Corvair marketing, was: <VV> cheapest corvair ever made?

[Bill Elliott]

I agree with Mark. While possibly a group of enthusiasts saw the Corvair as a Eurpoean type sports car, that opinion was limited and not enough Corvairs to 
support continued production could be sold without the support of those looking for an economy car (the Corvair cost too much to build to compete well 
there) or an inexpensive Pony car. (Despite the Corvair initiating the entire Pony Car genre, it was not the sort of car these buyers wanted.)

I remain firmly convinced that had the Corvair been released in 1970 instead of 1960, it would have been more in line with the market and possibly might 
have helped our struggling US manufacturers... it was the kind of car we needed instead of the Vega or Pinto.

Bill 

On Sun, 24 Apr 2005 11:07:26 -0400, airvair wrote:

>Well, maybe up through '66. But consider that the original plan was to 
>REPLACE the Corvair with what became the Camaro. If it hadn't been for 
>Ralpie, the "Camaro" might have been named the Corsa or even the Monza, 
>and the '67-9 Corvairs wouldn't have been built.

>-Mark

>John Kepler wrote:

>>>I think you're right, Bob. They should have had a clue when the Monza's
>>>sales took off when it was introduced (and continued strong throughout
>>>its run). And certainly I regretted seeing so many 500's built
>>>(especially) in '67-9. But they were stuck on the notion that the
>>>Corvair was supposed to be ONLY an economy car. GM has trouble
>>>recognizing when a car shifts its market position, and instead of
>>>"playing the ball where it lies", they'd rather fight an uphill battle
>>>and then wonder why it isn't working.
>>>    
>>>
>>
>>Don't blame GM too much.....they had it right!  By 1967, GM was building the
>>Camaro/Firebird.  It cost a LOT less to build than the CorvairMonza, and
>>sold for a touch more money, making it the more profitable platform.
>>Remember, GM isn't in the business to make cars, they are in the business to
>>make money!  That which makes more money is better than that which makes
>>less!
>>
>>John
>>  






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