<VV> Corvair and their lack of appeal

[Gary Swiatowy]

Yes, mechanics don't like to work on things that are 'foreign" to them.
Unfortunately, a Corvair falls into that category.
Some places won't touch a foreign car, some say no to Corvairs, but nowadays
even a lot of them don't even know how to put a set of brake shoes on as
they only know discs!

Back in the 70's when I had my first Corvair, I worked at a small garage.
People saw the Vair parked outside and figured we worked on them. The owner
didn't like them, said they were too hard to work on. I just didn't know any
better so would read the Motors manual and do the job. Learned how to do
push rod tube seals on customers cars before I did my own. Got the seals
right from the dealer too <GGGGGGGGGGGGG>. By the time I did my own I
learned about the Viton seals.

On the same token, I have a mental block when it comes to the cars they make
now with a timing belt and the motor in sideways.........won't touch them!
Of course my kids love them...........

The other problem we have is not so many people identify with the Corvairs
as they do the Mustangs or Camaros, its all in the numbers produced there.

Gary Swiatowy


From: "Russ Moorhouse" <corvair65 at verizon.net>
Subject: <VV> Corvair and their lack of appeal

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