<VV> Mainstreaming the vairforce

[Mark Corbin]

I for one would just as soon see the end of the maligning of the Corvair,
not only by the general (ignorant) public, but the persecution complex some
Corvair owners seem to wear, often with perverse pride. The car is simply
to good a car to have to put up with that crap. Look at what happened with
Edsel. A fine car in its day, just a case of horrible timing lead to its
bad reputation. Certainly, the styling was a bit off the wall, but not
really any more outlandish than its contemporaries. But Edsel owners held
their chins up for all those years, and eventually after all the laughter
had worn down to nothing, an amazing thing happened. The prices of Edsels
started going up. And up and up. Today they are usually given the respect
they deserve, and even though its dark history is remembered, it's moreso
thought of as an unfair footnote.

Perhaps if we Corvair people would show our cars alongside other makes at
car shows and cruise-ins, and with pride (even rebutting any snide remarks
with pride and truth), our cars will start becoming status symbols with
increasing resale value. I've been doing just that, but I can't do it
alone. For those who don't show their Corvairs at multi-make shows, you are
really missing a great time.

-Mark


> [Original Message]
> From: Dave Keillor <dkeillor at tconcepts.com>
> Subject: Re: <VV> Mainstreaming the vairforce
>
> Corvair owners tend to be a breed apart and a lot of them seem to have a
> persecution complex.  There seems to be a perverse pride in being an
> owner of a car that once was maligned -- even to the point of wanting to
> keep it going.  I enjoy attending all-makes shows and cruise-ins and
> seldom go to all-Corvair events.  The Corvairs always attract a lot of
> attention -- virtually all of it positive.  No car make is without its
> detractors.  For example, some people remember our Nova as a
> "grocery-getter".
>
> The insularity of the Corvair and its owners is diminishing, though, as
> mainstream cars get more expensive (priced a 1st generation Camaro
> lately?).  The cult is slowly disintegrating. 
>
> Dave Keillor