<VV> 1961 Corvair (a bit long)

[RoboMan91324@aol.com]

Hello Thomas,

First of all, welcome to VV and the wonderful world of Corvairs.  This stands 
whether or not you buy the subject '61 4-door.  Next, your inquiry.  You did 
well to ask this group for suggestions before shelling out your money.

1.  Assuming that the car you are looking at has its original engine, it will 
have 2 carbs.  All 61s had dual carb engines.  The 1 carb turbo was 
introduced in '62 and the 4 carb 140 was introduced in the '65 model year.  If the car 
is 98% restored, I would expect a "correct" engine is in it.

2.  Whenever a car sits for an extended time without being driven there must 
be a reason.  It sounds like you are already suspicious.  Good for you.

3.  98% restored????  That shouldn't be subjective but it is.  I have seen 
"fully restored" vehicles that needed a whole lot of work and lots of $$$ to be 
brought up to a condition that I would consider to be fully restored.  
Sometimes the "restoration" work needs to be undone and redone to be proper.  If you 
aren't familiar with 60s vintage cars in general and the idiosyncrasies of 
Corvairs in particular, I wouldn't pay top dollar for a car that the owner claims 
to be 98% restored without having someone who knows these vehicles take a 
really close look.  

4.  $4000 ?!?!?!?!?!  Wow.  Not for a 1961 4-door.  Not me, anyway.  Perhaps 
for a very nice coupe or a '62 or later Spyder or ragtop.  It would appear 
that the owner either doesn't know the real value of the car or just hopes that 
someone comes along that is out of touch with reality.  Sometimes when people 
don't really want to sell, they will ask an outrageous price when approached by 
a potential buyer.  They figure that a knowledgeable person will just walk 
away without bothering to haggle or the person will buy it and the seller can go 
out the next day and buy the equivalent car at a realistic price and put a 
couple of grand in his pocket for fun.  Not to cast aspersions on the owner, 
perhaps he has had all the work professionally done and is trying to recoup his 
expenses along with the original value of the vehicle.  A professional rebuild 
on the drive train along with restoration quality body and paint work etc. 
adds up real quick.  However, keep in mind that a drive train rebuild costs 
pretty much the same on a coupe or a ragtop as it does on a 4-door.  The same thing 
holds for body and paint work on a coupe with somewhat more on a ragtop.  At 
the end of the restoration, the coupe or ragtop is much more valuable.  I have 
found that buying a car from a talented amateur restorer is the best deal 
unless you want it as a show car.  Sometimes even then.  These people often see 
their own labor as a freebie and only look at the purchase price of the car and 
parts when considering the value of the car.  There are many on this list.

Here are my suggestions.  With an asking price of $4000 for the car in 
question, I would just walk away.  It is doubtful that the owner will come down to a 
reasonable price.  If you are in love with this specific car, get someone who 
is knowledgeable about Corvairs to take a look.  I don't know where you are 
located but there is probably either a CORSA chapter near you or possibly 
someone here on this list who may volunteer to look at the car for you, or other 
cars as well.  If you are not in love with this '61, continue looking for a 
Corvair that is more reasonably priced and perhaps a more valuable model.  (I 
know, some people prefer the looks of the 4-doors but then the cost is still less 
in comparison.)  Once I decided to add a Corvair to my collection, I did 
research on them and looked around for almost a year before purchasing my '66 
Corsa.  The more you look at these cars the better feel you have for their value 
and sooner or later you will come across the right car for you at the right 
price.

Lastly, Corvairs are addictive.  Once you buy your first one, it is likely 
that you will buy another and then another and then, etc.  I did.  The look and 
personality of these cars and trucks along with the unique features and design 
elements make them hugely undervalued collectibles.  I own more valuable 
vehicles but the Corvairs are my favorites.  Lastly, I have found that Corvair 
owners as a group are more down to earth, friendly and helpful than other car 
collector groups.  Just one man's opinion.  You should enjoy the experience with 
the right car.

Good luck in your search and keep us posted,
Doc
'60 Corvette; '61 Corvair Rampside pickup; '64 Corvair Spyder; '65 Corvair 
Greenbrier; '66 Corvair Corsa; '67 Nova SS; '68 Camaro ragtop
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 05/20/04 11:28:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
virtualvairs-request@corvair.org writes:

> Message: 10
> From: "thomas harley" <thomasvharley@hotmail.com>
> To: virtualvairs@corvair.org
> Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 22:53:36 -0700
> Subject: <VV> 1961 Corvair
> 
> Well I sure am glad I found this wesite and mailing list. There is a 1961 
> Corvair 4-Door, dual carb, pretty much the basic cut down version. The car has 
> been sitting for a year in the owners driveway and has not been driven since. 
> The owner has told me over the phone that the car is 98% restored, though i 
> find that hard to believe since it has been sitting there for the whole year. 
> There are no dents, the body looks great. He is asking $4000 for it. How m
> uch should i ask for. What problems should i address and what should i expect 
> from the car sitting there for so long?
> 
> A probable future Corvair owner,
> 
> Thomas