Chevrolet Corvair

Chevrolet Corvair
Chevrolet Corvair
	1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza
Overview
Manufacturer	Chevrolet (General Motors)
Production	1960–1969
Model years	1960–1969
Assembly	US: Ypsilanti, Michigan (Willow Run Assembly); US: Kansas City, Missouri (Leeds Assembly); US: Oakland, California (Oakland Assembly); US: Van Nuys (Van Nuys Assembly); US: St. Louis (St. Louis Truck Assembly); US: Flint, Michigan (Flint Truck Assembly); Belgium: Antwerp (CKD); Canada: Oshawa (Oshawa Car Assembly); Mexico: Mexico City (CKD); South Africa: Port Elizabeth (CKD); Switzerland: Bienne (CKD); Venezuela: Caracas (CKD);
Body and chassis
Class	Compact car
Layout	RR layout
Platform	Z-body
Chassis	Unibody
Chronology
Successor	Chevrolet Vega

The Chevrolet Corvair is a rear-engined, air-cooled compact car manufactured by Chevrolet in two generations between 1960–1969. A response to the Volkswagen Beetle,^[1] it was produced in 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, convertible, 4-door station wagon, passenger van, commercial van, and pickup truck body styles in its first generation (1960–1964), and as a 2-door coupe, convertible or 4-door hardtop in its second (1965–1969). Total production was approximately 1.8 million vehicles from 1960 until 1969.

The name "Corvair" was first applied in 1954 to a Corvette-based concept with a hardtop fastback-styled roof, part of the Motorama traveling exhibition.^[2] When applied to the production models, the "air" part referenced the engine's cooling system.

A prominent aspect of the Corvair's legacy derives from controversy surrounding its handling, raised aggressively by Ralph Nader's Unsafe at Any Speed and tempered by a 1972 Texas A&M University safety commission report for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which found that the 1960–1963 Corvair possessed no greater potential for loss of control in extreme situations than contemporary compacts.^[3]

Chevrolet would more directly compete with imports the size of the Volkswagen Beetle with the subcompact Chevrolet Vega a year after Corvair production ended from 1970 to 1977. Today the Corvair has a devoted following among owners and collectors as average prices for Corvairs from any year have reached an all-time high.^[4]

^ "25 things you didn?t know about Corvair". Chicago Tribune. July 12, 2009. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
^ Temple, David W. (April 14, 2015). "Legendary 1954 Chevrolet Corvair Dream Car recreated". Old Cars Weekly. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
^ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (July 1972). PB 211-015: Evaluation of the 1960–1963 Corvair Handling and Stability (Report). National Technical Information Service.
^ "Why You Should Buy a 1960s Chevy Corvair Right Now". September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2022.

[1] "25 things you didn?t know about Corvair". Chicago Tribune. July 12, 2009. Retrieved September 6, 2022.

[2] Temple, David W. (April 14, 2015). "Legendary 1954 Chevrolet Corvair Dream Car recreated". Old Cars Weekly. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.

[:0-3] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (July 1972). PB 211-015: Evaluation of the 1960–1963 Corvair Handling and Stability (Report). National Technical Information Service.

[4] "Why You Should Buy a 1960s Chevy Corvair Right Now". September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2022.

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