<VV> early suspension changes question

[Doug Mackintosh]

The rebound straps were only offered as an option, they were never offered as standard equipment, except on early production 1962 Spyders. I know they were first offered as an option on the 1962 models, and were available on the 1963 models. I do not think they were offered in 1964, but I haven't found positive documentation for that.
 
According to The Corvair Decade, p.45, in 1962 "Heavy-duty front and rear suspension became available". It also states that "Karl Ludvigsen, writing in Automobile Quarterly, said that RPO 696, the heavy-duty front and rear suspension, 'offered even stiffer front and rear springs, shorter rear axle limit straps, and a front anti-roll bar'.
 
A road test in the June 1963 issue of Motor Trend said:
"The best combination we've found so far is the heavy-duty suspension option (RPO 696) offered by the factory. This consists of shock absorbers, stiffer springs (shorter at the rear to give more negative camber), an anti-roll bar at the front, and limiting straps at the rear that restrict rebound travel and also impose a limit on how far the outside rear wheel can turn under should the car be spun out". 
 
On p.64 of the Corvair Decade it says about the 1964 model options, "the extra cost special suspension option now consisted of specially calibrated coil springs and heavy-duty shock absorbers".

 
Ray Rodriquez said
 
<<Thanks for all the replies thus far.  I'd really like some more solid data
on the "camber limiting straps" since that seems to be the source of the
idea that GM employed a "fix" in the early suspension to counter handling or
rollover issues.
So I'd really like to know when they became available, whether or not they
were used on all cars eventually or only those with the suspension upgrade
package, and exactly what they do.  >>


-- Doug Mackintosh
Corsa member since 1996
Corsa/NC member since 1996, Virtual Vairs member
Corvair owner 1969-1971 and 1996-on