Big Improvement: ’65 Corvair Monza Convertible
We have featured a few Corvairs before but this one looks like it has almost all the marbles. The 1965 model year began the transition from an economy car to a driver’s car. 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.” “When the pictures of the ’65 Corvair arrived in our offices, the man who opened the envelope actually let out a great shout of delight and amazement on first seeing the car, and in thirty seconds the whole staff was charging around, each wanting to be the first to show somebody else, each wanting the vicarious kick of hearing that characteristic war-whoop from the first-time viewer.” “Our ardor had cooled a little by the time we got to drive the cars — then we went nuts all over again. The new rear suspension, the new softer spring rates in front, the bigger brakes, the addition of some more power, all these factors had us driving around like idiots — zooming around the handling loop dragging with each other, standing on the brakes — until we had to reluctantly turn the car over to some other impatient journalist … The ’65 Corvair is an outstanding car. It doesn’t go fast enough, but we love it.”
We came across an original owner, 56,000 mile, 4-speed convertible for not huge money. Think about this as a palette to do something really cool. You can tighten up the suspension with some Fitch modifications, throw on some cool period-correct wheels and bigger tires. Could be a really unique little ride. The asking price is $11,500. Click here for the Craigslist ad.