<VV> v-style corvair engine

[Mel Francis]

The short answer to your question Chris, is yes!

In 1955, two early studies for GM's new compact were built.
There was a small, open roadster and a compact four-door, pillarless 
hardtop.
They were called  the Lasalle II showcars and debuted at the '55 Motorama.

They had identical, front-mounted water-cooled OHC V6 engines, with a 
special geared step-down drive,
to get the driveshaft very low, eliminating the raised tunnel, with trans at 
the rear with
independent rear suspension. They both had 13" wheels, with special finned 
drum brakes
mounted outboard, which formed the center area of the wheels, where a hub 
cap would mount.

Unfortunately, these were not running engines, though based on an 
experimental all-aluminum V6 engine that
was under development. The 'engines' in the cars were actually a group of 
empty castings, though
you would swear they looked ready to drive. They were both slated for 
scrapping in 1959.

The cars have survived through time, thanks to the salvation efforts of the 
Detroit junkyard and Joe Bortz,
and are scheduled to be restored next, now that he has made great progress 
with another car from
the same group, the Chevrolet Biscayne, which was actually cut up. Here is a 
video of the Biscayne,
now running after almost 50 years, since being designated 'scrapped'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N9hZnmivMM

Can you recognize the influence this car had on the tail styling of the 
future Corvair and Corvette?

Mel Francis
1965 Monza conv

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "cfm" <cfmann at yahoo.com>
To: "Virtual Vairs" <>
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 7:44 PM
Subject: <VV> v-style corvair engine


>I was just staring at a picture of a typical corvair engine, nothing 
>special but wondered if GM engineers ever considered a v-style in lieu of 
>the horizontally opposed set up as they developed the prototypes.
> Did not really think of harley engines until now, but I suppose something 
> along those lines....
> chris mann
>