1963 Chevrolet Corvair

1963 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible Until the 1950s, most American auto manufacturers made one size of car: large.  Imports from Europe such as Volkswagen, Renault, and Fiat showed that there was a market in the U.S. for smaller cars, mostly as a second car or an alternative for the budget minded.  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 transaxle.  Suspension was independent at all four wheels.  There was no conventional frame; it was the first unibody built by Fisher Body and the styling was unconventional for Detroit, subtle and elegant, with no tail fins or chrome grille This Monza Corvair has a higher performance engine, which means it is a mid-performance model with 82,972 non-verifiable miles on the clock. The overall car is showing in very good condition, mechanically sound, and true to the 1963 model.  Purchased by our consignor over 20 years ago and the beneficiary of a 2 year long restoration in 2007, this car has a new brake system with a dual pot master cylinder, a new fuel system with rebuilt carbs, new upholstery, new carpet, and a base coat/clear coat respray in the correct Palomar Red which is in good condition with no rust or denting.  This is a well optioned model, and it's a convertible with a new top.  I'm in rear engine heaven, Peabody set the way back machine for 1963 'n let's go. Exterior A respray of Palomar Red presents in good condition.  Very few dings are present throughout the all steel body, but mostly unremarkable.  The respray shows some inclusions of dirt, however they are minimal.  Chrome and brightwork, with original badging, are all there and correct, with gaps that are straight and true and there is no rust seen.  The headlights and lower bumper are all good, as is the Corvair badge in front.  A white convertible top is in very nice condition and has a clear plastic rear window.  Tail lighting utilizes chrome rings to highlight the red and white rounded tail light and backup lighting.  A clean rear bumper is below and under this are 2 nicely preserved rear roll pan vents and dual exhaust tips.  Standard Corvair wheel coverings are wrapped in thin white wall tires. Interior A swing of the driver's door reveals a clean utilitarian no frills interior even though we are in the middle trim line Corvair offered up for the time.  Door panels are solid black vinyl with various panels in smooth and horizontal and vertical stitched ribbed centers, a black armrest, and shiny actuator and window crank.  Some horizontal trimmings break up the different black vinyl panels, and polished buttons adorn the stitch crossings.  2 large black vinyl buckets in good condition stretch across the front, and a large bench is shoehorned into the rear of the car.  The buckets have some tuck and roll inserts and smooth bolsters, as does the rear bench.  The shifter resides in front and to the right of the driver on the full metal jacket dash in mostly original condition.  It shows in a black steel dual eyebrow padded dash top with the brushed stainless instrument panel with a wide speedometer for this Monza edition.  On the passenger side is a stainless glove box door under the second black steel eyebrow.  Dash central holds an upgraded AM/FM radio done by Mike Hagen to keep you abreast of the latest in music.  Deep pile nicely preserved black carpeting covers the floors and shows with minor soiling and fading.   What a great well preserved interior. Drivetrain Mounted into the rear is the horizontally opposed 6-cylinder 145ci engine.  On top we cannot miss the twin air cleaner housings in all their glory, and all this is attached to a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission and is fed fuel by rebuilt dual 1-barrel carburetors.  The