it made a noticeable difference, especially with the 4 speed manual transmission. Like the yellow color but the black wheels do nothing for the looks.
i have a set of chrome rims with spoke that are like a basket but getting 13″ tires are a bit of a chore as you may know. and those black rims are camaro rims and came black thanks for the comments
No thanks.
I love 2nd Gen Corvairs and yellow and black is a favorite color scheme, but this one is just too personalized in directions I wouldn’t have gone. I’m afraid the reserve is probably too high for me to make a realistic offer and have room to undo the mods that aren’t me. GLWTA
Text me if you really like yellow and black. 8476829133.
the wires are not touching anything in the console there are no bare wires touching anything your seeing the cables not the wires. come on give me some credit for building a show car. the speakers do not set there all the time they go up behind the back seat headrest. i put them down on the seat when the top goes up so i can let the boot hang down over the back of the seat, as you may know the boot slides into a track and it can be a chore to slide that into that track so i put the speakers down on the seat and let the boot set down over the back seat.. but thanks for the comments anyway.
Wires I was referring to are on the pan underneath. Agree on the 13 inch wheels and would go up on size too. Probably will get smoke on this but I like the rear wing too.
You could possibly get rid of the basket handle, otherwise it’s a nice car!
I’ve been owning driving and restoring Corvairs for over 35 years.
The interior mods are interesting, but look awfully weary. I’d have to redo all the upholstery.
The Wiring is also interesting, but quite dangeroius. You likely would have saved time and gotten a much safer engine harness, that looks a hell of alot better than what you spent hours working on trying to avoid buying a Clark’s Harness.
That metal Fuel Filter lying on the engine sheet metal with rubber hoses shows a true lack of foresight.
Nothing is wrong with what you did to the car. It’s just tired. 3rd Gen Camaro rims put on this means you could run 15″ tires and have a much slicker look.
Would cost way too much to refresh the car. Had you refreshed it yourself you could get more than the money it would have costed on resale.
Good luck with the sale, and good luck to the purchaser.
i have a set of chrome rims with spoke that are like a basket but getting 13″ tires are a bit of a chore as you may know. and those black rims are camaro rims and came black thanks for the comments
All that detailed work on the body, bumpers, etc. and then add that…..wing?
ok guys i just put it on the lift and took the cover off the wires and heating duct and took some new photos if anyone wants them drop me a note and email of what you want to see. i will send them to you or take any photos your interested in
also i put the speakers back where they are set up for that is on top of the back seat headrests if anyone want to see them i can send those also.
thanks for the interest.
Your interest in interacting with possible buyers is refreshing. Hope you find the right buyer for your car. Just sold one of my race cars to the perfect buyer and worked hard to get him to do it. He’s happy as a clam and I love where it went. Love yellow and have had many cars that color including 3 race cars, one of which we just finished building. International green numbers and same green on the wheel centers.
@bob p
Some questions for starters
When engine work was done were new valve seats installed for unleaded gas?
Are you saying that the wiring harness under the car is normally covered by the heating duct? Is this the path that an unmodified harness would follow?
With the exception of needing new tires, is this drivable for a 1000 mile trip or it needs to be shipped/trailered?
If you want to reply privately [email protected]
Yellow color and power glide trans, No thanks.
Wheel/tires look like something put on to save a good set, anticipating a monetary loss on the sale of the vehicle. GLWTS.
Ugly!
Agree
Ugly
The back wing and PAINTED bumpers 🙈
A lot of effort and $ put in but the owner couldn’t spring for a set a 140hp heads? They may not be growing on trees but not that difficult to find.
It surprises me also. The 4 carb 140 hp set up looks pretty but you’ll spend your weekeds adjusting them. The turbo would be the way to go. I bolted a 2 barrel on to mine for max fun. Two speed powerglide?
Mine never went out of sync (I still have my old Uni-Syn), though I did eventually replace the 4 1bbls. with an Ieco center mount 390cfm 4bbl. The turbos had way too much lag for my right foot.
