<VV> Exactly WHY was Corvair discontinued in 1969, really ?

[Charles Lee at Proper Pro Per]

One theory is that GM was going to close out the Corvair in 66 or 67, but 
kept it going, so as not to appear as though they were capitulating to 
Nadir. (Pun intended.)

It cost them money, saved face, looking like it was GM's decision to stop 
production, and not bad publicity.

I may be wrong, but that is what I have thought was their reasoning for 
continuing the Corvair for the ENTIRE decade !

I kind of like that the Corvair was produced in EVERY year of the Sixties.

Chaz
1967 Monza Coupe


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kent Sullivan" <kentsu at corvairkid.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 6:14 PM
Subject: RE: <VV> Various Vair Stuff


> Dale, I have to question DeLorean's statements... The total production for
> 1967-69 was 58562, hardly more than 1/2 the production in 1966. 
> Amortization
> of tooling would be based on number of units made, not time, right?
> Therefore it would have been cheaper for Chevy to make those 58562 cars as
> part of 1966 production or perhaps in 1967. But 1968 and 1969 seem 
> pointless
> from a cost recovery point of view, especially since every model year
> brought mandated safety changes, all of which cost money.
>
> I am pretty sure the original intention was to get the Corvair out of the
> way after 1966 to make way for the Camaro.
>
> --Kent
> -----Original Message-----
> From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
> [mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Dale Smiley CPBE
> Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 11:00 AM
> To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Subject: <VV> Various Vair Stuff
>
> Folks,
>
>    I have been following the 'Ralphie' thread and agree with the gentleman
> who said he is yesterday's news! He isn't worth all the brain power being
> used to either condemn or defend him. I do take issue with the statement
> that we can thank him for 'three more years of our favorite car.' Here is
> why.
>
>    The bean counters at GM, looking at the number of Vairs sold, numbers
> predicted to be sold given the reports of what the competition was coming
> out with, burning incense, animal sacrifice, and other black arts
> accountants use, decided to stop Corvair production because it wasn't
> profitable. This was in 1965 if I remember correctly, and being the penny
> pinchers they are, they would wait until the retooling costs at Fisher 
> body
> for the LM were fully amortized. They calculated that this would be at the
> end of the 1969 model year, so that was to be the last year of production.
> They also decided that development would stop after 1967, except for that
> mandated by the Feds. These decisions were made at least six months before
> anyone heard of Ralph Who? This information is in an apparently little 
> read
> book "On A Clear Day You Can See General Motors" co-authored by one John 
> Z.
> DeLorean. He later tried to distance himself from the book, fearing that 
> "GM
> could crush me like a bug."
>
>    So think what you will of Ralph, I just don't think he is worth ANY
> thought after all these years later!
>
> JMHO of course, YMMV!
>
>    OBTW, I have met 3 presidents and I know Indiana Congressman Andy
> Jacobs, Senator Dick Lugar and former Indiana Governor 'Doc" Bowen. I have
> also met Birch and Evan Bayh. For the most part, just regular guys doing
> jobs most of us wouldn't want. My favorite 'famous person story'
> is the day I got my picture taken with Nichelle Nichols in front of a 
> poster
> that said "All I Ever Needed to Know About Life I Learned from Star Trek!"
>
> Dale Smiley
> '66 Corsa 180
>
> Back to lurking!
>
> _______________________________________________
> This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights are
> the property of the writer, please attribute properly. For help,
> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of
> America, http://www.corvair.org/ Post messages to: 
> VirtualVairs at corvair.org
> Change your options: 
> http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
> _______________________________________________
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights are 
> the property
> of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, 
> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
> This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, 
> http://www.corvair.org/
> Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
> Change your options: 
> http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
> _______________________________________________
>