Why was the Corvair banned?
The Chevrolet Corvair, a compact car produced from 1960 to 1969, was once hailed as an innovative and stylish addition to the American automotive landscape. However, it would ultimately become the center of a major controversy that led to its eventual ban. The story of the Corvair's downfall is a cautionary tale about the importance of safety in vehicle design.
The Corvair's Unique Design
The Corvair was a departure from the traditional American car design of the time, featuring a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine and a unique "swing-axle" suspension system. This unconventional setup gave the Corvair a distinctive handling characteristic, which some drivers found challenging to control, especially at high speeds. The Corvair's unique design was both a blessing and a curse, as it contributed to the car's appeal but also raised safety concerns.
The Unsafe Handling Allegations
In the early 1960s, the Corvair's handling issues came under intense scrutiny, particularly after the publication of Ralph Nader's 1965 book, "Unsafe at Any Speed." Nader, a consumer advocate, argued that the Corvair's swing-axle suspension system made the car prone to sudden and unpredictable handling problems, which could lead to dangerous situations, such as rollovers. Nader's allegations sparked a public outcry and a congressional investigation into the safety of the Corvair.
The Government's Response
The government's response to the Corvair controversy was swift and decisive. In 1965, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a comprehensive investigation into the Corvair's safety, which ultimately concluded that the car's handling characteristics were not significantly different from those of its contemporaries. However, the damage had already been done, and the Corvair's reputation had been irreparably tarnished.
The Corvair's Demise
Despite the NHTSA's findings, the Corvair's sales had already begun to decline, and Chevrolet decided to discontinue the model in 1969. The Corvair's legacy, however, would live on, as the controversy surrounding the car led to the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act in 1966, which established new safety standards for all vehicles sold in the United States.
The story of the Corvair serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of safety in vehicle design and the power of public perception. While the Corvair's unique design may have been a source of appeal for some, its handling issues ultimately led to its downfall, forever changing the automotive industry and the way we think about car safety.
Why was the Corvair considered unsafe?
The Chevy Corvair was considered unsafe primarily due to its rear-heavy weight distribution and a single-jointed swing-axle rear suspension, which made it prone to a dangerous condition called snap oversteer, especially when a driver had to make a sudden maneuver. Other safety concerns included the potential for the hood to become a projectile in a crash, a steering column that could impale the driver, and a heating system that could leak dangerous fumes into the cabin.
Handling and stability
- Weight distribution: The Corvair had a rear-mounted engine, resulting in a large portion of its weight being concentrated over the rear wheels.
- Swing-axle suspension: The original models used a cost-saving swing-axle rear suspension, similar to the VW Beetle, which could cause the outside rear wheel to tuck under the car during hard cornering.
- Snap oversteer: This tuck-under motion could lead to a loss of traction in the rear of the car, causing it to fishtail and potentially roll over, a condition that surprised many drivers unfamiliar with its handling.
- Tire pressure: To compensate for the suspension design and prevent oversteer, the car required a very specific and unusual tire pressure differential (15 PSI in the front, 26 PSI in the rear). Many crashes occurred because this was not properly maintained.
Other design flaws
- Hood and hinges: The weak hinges meant the front hood could become a dangerous projectile during a frontal impact.
- Steering column: The single-piece steering column was not collapsible and could impale the driver in a severe front-end collision.
- Carbon monoxide leak: Some models had a heating system that could leak carbon monoxide gas into the passenger cabin, which could be fatal.
What is a 1964 Corvair worth today?
Typically, you can expect to pay around $8,100 for a 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza in good condition with average spec.
Who destroyed the Corvair?
The debate was started by a man few had heard of, especially General Motors:Ralph Nader. That Nader's 1965 book Unsafe at Any Speed destroyed the Corvair hasn't been disputed.
Why did Chevrolet discontinue the Corvair?
To summarize: The Corvair was on its way out by about 1965. Looming emissions restrictions made the air cooled engine a liability because of the difficulty of controlling pollutants, particularly oxides of nitrogen which are aggravated by the hot spots inherent with air cooling.
