<VV> corvair stories

[MyGroups]

Towing with a rope stories are the best...

Since I have yet to own a WHOLE Corvair I offer these VW stories. I 
could have lied and inserted Corvair where VW is mentioned but...

There was the time when I was stationed in Naples, Italy that my Bronco 
II buddy blew his head gasket(s). I had a friend way, way over on the 
other side of the city so we towed his Borco II (4K pounds?) with my 
40HP Beetle in July for about 30 miles. Did the whole thing in 2nd gear 
to keep the engine spinnning at 3K rpm so it would cool and we were 
patient to go slow.

There was the time we pulled a parts Beetle to my house with my Beetle 
and failed to check the lugbolt tightness on the parts Beetle. I look in 
my rearview mirror in time to see my buddy waving frantically and then 
to the right in time to see the right front tire pass us down this very, 
very busy street. SOMEHOW nobody hit it. That would have been bad b/c 
with the size those vehicles in Italy (tiny, Fiats, Citroen 2CVs) it 
would have prob caused one of those cars to rollover or killed somebody.

There was the time that my buddy and I and his Italian fiance (they 
married YOUNG!) drove his Beetle to the other side of Vesuvius and 
bought the engine I have now in my Beetle (which I bought in Naples - it 
was a Memphis car!). Carried that engine home in the back seat of his 
car (seat folded down). Was a VW pancake engine like a Corvair so it 
took up the whole back seat. We drove home (50 miles?) with my buddy 
driving, his girl on my lap, and me in pain as my circulation was cut 
off... I think I switched seats somewhere along the way but it was a 
LONG ride. Did the same trip minus the girlfriend with a Citroen 2CV 
once. SOFT suspension and lots of wheel travel made for a very 
interesting ride home. 2 whole cylinders of HP and lawnchair seating. 
Actually was a fun car if you didn't need to go fast.

Towed my wife's car home at about midnight after the timing belt gave 
up. We got home and I discovered she had been crying for about 10 miles 
but unable to really communicate with me. Horn for some reason did not 
come to mind.

We towed some many cars with a tow rope in Italy that my buddy and were 
tow "experts". Never an accident though most of the tows were in 
city/highway traffic.

Chris in Cookeville
various VWs, a Honda, and lots of Corvair pieces.