Who was the designer of the Corvair?
The Chevrolet Corvair, a compact car produced from 1960 to 1969, was a controversial and influential automobile in American automotive history. At the center of this story was the car's designer, Edward N. Cole, whose vision and engineering prowess shaped one of the most debated vehicles of the 20th century.
Who was Edward N. Cole?
Edward N. Cole was a prominent American automotive engineer and executive who served as the chief engineer and later president of General Motors. He was the driving force behind the development of the Corvair, which was GM's first mass-produced, air-cooled, rear-engine car. Cole's innovative design and engineering approach made the Corvair a unique and unconventional offering in the American car market.
The Corvair's Unconventional Design
The Corvair stood out from the typical American cars of its era due to its unique design features. It had a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine, which was a departure from the front-mounted, water-cooled engines found in most other cars. This layout provided the Corvair with a more balanced weight distribution and improved handling characteristics.
However, the Corvair's design also had its critics, most notably consumer advocate Ralph Nader, who famously criticized the car's handling and safety in his 1965 book "Unsafe at Any Speed." Nader's scathing critique of the Corvair's design and its potential for instability during sharp turns and high-speed maneuvers led to a congressional investigation and ultimately contributed to the car's demise.
The Legacy of the Corvair
Despite the controversy surrounding the Corvair, Edward N. Cole's design and engineering vision left a lasting impact on the automotive industry. The Corvair's innovative features, such as its rear-engine layout and air-cooled engine, influenced the development of other compact and unconventional cars, including the Volkswagen Beetle and the Porsche 911.
While the Corvair's reputation was tarnished by Nader's criticism, Cole's legacy as a pioneering automotive engineer remains. The Corvair's unique design and the controversy it sparked continue to be studied and discussed by automotive historians and enthusiasts alike.
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 was the controversy with the Corvair?
Ralph Nader published the book "Unsafe At Any Speed" in 1965 stating the vehicle was, well, unsafe. In 1972, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) basically disproved his findings. By then, the damage had been done.
Why did General Motors stop making the Corvair?
In April 1965, General Motors decided to stop development of the Corvair and to do only what was necessary to keep it legal to sell. That decision was made due to the strong sales of the Mustang, and the Corvair was not considered capable of competing with it without a major redesign.
How much did the original Corvair cost?
Production notes
| Year | Production | Base price |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 27,253 | US$2,128–2,540 |
| 1968 | 15,399 | US$2,243–2,626 |
| 1969 | 6,000 | US$2,528–2,641 |
| Total | 1,835,170 |
How much did a new Corvair cost in 1965?
On an historical note, the Corsa series succeeded the Monza Spyder sub-series as the 1965 year's sporty Corvair. The Corvair Corsa Coupe was priced at $2,465, but the most expensive Corvair model was the Corsa Convertible which ccame in at $2,608.
Did the Corvair have a baby cradle?
Yep, I used to sleep there in my mom's Corvair on road trips and at the drive-in movie. It wasn't the engine vibration that lulled babies to sleep, it was the engine fumes that did it!
How many miles per gallon did a Corvair get?
Based on data from 15 vehicles, 624 fuel-ups and 81,064 miles of driving, the 1965 Chevrolet Corvair gets a combined Avg MPG of 18.29 with a 0.31 MPG margin of error. Below you can see a distribution of the fuel-ups with 17 outliers (2.65%) removed.
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 did a Corvair cost in 1965?
The Corvair Corsa Coupe was priced at $2,465, but the most expensive Corvair model was the Corsa Convertible which ccame in at $2,608.
Who designed the Chevrolet Corvair?
Led by General Manager Edward N. Cole, Chevrolet designed a revolutionary new car. It was powered by an air-cooled horizontal six-cylinder engine made almost entirely out of aluminum. The engine was mounted in the rear of the car, driving the rear wheels through a compact automatic transaxle.
