<VV> Corvair vs Falcon, Valiant, Chevy II Nova, Chevelle, and later the Camaro

[Alan and Clare Wesson]

What is amazing is how much the design of the late models was copied in 
Europe - the Mk 3 Ford Cortina basically used the LM dash design wholesale, 
and it came out in 1970, a full 5 years later:

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mk3cortina.com/images/p%26jcortina4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mk3cortina.com/history.htm&usg=__yYZqU-sE1VDNNNG7q25ISSATF8k=&h=508&w=509&sz=70&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=fy9IiuqGqH10XM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=131&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmk3%2Bcortina%2Bdash%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26hs%3DPK1%26sa%3DN

I have also had the misfortune to own a Morris Marina (Austin Marina to 
you), and I owned a late model Vair at the same time. I was amazed, when 
washing them, to find that the profiles of the panels on the front of the 
car as far back as the B post are remarkably similar - I am talking 
particularly about the shape of the front fender tops, lower wheel arch 
pressings, etc - it's basically a total rip-off of the LM Vair as far as 
that B post (where it all goes wrong and turns bulbous and pig ugly!):

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.retrowow.co.uk/transport/70s/morris_marina.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.retrowow.co.uk/transport/70s/morris_marina.html&usg=__KCJnmtXo9Uj32KyIsPUJhvGRs5Y=&h=234&w=400&sz=38&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=9bNN_ci0DuB_GM:&tbnh=73&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmorris%2Bmarina%2Bcoupe%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26sa%3DN

Cheers

Alan


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Charles Lee" <Chaz at ProperProPer.com>
To: <HallGrenn at aol.com>; <ricknorris at suddenlink.net>; <ricebugg at mtco.com>; 
<virtualvairs at corvair.org>; <Vairtec at optonline.net>
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 8:43 AM
Subject: <VV> Corvair vs Falcon, Valiant, Chevy II Nova, Chevelle,and later 
the Camaro


> Selling the Corvair as an economy car ("America's Cheapest Hardtop") was
> intended to emphasize the 'hardtop' since the other cars were 'pillar
> posted' sedans and coupes, but unfortunately all America heard was 
> 'cheap'.
>
> Unfortunately the Corvair filled a niche that was occupied by cars GM
> already made : the Chevy II Nova, Chevelle, and later the Camaro, and all
> were cheaper to build.
>
> The real wonder is that the Corvair lasted as long as it did.
>
> Someone really loved the Corvair and its innovative style because it was 
> NOT
> a financial decision, and boy are we glad we had someone in our corner !
>
> We may never have seen the late models, which I think were voted the "Most
> Beautiful Car in the World" at some point (I think 1967) ?
>
> I think we can thank Ralhpie for forcing GM to keep the Corvair a little
> longer just so it didn't look like they were capitulating to his threats?
>
> Whatever it was, I'm glad it happened!
>
> Charlie
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
> [mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of HallGrenn at aol.com
> Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 6:33 PM
> To: ricknorris at suddenlink.net; ricebugg at mtco.com; 
> virtualvairs at corvair.org;
> Vairtec at optonline.net
> Subject: Re: <VV> Corvair vs Falcon
>
>
> In a message dated 1/1/2009 9:28:25 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> ricknorris at suddenlink.net writes:
>
> In 1967  the Corvair 500 was being advertised as the "lowest priced 
> hardtop
>
> in
> American," a mistake, I think.
> --Bob
>
> Uhh,
> What  was it's price in European??
>
> TLH
>
>
>
> Well the list price in Germany was DM21,600 or about $6,000 in 1967 
> dollars
>
> for a '67--in 1967.
>
> Bob Hall
> **************New year...new news.  Be the first to know what is making
> headlines. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000026)
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