<VV> Re: anybody notice more interest in Vairs?

[NicolCS@aol.com]

1) I have noticed more interest lately too.  Every single time my '67 Sedan 
goes out I get at least one VERY positive comment.  This is a white four-door!  
Since when do white four-doors get any notice?  I think that the values of 
the popular collector cars like the mustang and camaro have escaped most 
people's reach and interest is drifting to the obtainable collectible models.  I 
suspect there is also some boredom with the popular models.  The other trend 
that's interesting to note is the move away from the SBC towards other "nostalgia" 
motors.  409s have gone crazy, as have "nailhead" Buicks.  Flathead Fords have 
also seen a resurgance with all kinds of new speed parts.  In my prior life 
in R&D as a product-planner for Honda it was my job to "sniff-out" trends and 
this one has a pungent aroma.

2) As for the guy in the museum (memo to self: install fire-suit and flack 
jacket).  The guy was basically right; here's my thinking...  When the EM Monza 
hit the showroom, it was the right car for the moment and a huge hit. Look at 
'62 and '63 sales.  Ford picked up the ball and ran with it, transforming 
their Futura into the Mustang and outselling the Corvair 2:1.  GM responded with 
the Camaro/Firebird which was basically the F/R car the guy in the museum 
described.  The F-body was a hit and sales ran right with the Mustang. With the 
muscle car environment that existed for the latter half of the 60s, the Corvair 
was no-longer the "right-answer".   The fundimental error is in the Corvair 
engine design.  It boils down to the placement of the camshaft of all things.  
With the cam under the crank and the gear already poking out of oil-pan, there 
was no room to expand the stroke and stretch the engine displacement.  The 
width of the crankcase and the capacity of the cooling system were also factors.  
To this day, it's difficult to even get to 175-191 CID where the market demand 
was more in the 400 CID range.
Just my 2 cents.  I choose the Corvair even though I could just as easily 
have a Camaro.  I think we'll see more interest as this "affordible nostalgia" 
trend continues.

Off to an old-car swap meet!
Craig Nicol
Mike writes:.
> The tour broke up then and while standing and looking at the Corvairs some
> guy who was not in the tour came up with what was probably his wife.  He
> pointed at the late model and said to her "That's the car that Chevy
screwed
> up.  They should have put a water cooled front engine and rear drive in
it.
> They took a pretty car and screwed it up.  This is just a stupid car."
This
> guy was in his late 50's or early 60's and we have all met this guy at one
> time or another.
> Take care all,  Mike