GM Corvair Prototype: 1967 Piranha
In the 1960s, General Motors partnered with Marbon Chemicals and AMT Plastics (yes, the model kit company) to build a Corvette alternative using Corvair engineering. Only fourteen were built before GM decided it was cost-prohibitive, with nine surviving today in some fashion. This one is in the midst of a restoration, so the buyer can determine the final direction the car takes. Located in Palmdale, California, this rarity is available here on craigslist for $85,000. Thanks, Pat L., for this most interesting tip!
Before the seller, this version of the car was owned by Nick Whitlow, author of the book, The All-Plastic Car, which chronicles the history of these autos. It’s said to be the only one that was ever street legal, and the title is still in Whitlow’s name for historical purposes. A restoration project has been started and the body has been primed, leaving the rest to the buyer to make decisions about.
The air-cooled, six-cylinder engine in this car has remained stock from 1967, though rebuilt with four carburetors and an output of 160 hp. The drivetrain has been tested, but not in the car. Given that the finished product will only weigh about 1,500 lbs., it should be a fast automobile. The seller elaborates on the whereabouts of the remaining Piranha’s other than this one, which includes the one built and used in the production of the TV series, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
The photos provided include ones of the car before the restoration was started and others of the project as it stands now. There is more history on the evolution of the Piranha as a kit car and it provides for interesting reading here on Motor Trend.
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Comments
That’s in Palmdale,California NE of LA).
Cool car.I wasn’t aware that they made that
many of them,or that the U.N.C.L.E.car was
one of them.
Hey, Solo even let April Dancer drive it.
I’ve never seen or read anything to indicate that Chevrolet had any involvement with the Piranha. A couple years before the Piranha came out, Chevrolet had already explored the possibility of building a Corvair based sports car, with their 62 Monza GT and 63 Monza SS prototypes. From everything I know about the Piranha, they were strictly a project of Marbon Chemicals, Centuar Engineering & AMT. It was AMT that decided that the Piranha was going to be to expensive to build, not Chevrolet.
One Piranha was built as an SCCA race car in 64, and is currently fully restored and being vintage raced by it’s owner in California. There was also a drag racing version built and raced by AMT, to promote the Piranha and AMT’s model car kits. The drag version’s on display in Don Garlits’ Museum in Ocala, FL.
Here are a couple links to info on the Piranhas.
https://www.undiscoveredclassics.com/forgotten-fiberglass/mission-possible-nick-whitlow-catches-a-piranha/
https://www.undiscoveredclassics.com/forgotten-fiberglass/crv-piranha/restoring-1967-amt-piranha/
http://c-we.com/piranha/
It does seem highly unlikely that Chevrolet would have any involvement with a project based on a car that was clearly on the way out.
Wow. Wasn’t aware of these.
Love the AMT connection.
As a teen I put many miles on a 1962 Monza.
Looks like AMT beat Mattel to the HotWheels market…
The write up here doesn’t mention the Gene Winfield connection.
Wow, more to the pedigree!!!
Surprising that AMT didn’t release a kit (or did they?)
They did. It was even re-released a few years ago.
AMT released many versions of it. In the original release of them in the 60’s, there was a basic Piranha, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. version, and the drag racing version. The “stock” and drag racing ones have been re-released a number of times over the years, including in a double kit that included the stock version, the drag version and a trailer so the drag one could be towed by the stock one. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. version was re-released about 3 years ago as the “Piranha Super Spy Car”, I assume to avoid paying royalties to the movie studio or TV network.
Way back around 1970 or so, (not sure as I suffer from CRS) I found a legitimate Piranha body laying in the field behind a VW dealership near Gaithersburg, MD. No idea how it got there, but the dealership offered to sell it for $400, way out of my league at that time. Went back about a month later and it was gone.
Corgi Toys made a Hot Wheels/Matchbox sized model of this car, using the Husky brand:
https://www.reddit.com/r/matchbox/comments/j4z9sr/the_man_from_uncle_corgi_juniorsmade_in_gt_britain/
Also badged as a Corgi Junior a bit later.
https://www.toymart.com/Corgi-Juniors-1005-Man-From-UNCLE-Car/255
Sorry I don’t understand all the hype on the car, yes it does have some history
but a lot of classics do not at 85k
Squint, and you can see where the Pontiac Fiero got its DNA.
With all due respect Mr. Winfield looks like he could have been one of the three stooges.
I didn’t even have to squint my eyes to see many elements of the Lotus Elan and Europa, both of which were in production before this Piranha. BMW successfully sued GM re: the Pontiac grille, and I believe that Colin Chapman would have been able to do the same. So….perhaps it wasn’t just the cost to manufacture that “pulled the plug” on this car.
The tach and speedo look like they are straight out of a two stroke Saab circa 1963-1968. Must be a story there.
If that Flat-6 is actually stock, the output would have been 140 HP.
I don’t think an extra 20 HP could have been gained by going with the small individual air filters. And the seller’s hyperbole about horsepower potential of the Corvair motor is pretty much fiction. Other than “may-pop” drag motors, you won’t find one with the kind of output suggested. The blocks really don’t live for long when boost brings 300 ponies to the clutch. This is late 1950’s technology, folks!
The transmission I spy attached has the look of a ’65 or ’64 to these old eyes.
Anyway, NEAT car with tons of potential for a lot of unique fun. I’d be curious about the frame and suspension setup. But what I really wonder is if the $85K ask is just a down payment to Winfield, or whether it might be pried out of his shop?