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Post Info TOPIC: 1965 Corvair convertible
Lost in the 60s


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1965 Corvair convertible
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Seems to be some interest in my '65 Corvair. This isn't a project car, per se, but may be in the future. I bought this for the engine but the car turned out to be MUCH more solid than was depicted. It has a 140 hp engine that will get swapped into a '66 Corsa when it gets here from CO. I was going to part this car out but it's way too nice for that. I'll put the 110 engine from the Corsa in it and keep it a driver for a while.

When I got it home.

It sat outside for an unknown amount of time with little protection for the missing rear window.

After a wash, Tim could buff this out in a weekend...laughing

After the snow melted overnight, I started vacuuming out all the debris. It actually cleaned up quite well, but I didn't hold out much hope that the floor had survived being wet for years.

When I removed the bottom rear cushion, I was stunned to see very little rust !!

I removed the entire wet, moldy carpet and was really surprised. It couldn't have sat out in the weather for too many years. it looks like it had been taken care of well for most of it's life.

It does have some rust issues in the lower cowl and along the bottom windshield channel but nothing like some of these I've seen.

The front wheel wells are usually gone along with the front trunk pan and these are all original and solid.



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
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Pretty cool little project Mitch!  thumbsup

I dig the front spoiler.  Was that factory, or do you think somebody added it on? 

I agree, that's not a parts car.  The floor pans and wheel wells do look solid.  It's worth saving even with the limited rust IMO.  2cents

A few years ago my neighbor in Apple valley picked up a yellow '64 Corvair vert for $3500 at BTF's just so that he could get in the next year with the '64 and before year cutoff.  It was a cool little vert.



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Stan S.-Twin Cities 'South Metro'

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gearlube


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I dig the round tail lights.. But I am biased....I have never driven in a corvair. For their weight and little engines do they drive well or are fun?

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'Gear Lube' 
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Lost in the 60s


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The power to weight ratio is comparable to larger displacement but heavier cars. They are reasonably quick and contrary to Ralph Nader, very good handling. The early models, 1960-64, did have a different rear suspension that would fold under in an extreme skid but the late model suspension is nearly identical to a corvette. The LM's, 1965-69, were used extensively in small displacement road racing thru the 60's and 70's and there a number of them still competitive on the vintage circuit today. Don Yenko personally road raced them and marketed a special edition "Stinger' for a few years before the release of the Camaro Z28.

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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

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1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
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I was going to say you’ve lost your mind buying a Corvair, now I realize you bought two of them; I don’t know what to say.
I see it has the optional seatbelts and backup lights. Actually they were very good cars, latter models handled very well and with the increased horsepower option (up to a whopping 180hp) were quite quick. GM’s first entry into the sub compact economy class, they were great grocery getters and good in snow, got great gas mileage and were functional at drive in theaters.
If it were not for the Corvair we would have never heard of Ralph Nader; there were certainly more dangers cars on the road in the 60’s. Motor Trends car of the year in 1960 by the way; the suspension was the same design as the 911 Porsche.
The vert should be fun; you might even find your way out of the 60’s, keep the updates coming.


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Kevin

Northwestern Ohio
gearlube


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So Mitch what is the goal here? To just get them running and drive? Or a full restore? Did you clear anything else out in the garage?

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67ss


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I think Mitch is on a mission to own at least one model of every GM car built. An impala and a nova must be on the horizon.laughing

 

I think Mitch's wife is plotting to take away his computer privileges.



-- Edited by 67ss on Monday 30th of December 2013 10:29:43 AM



-- Edited by 67ss on Monday 30th of December 2013 10:30:38 AM

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Chris P
East Central, Mn

66 Chevelle 300 deluxe
John D


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Nah, I think there's a "skunkworks" project in the fold... stirpotstirpotstirpot

V8vair01.jpg

 

you can still get the parts to do it too!

I use to cruise with a guy on Milwaukee Ave in Chicago that stuffed an Olds Toronado 455 powertrain in the backseat of one of these. That car was insane/scary fast.



-- Edited by John D on Monday 30th of December 2013 05:07:34 PM

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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
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Lost in the 60s


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67ss wrote:

I think Mitch is on a mission to own at least one model of every GM car built. An impala and a nova must be on the horizon.laughing

 

I think Mitch's wife is plotting to take away his computer privileges.

 Goal ????   I need a goal ???? Huh, I thought it would be fun to have a convertible. A few guys in the Camaro club have them and take gorgeous young ladies for rides in parades....dunno

I will only keep one of them. Most likely the Corsa, as it is the performance model. It will get a paint job and new top. The GTO needs to leave next year along with the '69 GMC 4 wheel drive pick up.

An Impala ?? OK, 1962 Hardtop...thumbsup

Nova's have never really been on my radar but a '66 hardtop would be nice.

And Dashboard, what makes you think I am getting out of the 60's...confused



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

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1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
Tony Hoffer


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We may need to talk about the "spare" car...

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Jon H


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I think maybe we need to do a club "intervention" to help out Mitch. I am sure his wife would approve.  49788?AWSAccessKeyId=1XXJBWHKN0QBQS6TGPG2&Expires=1391904000&Signature=WNvqSLBUfZtR6I07qpQdFN2b4dI%3D



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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

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gearlube


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I agree. He needs a twelve step....Mitch your becoming one of those old crazy hoarder dudes!!!

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'Gear Lube' 
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By all means if that’s where you want to stay, do so. I completely understand; I have a sister-in-law that is a full-fledged, freeze dried Hippie from the 60’s and she’s never going to change either.
If you get the Corvair done you’ll be able to putter around in sixty’s style.

www.youtube.com/watch



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Kevin

Northwestern Ohio
Derek69SS


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Jon H wrote:

I think maybe we need to do a club "intervention" to help out Mitch. I am sure his wife would approve.  49788?AWSAccessKeyId=1XXJBWHKN0QBQS6TGPG2&Expires=1391904000&Signature=WNvqSLBUfZtR6I07qpQdFN2b4dI%3D

gearlube wrote:

I agree. He needs a twelve step....Mitch your becoming one of those old crazy hoarder dudes!!!

 

I think his behavior is perfectly normal. dunno



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Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN

69 Malibu Pro-Touring stroker LS1-383/T56 - 69 SS396-325/3spd project
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Derek69SS wrote:
I think his behavior is perfectly normal. dunno

 

Oh no! The inmates are voting and setting the new norms.



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Kevin

Northwestern Ohio
Lost in the 60s


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Derek69SS wrote:
Jon H wrote:

I think maybe we need to do a club "intervention" to help out Mitch. I am sure his wife would approve.  49788?AWSAccessKeyId=1XXJBWHKN0QBQS6TGPG2&Expires=1391904000&Signature=WNvqSLBUfZtR6I07qpQdFN2b4dI%3D

gearlube wrote:

I agree. He needs a twelve step....Mitch your becoming one of those old crazy hoarder dudes!!!

 

I think his behavior is perfectly normal. dunno

 Thanks Derek, we "gearheads" need to stick together...thumbsup



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
Tony Hoffer


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Jay Leno and his Yenko stinger

youtu.be/eTGayn3Y800



-- Edited by Tony Hoffer on Monday 24th of February 2014 08:32:32 PM

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