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Best of the Worst Cars to Collect |
Sold for $15,000 on January, 2014 4-Speed Manual Transmission 180 HP Turbo Charged Engine Compete Ground - Up Restoration Top of the Line Corsa model Speedometer goes to 140 MPH |
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1965 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa Turbo Convertible |
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A dramatic redesign of the Corvair came in
1965. The new body showed influence from the Corvette Stingray and the
1963 Buick Riviera. The mild coke bottle styling set the trend for GM
cars for the next fifteen years, foreshadowing the 1967 Camaro. For the
first time, none of the passenger cars had a "B" pillar, making all
closed models true hardtops. The 4-door hardtop model was the only
compact ever available in the U.S. with this body style. The second
generation's styling was rated timeless when new, and considered
contemporary today in comparison to the first generation. A new fully
independent suspension, similar in design to the Corvette, replaced the
original swing axle rear suspension. However, the Corvair used coil
springs at each wheel instead of the Corvette's single transverse leaf
spring unit. Car and Driver magazine's David E. Davis Jr. showed enthusiasm for the 1965 Corvair in their October 1964 issue: "And it is here too, that we have to go on record and say that the Corvair is — in our opinion — the most important new car of the entire crop of '65 models, and the most beautiful car to appear in this country since before World War II." A 180 hp (134 kW; 182 PS) turbocharged engine was optional on the Corsa, which offered either standard three-speed or optional (US$92) four-speed manual transmissions. The 140 hp (104 kW; 142 PS) engine was optional on 500 and Monza models with manual or Powerglide transmissions. Many new refinements appeared on the beautiful new 1965 redesign. The Corsa came standard with an instrument panel featuring a 140 mph (230 km/h) speedometer with resettable trip odometer, a 6,000 rpm tachometer, cylinder head temperature gauge, analog clock with a sweeping second hand, a manifold vacuum/pressure gauge and fuel gauge. A much better heater system, larger brakes borrowed from the Chevelle, a stronger differential ring gear, a Delcotron alternator (replacing the generator), and significant chassis refinements were made. AM/FM stereo radio, in-dash All Weather Air Conditioning, telescopically adjustable steering column, and a Special Purpose Chassis Equipment ("Z17") handling package, consisting of a special performance suspension and quick ratio steering box, were significant new options for 1965. No doubt the second generation Corvairs were great looking cars and they seemed popular in the mid to late 1960's. However I put them on this list (included this one that is probably the nicest example of the the best Corvair made) for one reason. They simply have not turned to be very good collector car investments. If this were any other top of the line Chevy convertibles from 1965 (which would include the Nova SS, Chevelle SS, or the Impala SS) they would be worth at least 2.5 to 3 times the $15,000 that this beautiful Corsa sold. Corvairs in general have been very poor investments as collector cars for years. |
