<VV> Origin of the Fitch Phoenix

[peter koehler]

John Fitch commissioned Frank Risner of Intermechanica in 
Italy to build the Phoenix prototype and then a series of 
500 total units after that. The first and only one built 
started off life as a 1965 Corsa coupe. Simple reason? It 
was the only Corvair available to them in Italy at the 
time of construction. It had the base 140 engine and 
optional 4-speed transmission.

Once completed and shipped back to the USA the Phoenix 
suffered a dropped valve seat just before it was to be 
unveiled in New York City at Ambercombie and Fitch (no 
relation). A late night thrash at the Fitch Works in Falls 
Village, CT swapped out the ailing powertrain with the 
only other one available to John on short notice: his 
personal demo Sprint - the white and blue 1966 Corsa 
coupe. John told me they just swapped out the entire 
powertrain in the interest of time. That is how the 
Phoenix ended up with a 1966 engine and a Saginaw 4-speed.

After the original Phoenix engine was repaired the guys at 
the shop just put the 1965 powertrain back in the '66 
Sprint. That is the engine that is still in the car as it 
sits on display at the Saratoga Auto Museum in Saratoga 
Springs, NY.

When John Fitch was still alive I offered to trade engines 
with him giving him the correct original Phoenix engine in 
exchange for the correct original Sprint engine. We never 
made the swap.

I could also tell you about the time that John offered to 
sell me the Phoenix for $10,000. That was back in 1979 and 
ten grand was so far out of my price range that I had to 
say no. Talk about a missed opportunity? - Pete Koehler