<VV> Popularity

[Rick Norris]

My 67 vert is my second or third 67 and second convertible. My first 
convertible was a 69.
I like my 67 and it gets more thumbs up, smiles and comments than any car 
I've ever had.
That might have something to do with the factory Royal Plum paint. Seems 
that is a rarity.
Wasn't aware of that until Mark told me. It also has a white electric top. 
Don't know how
rare that is.
Since the weather has been good here most of the time I drive it everyday. 
Had it in a car show
Saturday. Fooled some folks with the floor shift automatic! If they know 
anything about the
cars they remember the shifter was on the dash. No one asked if it was a 
Spyder but,
At least three people had stories to tell about how fast they were!

Rick Norris
#36 Sunoco Corvair
www.corvairalley.com

> Over the years, one of the things that has always fascinated me is the
> popularity of the various models and years of what shows up at any given
> event. Of particular interest to me (as I'm into them) is the late model
> cars, and specifically the '67-9 cars. Unfortunately, it seems that those
> last three year models are pretty rare, and in particular the '67-8 cars
> are almost invisible.
>
> Considering the factors that have been at work over the years, it 
> shouldn't
> be surprising that the vast majority of late models are '65-6 cars. Just 
> by
> the production numbers alone this would be expected. After all, they built
> more '65's than '66-9's, and more '66's than '67-9's. But what also is at
> work are several interesting factors.
>
> First off, EVERYbody saves convertibles. That's a given, as that body 
> style
> is a breed all its own. But it seems that half the cars that show up are
> droptops, which is way out of porportion to how many were produced. Take
> the '67 model year - they built nine coupes to three 4doors to two
> converts, in the Monza line, and the 500 line holds to the same
> porportions. Fairly typical of any given year. But also at work is that 
> few
> people bothered to save any 4doors. They are the Rodney Dangerfield of 
> body
> styles. So most of what was saved had 2doors.
>
> Second, the '67-9's had several strikes working against them. There was no
> Corsa model or turbo available, and in '67 the 140 was so limited as to be
> non-existant. Plus the '68-9 cars were saddled with the smog equipment.
> Then there's the general dislike of the safety items - the mushroomed 
> knobs
> and added padding, particularly the radio and ashtray pads, headrests, and
> proliferation of seat belts. To top it off, there was the perception (if
> not reality) of falling quality, though over the years this factor's
> influence has faded. Never mind that all of these items are merely parts
> that can easily be swapped out for more desirable items, and often are, 
> and
> that many cars are now in rebuilt or restored condition, and often
> customized away from pure factory stock in the process.
>
> What little the '67-9 cars had in the plus column was that the '69 was the
> last year (and everybody saves them because of it), and that they 
> continued
> to build the convertibles to the bitter end. Such improvements as the dual
> master brake cylinder and the '69 clutch cable barely register.
>
> So why are the '67 and '68 cars so scarce? I have no idea, and continue to
> wonder to this day. This is particularly amazing to me, as '67 is my
> favorite year. I like the Astro bucket seats (and this is one item that is
> solely decided by personal preference - whether that bucket fits the
> owner's bucket), and '66-7 upholstery pattern. Plus the 4door (my favorite
> body style) was still available. Then there's the fact that a number of
> factory options were either in their last year or first year of
> availability, making '67 the year with the most possible options. I'm not
> bothered by the lack of the Corsa model, as the Corsa was merely $74.20
> worth of dash panel and trim, all of which could easily be swapped in (and
> often is, as is the 140, or even the turbo).
>
> Still the puzzle remains. Why the scarcity of '67's and '8's? We may never
> know...
>
> (On the plus side at this year's convention, though, was that there seemed
> to me to be a markedly noticable increase in the showing of '67's, and
> particularly of 4door cars of all years. Horray!)
>
> -Mark
>
>
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