[SCG] Continuing Discussion on mint 63

[hank kaczmarek]

I enjoyed my good friend Bill Stanley’s commentary. 

I always liked Corvairs as a kid. I was 3 when they came out, but really didn’t notice them until 63, our school secretary had one.  Then one of my mom’s co-workers bought a 65 Monza CVT in midnight orchid.  at 8 years old I thought this was the coolest car EVER. 

When I was in HS as I mentioned earlier, my friend’s neighbor had a dark blue 64 4dr in VERY nice condition, and I could have picked it up cheap----800.00   My father refused to let me buy it, citing all the false facts.   I made up my mind that day that like Wayne Campbell looking at the Stratocaster in the music store window-----“Someday, It will be mine”. 

While I was in the military, I needed modern transportation and that’s what I had.  A 72 Pinto, a 73 Dodge Charger SE, and  Finally a new 1980 Toyota Corolla.  The Toyota got popped from behind, the hydraulic bumper did its job but both of the seatbacks broke in front.  So I’m off to the junkyard to find some seats.   Found some from an 85 Tercel that would bolt right up.  And sitting out in the front row in front of the junkyard is a 66 500 2dr, 3SPD/95.  They had been using it for a yard car, because they kept the oxy/acet bottles in the trunk and would drive it up to whatever they wanted to cut on.   250.00   Having just got 2000 in income tax money, I bought it on the spot.  BOY it was rough.  Body OK exterior, but floorpans weren’t great.  it DID run though.   I took it home and learned restoration on it, along with all the things specific to Corvairs.   I was 30 years old.  Just about the age we’re looking for in new blood. 

There are trailer queens and then there are trailer queens.  This car should be shows parades and club events only.  The Trailer queen we all despise I saw at the all Chevy Show at Tonawanda Engine in 1988. 69 Monza cpe, 4000 miles.  You couldn’t even turn the key----the engine had never been touched and the owner said it would puke oil everywhere if he turned it over.  I asked him how he got it on and off the trailer.---Winching and pushing was the reply. When I asked him what did he do with it in between shows---“It just sits in the trailer (enclosed), we never touch it.”  I thought to myself---THEN WHAT THE HELL DO YOU HAVE IT FOR?   If I couldn’t have mine just to drive to shows and parades if nothing else, I’d sell them all. 

I drive a Corvair because I’ve driven everything from a VW Beetle to the 1939 Fleetwood limo that took Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh to the premiere of Gone With The Wind (Also used in the 1st Godfather movie).  I’ve driven a Rolls Royce, a Corvette and High Dollar Mercedes-Benz pieces.  Even a Pierce Arrow.   But I’ve NEVER driven a car that is MORE FUN TO DRIVE than a Corvair.  It’s just a fun little car. 

Low mileage, immaculately maintained examples are very difficult to come across, especially still stock and never molested like this example is.  Bill’s right.  It’s a sin to turn that stock, low mileage, unmolested example into a daily driver, no matter the age or gender of the driver.  

I don’t own a fully stock car. But I’m a great admirer of the fully stock Corvair, and the preservation of those that still exist in that condition.   I’m off the soapbox, just think it’s a shame for a car like that to be driven every day.