<VV> Corvair and their lack of appeal

[Bill Elliott]

Owning/operating a Corvair is more like owning some foreign car (MG, 
Triumph, FIAT, etc) that no longer has dealerships in the US than it is 
like owning a Camaro. In my opinion that's at least one reason why it's 
one of the most common America marques owned by European car fans... who 
generally find it much easier/cheaper to support than any of the makes 
from across the pond...

 From that aspect it will never be "mainstream".

Bill

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>>I was writing to a friend in New Zealand, telling him about my experiences
>>with my Corvair, and how they haven't seemed to catch on or appeal to the
>>mainstream old car people over here as the Mustang and other pony or 
>>compact
>>cars have.  Then while I was telling him how parts for the Corvair aren't
>>readily available in the local auto stores and that it's hard to find 
>>anyone
>>who can or will work on them, it dawned on me that maybe that's why they
>>haven't caught on with the mainstream car people.
>>
>>I work with several people who have bought old cars who have never turned 
>>a
>>wrench in their life and they all bought mainstream cars, one a 67 Mustang
>>V8 and the other a 57 Chevy BelAire V8.  Both cars are very nice, with the
>>Mustang costing them in the ballpark of a nice Corvair and the 57 about
>>twice that.  The one thing about both these cars, is that they can and 
>>have
>>taken their cars to local mechanics to have them worked on.  They and the
>>mechanics can also go to the local auto store and get the parts they need
>>that same day.  Then I started looking at those car owners at the local
>>cruise-in and I would venture to say that probably more than 50% of those
>>there don't do any kind of mechanical work to their cars.  About as far as
>>the work they do is cleaning them for the shows and I know a few of them
>>even have somebody detail their cars for them.
>>
>>So here we are with the Corvair, that for most engine parts you have to 
>>send
>>for and then wait and then once you get them, unless you are one of the
>>fortunate few who have a Corvair mechanic near you or a club that is into
>>working on each others cars, you're going to have to do it yourself.  Most
>>of you enjoy doing this, but there are many more car people out there that
>>don't know how nor want to work on their cars and once they find out about
>>this with Corvairs, they are going to look for something else.
>>
>>The only way to over come this problem is for clubs to become more active
>>with tech sessions and making more appearances at car events other than 
>>just
>>Corvair events, which mostly just draw other Corvair people.  By appearing
>>at highly visible cruise-in and car shows with several members from a 
>>club,
>>those that may be attracted to a Corvair will be able to have their
>>questions answered and see that there are people in the local area who can
>>help them with problems they may have once they decide to go ahead and get 
>>a
>>Corvair for themselves.
>>
>>Russ Moorhouse
>>'65 Corsa coupe 140 HP
>>Kent Island, MD
>>
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