How many Chevy Corvairs were made?
The Chevrolet Corvair was a compact car produced by General Motors from 1960 to 1969. It was a unique and controversial model that played a significant role in automotive history. The Corvair was known for its innovative rear-mounted, air-cooled engine design, which set it apart from the more conventional front-engine, water-cooled cars of the time.
Production Numbers of the Chevy Corvair
Over the course of its 10-year production run, a total of 1,835,170 Chevy Corvairs were manufactured. The Corvair was available in a variety of body styles, including a two-door coupe, four-door sedan, convertible, and even a van and pickup truck variant. The model's production numbers fluctuated over the years, with the highest annual output of 322,969 units in 1965.
Controversy and Safety Concerns
The Corvair's unique rear-engine design, which gave it distinctive handling characteristics, also led to safety concerns and controversy. In the early 1960s, the Corvair was criticized for its tendency to oversteer, which could cause the rear wheels to lose traction and the car to spin out of control. This issue, along with other safety-related problems, led to a high-profile investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the publication of Ralph Nader's book "Unsafe at Any Speed," which further damaged the Corvair's reputation.
Legacy and Collector's Item
Despite the controversy, the Chevy Corvair has since gained a loyal following among classic car enthusiasts. Its unique design and engineering have made it a sought-after collector's item, with well-maintained examples commanding high prices in the classic car market. The Corvair's legacy continues to be debated, with some seeing it as an innovative and ahead-of-its-time design, while others view it as a cautionary tale about the importance of safety in automotive engineering.
What is the rarest Corvair made?
The rarest Corvair is the amphibious Corphibian Loadside pickup. One was built. The GM plant in Oshawa, Ontario, built 100 amphibious Corvair Dynatrack articulated vehicles for the U.S. and Canadian Armies. The Australian Army ordered 500 but didn't have the money upfront.
How much is a 1964 Corvair worth today?
The value of a 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza can vary greatly depending on its condition, mileage, options, and history. Typically, you can expect to pay around $10,160 for a 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza in good condition with average spec.
What is the most valuable Corvair?
A: The top sale price was $82,500 for a 1966 Chevrolet Yenko Stinger Stage II on Mar 19 2021. Q: What is the lowest sale price of a Chevrolet Corvair - 2nd Gen? A: The lowest recorded sale price was $250 for a 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Convertible on Sep 4 2024.
How many miles per gallon did a Corvair get?
He has taken the Corvair up to 75 mph; it was rated at up to 115 miles per hour in 1965. “When a car's that old, I don't doubt something's going to fall out,” he said. He estimates the vehicle gets 20 to 25 miles per gallon, just as it did 58 years ago. Gas cost 31 cents a gallon when it was built.
What is a Corvair worth today?
Q: What is the average sale price of a Chevrolet Corvair? A: The average price of a Chevrolet Corvair is $15,807.
What was so special about the Corvair?
The Corvair was notable for its innovative design, which included a rear-mounted air-cooled engine, four-wheel independent suspension, and a compact, lightweight uni-body.
What was the biggest problem with the Corvair?
In his 1965 book, Unsafe at Any Speed, Nader called the Corvair “the one-car accident.” He wrote that a design flaw in the rear suspension made the car likely to flip over when driven in abrupt maneuvers, like, say, avoiding a ball that suddenly rolled into the street.
How many 1963 Corvairs were made?
A: Chevrolet produced 254,571 examples of the Corvair Series in 1963.
How many Corvairs were made in 1964?
Production notes
| Year | Production | Base price |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 215,300 | US$2,000–2,811 |
| 1965 | 247,092 | US$2,066–2,665 |
| 1966 | 109,880 | US$2,083–2,682 |
| 1967 | 27,253 | US$2,128–2,540 |
Why was the Corvair outlawed?
The rear engine placement in the Corvair caused a weight imbalance that resulted in poor handling. As a performance vehicle, many people enjoyed driving the Corvair at high speeds. When combined with poor handling, high speeds can lead to an accident when the driver attempts to correct a steering error.
