One Of Fourteen? 1963 Corvair Motor Home
So, you’ve been thinking about getting into the RV scene and enjoying the carefree vagabond lifestyle. But as a car guy or gal, you want something with style because you’re unique. The RV of your dreams – a 1963 Corvair motorhome – is for sale on Craigslist in St. Francis, Arkansas for $3,500.
This motorhome was built on a Corvair 95 Rampside pickup truck by a Wiley’s Body Shop in Port Orchard, Washington. A quick Internet search turns up a Wiley’s currently in business in Port Orchard, but there is no mention of them building camper conversions. They have been in business since 1943, so it might be from their shop. In any case, the seller claims that only 14 were ever made.
The body of the rig shows some corrosion at the panel seams and there are a couple of patches of rust where the paint failed or body damage occurred. There is some green moss growing on some of the body surfaces so it has likely lived outside for a while. Does that qualify as patina? The bumper chrome looks good and it has all four hubcaps in place. The builder added some air scoops that look like they came from JC Whitney at the rear to help steer cooling air to the flat six engine.
Inside, the living area is either a blank canvas or disaster area. The seller says that the headliner and the wood cabinets have been damaged by water leaking around the roof-mounted air conditioning unit. The only photo of the inside of the camper shows the remains of cabinets, some funky looking carpet and what may be a water tank. The ad says that nothing electrical works and I don’t know if that means the camper only or the whole vehicle. Bring your multimeter.
If this is the original engine, then it would be a 145 cubic inch flat six putting out 80 horsepower. There are tons of tuning parts for these air cooled sixes and it might be advisable to add a few to help keep up with modern traffic. On the positive side, the seller says that it is not locked up. The interior photos show a floor mounted shifter to a manual transmission but the seller does not state if it is the three or four-speed unit.
The passenger compartment looks plenty serviceable with the rubber floor mats in place and overall just needing a good cleaning to get things going. The seat covering may be an aftermarket item, since most of the images of new Rampsides show a plain vinyl upholstery. It has an AM radio and an earlier owner-installed an eight-track tape deck under the dash. Any guesses as to what the boxed item is on the seat?
Speaking of the dash, it has some pretty impressive instrumentation for a lower-end vehicle, so the driver can see what is happening instead of what just went wrong, but oil pressure is left up to a “surprise” light. I think this unusual camper would make an awesome track camper with the right engine upgrades, nice paint, wheels and interior comforts. What do you think?
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Comments
Very cool find. Plenty of companies tried their hand at topping off the Rampside pickups, which this is (95 would be the window van, I believe. Loadside would be the truck without the side ramp). That’s a stock Corvair fuel pump in the box on the seat. I have a Structo toy of this Rampside with a camper up top. It is a prize of my collection.
It’s asking too much of the Corvair powerplant to push something like this around.
Oh, you can ASK all you want. Just don’t expect a reply.
That is a mechanical fuel pump on the seat. They have an electric in line pump on the engine. As is I wouldn’t go more than 650.
The item on the seat is a new fuel pump. The full instrumentation dash is out of a 62-64 Corvair Spyder. Covered in wood grain!
If you put this back on the road, it’d better be for “flatlander” driving. I don’t think this puppy would be able to negotiate many mountains.
Fuel Pump on the seat. Would be nice if you wanted to pump about 25K into it.
Henry, The you’d need a money pump.
Fuel pump in the box, and it looks like they are running 2 fuel filters. ‘BED & TABLE INTACT’. Is that white thing the bed? Impala hubcaps? For $3500 I’d look for something else!
65 Impala SS wheel covers.
This has been around for a long time. It was previously posted here back in October. The last time it was $4K, now it’s down to $3500. https://barnfinds.com/box-6-camper-1963-chevrolet-corvair-motorhome/
Could add the 140 motor or even the turbo. But, some fabrication would have to happen out back. I’ve seen it done, with the Ultravair motorhome but not with a drop-in camper conversion.
A water injected turbo would be fantastic! Hills would be no trouble.
I think that this is awesome! There is one thing I would like to point out tho! A smart guy would strip out the inside all the paneling because of the leak! Especially if it sat outside because you can bet that there is black mold growing behind those panels! I would anyway safety for yourself and your crew is very important! I wished I could take this one on myself, but I just can’t!
For the amount of work required, you’d have to really want this for the oddball factor. It’s an original, rare piece, but that probably doesn’t translate into desirability. Unless, as I said it appeals to you specifically, in which case, go for it.
It’s not the original engine because it’s not a truck engine (which had the oil filler and dipstick accessible from the rear engine-access panel). The ’63 would have had a generator originally. But the good news is that any Corvair engine/trans will slot right in there up to and including a 180hp Corsa turbo rig. That ought to wake it up sufficiently. I kind of hope somebody saves this and does just that.
They made 14 of those??????
What else was there in 1963?
You young people will never know what you missed in the 60s! Very helter-skelter, but a whole bunch of freedom from today’s limitations put on people where ever they go! It would take me days, and I would have to write several books to tell you the real story of the 60s! So many lies are told to young people in schools by teachers who only believe in what they read! That’s a crying shame!
If I had a well-sorted Rampside already, I would offer $2k, take the camper top off and place it on the known runner Corvair all ready to go. That way one can see all the items that need replacement/fumigation on the original shell. Could be a fun project and something different than a Westfalia. In fact, maybe the V Dub folks should get in on this one!
VW is really falling fast. After the TDI debauckle….
The van, with DOA (driver over axle) was one of the most comfortable rides ever made, like floating.
Would be great v8 swap candidate
Another HAZMAT camper .
The power plant could do it 30 years ago. These engines and transaxles are getting brittle now though. I’d be worried about rear wheel bearings too.
My dad used to cruise all over the country in a water injected turbocharged Corvair van pulling a trailer. He cruised at 80 all the time with no issues unless pulling a hill. He’d slow to 70 or so if the head temperature started climbing.
Come on every body knows its not a fuel pump.its a water pump i thought everybody knew that..lol..750 to 1000 tops but its cool..