<VV> Not a Corvair Anymore -OPINION

[Stephen Upham]

JR,

Let's review...

	I stated that "I would venture that the general public who have  
never been exposed to a Corvair before, when given a  choice between  
the early and the late, would in overwhelming numbers  choose the  
late as the more timeless body style".   I never said anything about  
being "memorable" nor did I state that I was referring to " those who  
DO know what a Corvair is".  Quite the contrary, I stated, as  
referenced above, "the general public".
	I would argue that looking at pure numbers of cars produced as a  
sign of their ascetic desirability, which was the object of my post,  
is a red herring in the case of the Corvair, due to the market forces  
that proved its undoing during the "late" years which had nothing to  
do with styling issues and I would conjecture probably actually  
softened the line's ultimate demise.
	As far as the fact that most people would ask "Is it a Spyder" that  
is easily explained as a marketing failure by Chevrolet.  It's akin  
to changing the name of "Tony the Tiger" to "Thomas the Tiger".   The  
public had come to identify the turbo charged version of the Corvair  
as a "Spyder" and the popularity with enthusiasts as well as the  
general public was well ingrained under that mark.  The changing of  
the name for the turbo charged version, and to a stupid one at that,  
led to confusion in the minds of the general public that lasts to  
this day.  	You also state, "Time has moved on and I'm not really  
sure what the definition is for 'timeless'.   The meaning is, " not  
affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion".  I think the  
fact that so often I hear that Corvair owners are complimented on  
their cars when driven in public indicates a perceived timeless  
nature of the style of the car.
	Lastly, I said, "No one can argue that the early model is remotely  
as TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED as the late model (for their day); unless  
of course they are emotionally attached to the early for whatever  
reason which then nullifies any LOGICAL argument."  This is the only  
logic part of my statement.  All references to the style of the car  
were clearly stated as opinion.  You state in so many words that my  
opinions on the body style debate are just that when you write,  
"Where is your data on folks who were not previously familiar with  
Corvair who were asked which is more timeless?  When you start a  
sentence with "I would venture....", that tells me that logic has  
left and opinion (however formed) has taken over.  Indeed, you put  
opinion in the subject line"  but, of course, the body style  
preference is OPINION.  But if you would like to see how the two  
would compare in side by side comparisons with the general public  
that is NOT familiar with the line (the only objective way to do it),  
that can be done, too.

	I, too, wish not to create any animosity, but I thought I needed to  
reply to some misconceptions.

Stephen

Final OPINION (admittedly biased, until proven in a side by side  
test) : the hardtop is the best looking version of all the Corvair  
line (especially with all of the windows down).


On May 3, 2007, at 1:49 AM, J R Read_HML wrote:

> Stephen,
>
> More thought...
>
> While I'm primarily a LM fan, the fact [LOGIC] that 3 .6 TIMES more  
> EMs were produced than LMs says to me that the EMs will be (are)  
> the more memorable for those who DO know what a Corvair is.  Look  
> at the list of top 10 produced models.  There is only one LM in  
> that list - more LOGIC. Anecdotally - What (seems to me anyway) is  
> the most common question asked after someone who is familiar with  
> Corvairs and sees yours has?  ....  "Is it a Spyder?"  - And they  
> even ask that of LMs.
>
> When you look at the past 15 or so years of what is being built  
> (more or less equals sold), I'm not so sure (especially with these  
> current beefy front ends and "wagon wheels") that either EMs or LMs  
> would any longer fit into the "timeless" category.  Time has moved  
> on and I'm not really sure what the definition is for "timeless".
>
> Where is your data on folks who were not previously familiar with  
> Corvair who were asked which is more timeless?  When you start a  
> sentence with "I would venture....", that tells me that logic has  
> left and opinion (however formed) has taken over.  Indeed, you put  
> opinion in the subject line.
>
> This is not posted in order to start a fight, but simply to give  
> you a glimpse at an alternate perspective.
>
> Have a good day!
>
> Later, JR
>
> CCE and CORSA member
> '61 Rampside Standard 4/110
> '65 Monza Convertible 4/140
> '66 beater 500 Coupe "icemobile" 4/140 (50%)
> Prefers Lates But Likes Both
>
>
>
>
>>> Oh wait a minute.  It's a Late model isn't it.  Well at least it   
>>> isn't a 4dr Late model.
>>
>> No one can argue that the early model is remotely as  
>> technologically advanced as the late model (for their day); unless  
>> of course they are emotionally attached to the early for whatever  
>> reason which then nullifies any LOGICAL argument.   I would  
>> venture that the general  public who have never been exposed to a  
>> Corvair before, when given a  choice between the early and the  
>> late, would in overwhelming numbers  choose the late as the more  
>> timeless body style.
>> Furthermore, in a purely unscientific, yet easily viewed  
>> comparison  in sheer numbers, when I'm counting the numbers of  
>> high end sports  sedans from lands far across the left and right  
>> coast while on the  road, it appears to me that the VAST majority  
>> are FOUR DOORS.  GO  FIGURE!
>>
>> Crow for thought.
>>
>>
>> Stephen Upham _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>