<VV> Origin of Corvair name was Corvairs Again - This time its the beast of the vairs

Stephen Upham contactsmu@sbcglobal.net
Tue, 21 Sep 2004 22:33:56 -0500


"I beg to differ.  The name "Corvair" first appeared on a "show car" 
that GM
trotted out for the Motorama in, I think, '53 at the Waldorf-Astoria in 
NYC.
The car appeared with the two-seat convertible named the Corvette.  The 
latter
car, of course, went into production.  GM also showed a fast-back based 
on the
Corvette.  I think the fast back also had a small back seat.  Because it
combined the sporty styling of the CORVette sports car with the more 
practical
family car aspects of the Bel-AIR, the show car was christened with the
contraction moniker of Corvair.  This name was then usurped a few years 
later when the
Corvair as we know it went into production."

Bill Stanley

Yeah, there is a picture of said prototype on page 15 of "The Corvair 
Decade" by "Don" Tony Fiore.  I even bought a die cast version (the 
madness progresses GG).  Speaking of Tony, are you following this?  We 
would love to have your input on it.  Personally, I believe at least 
the "air" part of the name had to do with the unique cooling system.

Stephen Upham