<VV> The New Corvair

[JVHRoberts at aol.com]

the Mustnag also enjoyed a few other things:
 
Low cost, mass produced components.
First to market. NEVER underestimate the value of this one!
A wide range of models to cover a wide range of pocketbooks and tastes. 
 
If GM stuck to the rear engine formula, (tough to do given the relatively  
high production costs of the Corvair), today's car would have a water cooled  
engine (like Porsche did, and for the same reasons) and maybe THAT would be a  
way to get more commonality with the rest of GM's engines. V6 and V8 options  
would sure be nice. So would a more durable range of transaxles, although they  
could still be based on existing front engined transmissions. No doubt a  
Corvette C5 or C6 tranny could be retooled for rear engine duty. 
 
The Fiero was nearly the right kind of car, but it was made TOO cheaply. I  
would guess if the 1984 models were designed like the 1988 models, that car may 
 still be with us! But mid engine limits the model range, rather a lot. 
 
 
 
In a message dated 9/8/2007 1:01:58 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
airvair at earthlink.net writes:

Can't  say that there wouldn't be a way of knowing what the Corvair would
look  like now, because all you have to do is look at the Camaro. Yes, the
'67  Camaro was supposed to be the third generation Corvair. We got that
from  the "horse's mouth" at this year's convention.

Also, another car in  addition to the 911 that you can look at is the
Mustang. With the current  car (as well as the 911) it proves what a classic
shape certain cars have,  and that some designs never go out of style. Style
sells, always has,  always will.

If you note, what has kept the Mustang in production,  despite being in a
volatile segment, is that Ford for the most part has  kept it true to its
successful formula. This is also why the Camaro (last  generation) was
pulled, and why GM is seeking to build the new one in the  original's image.

So in reality, the next generation "Camaro" is REALLY  what the Corvair
would look like had it been kept in production. This  despite the first and
second generation being rear-engine, air-cooled, sad  to say.

BTW, for all those who like the LM Corvair 2-door's thin "C"  pillars, note
that even the '67 Camaro (as well as the upcoming new one)  has thicker "C"
pillars, ala LM 4door hardtops. Just helps to prove the LM  4door's design
is total styling perfection.

-Mark


>  [Original Message]
> Subject: <VV> The New Corvair
>
>  gminsidenews.com is an interesting web site (although I wish they would  
> take the picture of the Camaro down, I can't stand the ugly front-end  
> on that car!). If you've never looked at it, you might enjoy digging  
> around it a bit.
>
> Of some interest is a design  "contest" to design a new Corvair. Now 
> before you get too excited,  let me remind you that if the Corvair was 
> still produced, it's no  telling what it would look like. Few current 
> cars are anything like  they were 40 years ago (except for the 911).
>
> These guys mostly  take existing pictures and modify them in Photoshop. 
> Some of them are  pretty good, but these are not done by real designers 
> and you'll  mostly see details from such cars as the Chevy Volt, Camaro, 
>  etc.
>
> So, with that caution, click on...
>
>  http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=85


 



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