<VV> Various Vair Stuff

[Kent Sullivan]

Dale, I have to question DeLorean's statements... The total production for
1967-69 was 58562, hardly more than 1/2 the production in 1966. Amortization
of tooling would be based on number of units made, not time, right?
Therefore it would have been cheaper for Chevy to make those 58562 cars as
part of 1966 production or perhaps in 1967. But 1968 and 1969 seem pointless
from a cost recovery point of view, especially since every model year
brought mandated safety changes, all of which cost money.

I am pretty sure the original intention was to get the Corvair out of the
way after 1966 to make way for the Camaro.

--Kent
-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Dale Smiley CPBE
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 11:00 AM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: <VV> Various Vair Stuff

Folks,

    I have been following the 'Ralphie' thread and agree with the gentleman
who said he is yesterday's news! He isn't worth all the brain power being
used to either condemn or defend him. I do take issue with the statement
that we can thank him for 'three more years of our favorite car.' Here is
why.

    The bean counters at GM, looking at the number of Vairs sold, numbers
predicted to be sold given the reports of what the competition was coming
out with, burning incense, animal sacrifice, and other black arts
accountants use, decided to stop Corvair production because it wasn't
profitable. This was in 1965 if I remember correctly, and being the penny
pinchers they are, they would wait until the retooling costs at Fisher body
for the LM were fully amortized. They calculated that this would be at the
end of the 1969 model year, so that was to be the last year of production.
They also decided that development would stop after 1967, except for that
mandated by the Feds. These decisions were made at least six months before
anyone heard of Ralph Who? This information is in an apparently little read
book "On A Clear Day You Can See General Motors" co-authored by one John Z.
DeLorean. He later tried to distance himself from the book, fearing that "GM
could crush me like a bug."

    So think what you will of Ralph, I just don't think he is worth ANY
thought after all these years later!

JMHO of course, YMMV!

    OBTW, I have met 3 presidents and I know Indiana Congressman Andy
Jacobs, Senator Dick Lugar and former Indiana Governor 'Doc" Bowen. I have
also met Birch and Evan Bayh. For the most part, just regular guys doing
jobs most of us wouldn't want. My favorite 'famous person story' 
is the day I got my picture taken with Nichelle Nichols in front of a poster
that said "All I Ever Needed to Know About Life I Learned from Star Trek!"

Dale Smiley
'66 Corsa 180

Back to lurking!

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