<VV> Driving John's Fitch Phoenix

Sun Jun 8 16:14:44 EDT 2014

Karl Ludvigsen's book "Corvair by Chevrolet, Experimental & Production Cars 1957 - 1969" shows a side view of the Phoenix chassis on page 66. It uses tubes for the lower side and appears to have a central backbone stress tunnel similar to a Lotus Elan. It uses rectangular tubes to form front and rear extensions onto which the Corvair suspensions are bolted. Unfortunately, I do not have a scanner or I would post the picture for VV. Somewhere in my other books I have additional pictures. I'll see what I can dig up and find a way to share.

Joe White

-----Original Message-----
From: yenko117--- via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
To: Sethracer <Sethracer at aol.com>
Cc: chaz <chaz at properproper.com>; patiomatt <patiomatt at aol.com>; virtualvairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sat, Jun 7, 2014 4:30 pm
Subject: Re: <VV> Driving John's Fitch Phoenix

Jack Dempsey replaced the rear end in the Phoenix just prior to the '91 
convention at Hot Air Enterprises. Jack did indeed push it on his normal test 
drive back through the local golf course. He told me that it oversteered a bit, 
but handled well.

Mike
YS-117

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 7, 2014, at 1:13 AM, Sethracer--- via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org> 
wrote:

> At the Washington Convention (1991), John Fitch was one of the honored  
> guests. The Phoenix was on display in the underground vendor area. As the 
event 
> wrapped up, someone needed to move the Phoenix out to the waiting 
> transport. I  offered to move it around to the loading dock. Okay, is wasn't 
very 
> far, but I  drove it a little bit. Much more memorable was the dinner John and 

> I enjoyed one  night at the convention. I took John out to a local 
> restaurant and he and I  (mostly he) talked for a couple of hours. That was 
where I 
> learned about his  Caribbean sailing adventures and his WWII service. A most 
> memorable  evening. I also accompanied him on the dinner cruise Thursday on 
> the Potomac. A real gentleman.
> 
> Somewhere, I, too have a snapshot of me, sitting in the  Phoenix. - Seth 
> Emerson
> 
> 
> In a message dated 6/6/2014 8:48:33 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
> virtualvairs at corvair.org writes:
> 
> I was  honored by John just to get this close back in the day !
> 
> 
> 
> What  could I get for pix of me driving Fitch's Phoenix at Lime  Rock?
> 
> cid:image003.jpg at 01CF81C6.D3E19DC0
> 
> Picture probably  deleted on VV version of this message but attached as a 
> URL below  ?
> 
> 
> 
> And, OK, it was a while ago, but hey  ~
> 
> 
> 
> Charlie
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original  Message-----
> 
> "Thanks to the concerted efforts of Wayne Carini  (Velocity’s “Chasing 
> Classic Cars”), journalist Don Klein, and the Fitch  Family, the late John 
Fitch
> ’s pride and joy – the one and only Fitch Phoenix  -- went to the Bonham’s 
> auction at the Greenwich Concours Sunday, June  1.
> 
> 
> 
> Given appropriate display space just feet from the auction  stage, the 
> Phoenix was the center of attention. After bidders went back and  forth, at 
2:42 
> p.m. the gavel came down on its sale to Mr. Charles Mallory of  Greenwich, 
> Conn.
> 
> 
> 
> A collector with eclectic tastes, Mr. Mallory  was not there to simply add 
> to his stable: “This was by far my most emotional  purchase,” Mallory said 
> shortly afterward. “I loved John, I love Lime Rock, I  really feel the 
> Phoenix belongs in Connecticut. I’m very happy for not just  me, but everyone 
who 
> understands what this is about.”
> 
> 
> 
> The  Phoenix went for $230,000 (137,278 British pounds, 168,665  Euros)."
> 
> 
> 
> Look for a "Chasing Classic Cars" episode covering the  Phoenix and the 
> auction this fall on the Velocity  Channel
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Matt Nall
> 
> Charleston,  Oregon
> 
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