<VV> <late spoiler>

[N. Joseph Potts]

I suppose I might clarify my recent report that the spoiler never seemed to
make much difference in the handling of my 66 Corsa at speed.
     I hate to criticize our (my, your) favorite car, but my car has ALWAYS
had a rather light, drifty steering feel, and a sensitivity to crosswinds,
as I suspect ANY light car might. I have taken my car through TWO
generations of front shock absorbers (now running low-pressure gas from
Corvair Motorsports) AND a change from 205/70R13s to 195/70R14s. That's
right - 13-inch to 14-inch rims. The car is MUCH more stable with the 14s,
but I STILL get the light, drifty feeling. AND I've replaced the original
springs with new stock springs of the Clark's variety. That REALLY raised
the car (I did this front and back at the same time). The car is now quite
tall on its wheels. I need the clearance for deep driveways on high-crowned
roads (drainage is a BIG issue here in South Florida - when it rains, it can
do so VERY intensively).
     I've thoroughly adapted to the feeling, and don't mind it at all, but
when people not used to the Corvair drive my car, of course they comment on
it. And I remember when I was in the same situation 8 years ago - I noticed
it then, and still notice it when someone calls my attention to it.
     I'm thinking that I might get the desired/reported effect from a more
"aggressive" spoiler - one that was deeper, and perhaps even had an angle to
it, as some I've seen and heard of do. I doubt I'll take the trouble - I
don't care about it that much. But apparently I care enough about it to have
made my observations, and reported them.

Joe (driving happily, if discerningly) Potts
Miami, Florida USA
1966 Corsa coupe 140hp 4-speed with A/C

-----Original Message-----

It is fascinating to read about it, not so much fun to live it. In 1973, to
rest my 1965 Corsa Turbo-140, and avoid the 10 MPG mileage for a commute to
school, I picked up a 1965 fader-blue 110/PG 4-door. Bone stock and a bit
tired,
but it ran fine. I was stopped in a California "road-side" inspection that
they used at the time. The CHP officer (it might have been a San Jose
Policeman)
wrote me up for my headlight centers being too low ( the rule was 24" to the
center of the bulb.) I took it to a gas station smog/light/brake inspection
station near me, run by a guy who knew Corvairs. He told me about the
exemption
written in for the Corvair. I went to the local CHP office to get the
"fix-it"
ticket signed off. After about a half-hour of the local officer talking on
the
phone to Sacramento, he acknowledged the exemption and signed off the
ticket.
For many years after that, I kept the signed off ticket in my glove
compartments of the Corvairs I had lowered to race in Autocrosses. I never
had to
"whip-it-out" again. All the 66 models had a taller front spring as stock,
and
always sat higher in the front. I believe the stock spoiler does, indeed,
make a
difference in the highway handling, especially in cross-winds. But use the
67-68 Camaro front spoiler. It looks almost stock (It IS a Chevy part, after
all)
and even more effective than the stocker, without being obtrusive or too
crunchable. As to the California headlight law, I believe the Federal Motor
Vehicle
Safety Standards have superceded most of those type of laws. - Seth Emerson