<VV> Corvair stories

[Craig Nicol]

For many years I had a 63 140/4 Factory Camper Deluxe 95. I had remodeled
and extended the roof with a steel-frame extension so the thing was a full
stand-up. It weighed 3800#.  The tall side made for a very large "sail" area
and it was a handful in crosswinds.  Just to make it fun, I towed many
things; cars, dune buggies, horses, and whatever else had a 2" hitch.  A
friend asked me if I would tow his 64 Studebaker Wagonaire (Original owner,
Original Avanti R2 4-speed) from LA to San Diego; usually a 2 1/2 hour
drive.  The Wagonaire probably weighed 4500#, the trailer another 1500#.
So... the trailer combo outweighed the "highly stable" Corvan by almost
double.  Throw in swing axles, bias ply LT tires, and a few crosswinds and
you have ABJECT TERROR for about 4 hours!  Every time I exceeded about 45
mph or made a lane correction, the combo would start to swing and sway
wildly.  This happened, oh, about every minute or so. After several
near-death experiences, we finally made it to San Diego. On the surface
streets to his place I found myself stopped for a light on an uphill grade.
Hmm... No matter how much the little six tried, it just couldn't make
10,000# go any further. 
Craig Nicol, ca. 1973