<VV> Corvair didn't make money?

[Bruce Schug]

On Jul 29, 2004, at 11:21 AM, N. Joseph Potts wrote:

*SNIP*

>      This is almost a philosophical question, not a "simple" financial 
> or
> technological one.
>
>

*SNIP*

Interesting point. Was the Corvair successful from a philosophical 
standpoint?

If you assume the reason for the Corvair was to provide an economical 
car to compete with the Volkswagen, then was it successful? Of course 
that was the original intent. For a few years, it did pretty well, but 
over the long-run probably failed, they is, it was not successful as an 
economy car.

But the Corvair did, in fact, awaken an interest in the American car 
buyer for an economical, practical. sporty car with good performance. 
The Corvair Monza is often sited as the reason Ford built the Mustang. 
While not up to the straight-line  performance standards of later, true 
"pony" cars with their requisite V-8's, the Corvair, at least the 
Corvair Monza, with its "four-on-the-floor", bucket seats, tachometer, 
sporty appearance and good handling, was, if not the first "pony" car, 
certainly the forerunner of it.

Even though this was not its original mission, from this standpoint, 
the Corvair was certainly successful, philosophically. The fact that 
all of us still fool with Corvairs as part of the marque's following, 
attests to this success. Though not a true "classic" the Corvair is 
considered a "special interest" auto of note. Our interest has made it 
so. This alone seems significant.

Agree?

Bruce

Bruce W. Schug
CORSA South Carolina
Greenville, SC
bwschug@charter.net

CORSA member since 1981

'67 Monza. "67AC140"