<VV> Corvairs Gone Bad

[Bill Hubbell]

I think I see your problem right away -- all you looked at were Late
Models!!!

Bill "Earlies are Better" Hubbell

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Maxwell" <kobramax at insightbb.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 8:55 AM
Subject: <VV> Corvairs Gone Bad


Hi Gang!

I have enjoyed reading the horror stories of Corvair deals that sounded good
but ended up bad. I have had several experiences since I decided to get a
Corvair after a 20 year hiatus back in the summer of 2001.

1. 66 Turbo coupe - first car I looked at, advertised as needing a little
work. Drove 200 miles to see it. It had no carpet, remote mirror was
missing, tele-wood wheel wouldn't work, hood had been replaced and wouldn't
close properly, trunk floor rusted out and muffler missing. It did run
pretty well but I didn't drive it, the brakes were very mushy. It was priced
right at $2,500 but it was more "little work" than I wanted.

2. 66 Corsa coupe- advertised by a dealer 300 miles away for $4,000. Said it
was a cherry and that I could drive it home if I wanted. I towed a dolly
with me just in case. The car had a MAACO quality repaint over rust, the
interior looked like Jack the Ripper had got hold of it and I couldn't get
it to drive around the block, much less back home. The dealer was mystified
that I would turn down such a jewel, proclaimed that I would be back (no
way)!

3. 66 Turbo coupe - a "Corvair Guy" advertised as a solid, good running car,
just needing paint and reassembly, wanted $3,500. I drove 350 miles with
dolly for this one. The body was horrible, much rust, the interior in his
basement wasn't worth carrying up the stairs and when we finally got the
heap started the smoke filled up his attached garage and spilled into his
house setting off the smoke detector! I made him a pity offer of $1,500
which I thought was generous but he was highly offended.

4. 66 Turbo coupe - I bought this car off e-bay and drove almost 400 miles
with a trailer to pick it up. While it was a loaded example, it was
extremely rusty (funny how the pictures never seem to show this) and the car
ran so poorly (off a gas can) that we had a real hard time getting it up the
ramps and on to the trailer. I paid $3,500 an later sold it for $1,000 less.

5. 69 Monza convertible - I bought this car sight unseen from New England
for $4,500. Was a low mileage car with nice options. Due to my previous
experiences, I was very careful the get lots of photos and I made three 30
minute phone calls to ask all of the relevant questions. My main concern was
rust, especially in the rockers. I was assured that the jambs were nice and
the doors closed easily. I had the car shipped to Louisville and found that
the rockers were so badly rotted that the doors would barely close! I was
afraid to lower the top for fear the car would fold in half!

I have purchased several other Corvairs since 2001 that were as described
and were good deals. I got a very nice 66 Corsa coupe with air for $4,500, a
decent 66 Corsa convertible for $3,000, a very nice 66 Turbo Corsa for
$3,500 and a 69 convertible for $500!
The main thing is "buyer beware". Always assume that the car is not as nice
as is described and that it will need much more work than you planned.
Generally, I have found that it is much less expensive in the long run to
pay a higher price for a better example than to get one cheap and try to fix
it up. For me, the body and paint are the most important things, followed by
mechanical and then interior.

Ken Maxwell
Louisville, KY
(2) 69 Convertibles (one rusty, one dead)