Loading

What years did they make the Corvair?

The Chevrolet Corvair was a compact car produced by General Motors from 1960 to 1969. It was a unique and controversial model that challenged the traditional American car design and sparked a heated debate about automotive safety.


The Corvair's Production Years


The Chevrolet Corvair was manufactured for a total of 10 years, from 1960 to 1969. The Corvair was introduced in 1960 as a 1961 model and was produced through the 1969 model year.


The Corvair's Design and Controversy


The Corvair was a rear-engine, air-cooled car, which was a departure from the traditional front-engine, water-cooled design of most American cars at the time. This unique design was both a selling point and a source of controversy. The Corvair's handling characteristics were criticized, leading to a high-profile safety investigation and a book by Ralph Nader titled "Unsafe at Any Speed" that further fueled the debate.


The Corvair's Legacy


Despite the controversy, the Corvair left a lasting impact on the automotive industry. It was a pioneering compact car that paved the way for the rise of smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles in the United States. The Corvair's unique design and the safety debate surrounding it also contributed to the development of stricter automotive safety standards and regulations.


In conclusion, the Chevrolet Corvair was a significant and controversial car in American automotive history, produced from 1960 to 1969 and leaving a lasting legacy on the industry.

What was the biggest problem with the Corvair?


The Corvair relied on an unusually high front to rear pressure differential (15 psi front, 26 psi rear, when cold; 18 psi and 30psi hot), and if one inflated the tires equally, as was standard practice for all other cars at the time, the result was a dangerous oversteer.



How many miles per gallon did a 1967 Corvair get?


Based on data from 1 vehicles, 42 fuel-ups and 5,455 miles of driving, the 1967 Chevrolet Corvair gets a combined Avg MPG of 19.03 with a 1.54 MPG margin of error. Below you can see a distribution of the fuel-ups with 1 outliers (2.33%) removed.



Why were corvairs discontinued?


Under competition from the Mustang and the publicity hit of Unsafe, Corvair sales plummeted by over half in 1966. GM saw the advantages of developing the Camaro, not the Corvair. According to GM historian Dave Newell, Chevrolet had planned on ending Corvair production after the 1966 model year.



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. The first generation of the Corvair was introduced in 1960 and offered as a sedan or coupe.



How much did a new Corvair cost in 1965?


Production notes

YearProductionBase price
1964215,300US$2,000–2,811
1965247,092US$2,066–2,665
1966109,880US$2,083–2,682
196727,253US$2,128–2,540



How many miles per gallon did a Corvair get?


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. “It's nice to drive; it has a two-speed automatic,” Merando said. “It floats a bit because with the engine in the back, air gets under the front end; people used to put sandbags up front.”



Are Corvairs worth money?


The most expensive second-generation production Corvair is the 1968–69 Monza two-door convertible, which has a #3 average value of $18,600. The 1966–68 Corvair Yenko Stinger two-door coupe, on the other hand, carries a #3 value of $36,000.



What is a 1964 Corvair worth?


Typically, you can expect to pay around $10,160 for a 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza in good condition with average spec. What is the highest selling price of a 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza? The highest selling price of a 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza at auction over the last three years was $27,825.



What is the rarest Corvair made?


The Loadside
The Loadside is the rarest Corvair—just 2,844 were produced in 1961, and a minuscule 369 in 1962. The Rampside was 80 percent of sales, so the Loadside was discontinued after 1962.



Why were Corvairs discontinued?


Under competition from the Mustang and the publicity hit of Unsafe, Corvair sales plummeted by over half in 1966. GM saw the advantages of developing the Camaro, not the Corvair. According to GM historian Dave Newell, Chevrolet had planned on ending Corvair production after the 1966 model year.


Kevin's Auto

Kevin Bennett

Company Owner

Kevin Bennet is the founder and owner of Kevin's Autos, a leading automotive service provider in Australia. With a deep commitment to customer satisfaction and years of industry expertise, Kevin uses his blog to answer the most common questions posed by his customers. From maintenance tips to troubleshooting advice, Kevin's articles are designed to empower drivers with the knowledge they need to keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.