<VV> Hemmings CC John Fitch article

[Dave Keillor]

Remember where John was coming from:
  -- Accomplished race car driver
  -- Seller of performance upgrades for the Corvair
The latter as much as anything probably explains his comments on the stock Corvair.

I don't think John was bashing the Corvair, just comparing the stock Corvair to a John Fitch Sprint.

Dave Keillor

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org [mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Karl Haakonsen (cityhawk at pobox.com)
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 2:34 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> Hemmings CC John Fitch article



I understand the context, but still, the stock LM Corvair was, by all accounts of people who actually drove them was one of the best-handling cars anywhere near its price range for its day (and even out-handled the contemporary Corvette by 0.01g). His choice of words gives the non-Corvair person the impression that the car was somehow "not pleasing to drive" in its stock form when compared to other cars of its day in stock form, which isn't true. I'm just hypersensitive to (and weary of) Corvair bashing, I guess. :) 



Of course tightening the handling in the ways Fitch did made it that much better, of that there's no doubt. 

-----Original Message----- 


The exact quote was, "In stock form, even the '1965-'69 Corvair with its improved independent rear suspension wasn't a fun car to drive,", John said, "It was alright, but it wasn't a pleasing car to drive." 

Later on he said, "I understand what makes a good-handling car.  The suspension is changed, and the steering ratio is changed.  It was very cheap -- I think it was under $3,000 -- and here it was a Porsche!" 

He's correct -- especially from the perspective of a talented race car driver.  Take a late model Corvair, add the optional quick steering box along with the optional HD suspension and you have an entirely different car -- and that's just the beginning. 

Dave Keillor 

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