I like Corvairs. I would have done this one a little differently if it was mine, but that’s what’s great about the car hobby. If you have an idea and the means and the guts you can create something that appeals to you regardless of what others might think. This seller deserves a lot of credit for taking the road less traveled and living his dream.
Bob, ignore the haters. Feeding them only makes them more hungry. I have had a lot of really nice rides I have hand built. Lot’s or criticisms and nitpickyness. Go build one then…I tell them – as they get into their Ford Focus with bald tires. But I know what I got, and it’s NIIIICE. Anytime you do something individual and different than factory – somebody you didn’t ask always has an opinion you don’t care about anyway. Opinions are like….. you know. Everyone has one – but nobody wants to see or hear ’em. Something not everyone has – a custom hand-built car. They are just jealous because you have one and they don’t. And you know they don’t because you have a ONE of ONE. All that being said – I really like the car – especially the bumper blending. A real travesty – however, that automatic transmission. Mine had a 4 speed – I wouldn’t trade that third pedal for the world. Good luck on your sale! Remember that 100 people can whine about your build, but you only need ONE buyer. Just one. I found one for mine…..
very difficult to find consensus (sales) once the customizing (“my ‘show car’.”) process begins.
My method is to do so ‘sleeper style’ (all changes in performance only) often era correct, but w/a good smattering of later components/same model (ex: the discs used ona pre disc same model later; asperation change… to efi or power adder’n such). Here the dual vedub carbs (IDF 40s), DCOE 45s or the supercharger it came with. To me break’n suspension upgrades (needed) are ‘sleeper’ too. OE interior and exterior most or all the way (rest0, easy on the mods).BUT…
we got different ppl / different ideas. “Y day got chok oh let & vanella.”
Anything ‘Vair is avaliable next door @ clark’s here in WesssMasss~
Shure it’s customized to the sellers personal taste, I give him a lot of credit for doing the best he’s capable. Yeah all you guys knocking it can do mods equal or superior to Chip Foose!! BOB hope you had a good time doing it because that’s what this hobby is aii about, well that’s it use to be 😂
thanks fred. it was a trip that is for sure. it took lots of trophies when i showed it on a regular basis.
Interesting looking build, but definitely a few things that would make me not call it a first place show car. It doesn’t necessarily look like a bad car, but the pictures and the overly hyped description don’t match. A nice home built custom? Sure. Award winner worthy uber-custom show car? No. It’d make a fun cars and coffee car though.
The wavy edge above the top inner edge of the headlight buckets. Is that rust or chipped paint?
Why does the black on the hood not match the other black accents on the car? Everything else including the cowl appear to be a nice matching gloss black, but the hood is noticeably more matte, and looks somewhat inconsistent. Why?
Was that swapped interior originally blue and then dyed charcoal/black? They streaky blue seat belts and line in the rear arm rest really stand out as a not thorough job.
Needs fatter meats, the rolling stock on this Corvair completely negates the need for ground effects and spoiler! A set of 15″ Torque Thrust with T/A Radials would look supreme on this ride! That later interior…how about a good vacuuming and re-dye those seatbelts black or gray?
I don’t understand the resister on the coil as it was a 12V system to begin with.
No Corvair came with a 6v coil. I think most of General Motors went to 12 volt during the Tri-Five era, ten years before this car and engine were manufactured.
WARNING: Critical personal opinion follows
This person should be added to the Walmart “do not sell” aerosol spray paint list
Looks like this thing will sell this afternoon. With all the customization, I’m not sure I would enjoy A) looking at that ugly 1987 steering wheel missing its badging and B) sitting on gray or black velour. Just seems wrong in a mid-60s convertible. Guess you work with what cha got! Good luck to the new owner.
Please define show car for us ?!
When I was 16, my dad gave me a choice between a ’68 Corvair or a ’68 VW Fastback for school … I chose the Fastback as it beat the ’64 Ambassador 660 I was driving … I appreciate the Corvair more now …