<VV> Corvair and their lack of appeal

[steven at sashimi.org]

Less than a year here but allow me to add my two cents.  My interest in
Corvairs dates to my youth.  I was building plastic models back then and
the Corvair appealed to me mostly because of it's styling (sorry EM guys &
gals, I'm referring to the LM coupe and convertible).  Sure I liked the
muscle cars, the Hemis and the Shelbys, but it was the Corvair I thought
I'd own some day in the back of my mind.  

Now, I think it is safe to say that this is probably not the average guy on
the street car fantasy.  Yes, the Corvair gets lots of attention and thumbs
up by kids and the older folks that remember them or had one.  And the
folks that drove them nearly all remember them fondly.  But most of these
people aren't buying collector cars or 40 year old cars to drive on the
street.  The car guys are more likely to seek out something they yearned
for, which usually isn't a 'vair. 

For us this is a good thing insofar as it keeps the Corvair more affordable
than most collector cars.  The added bonus is that the car just plain
performs, i.e. rides and handles, much more like a modern car than many of
it's more popular contemporaries.  My dad, my brother, and a long time
friend have driven mine and have been astonished, pleasantly surprised, and
of the opinion that the cars are a bargain.

What I'm getting at is that the Corvair has plenty of appeal to a wide
swath of people for a number of reasons.  And taking them to car shows is
fun (if you like car shows), and always seems to draw a crowd.  Driving
them around the town also gets a lot of positive attention.  However, the
average car collector is looking for something else, at least until that
something else gets priced so high that it is out of reach; then they may
look toward the Corvair and then the prices may climb, for better and for
worse.  

I'm really happy to have gotten in while the Corvair is still affordable. 
In fact I rationalized my purchases a little bit on the hunch that this may
be near the end of the days of the inexpensive Corvair. Whether that proves
to be a good hunch or not, I'm grinning ear to ear whenever I drive my
Corvairs.

P.S. - I like earlies and sedans now too - they've grown on me.


Steve Brown

'69 Monza convertible 140/PG
'62 Rampside

memberships: CORSA / PCA / Corvanatics / 69 Group




   




Original Message:
-----------------
From:  tkalp at cox.net
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:55:51 -0400
To: garyswiatowy at summitlubricants.com, virtualvairs at corvair.org,
airvair at earthlink.net
Subject: Re: <VV> Corvair and their lack of appeal


I think Mark is on the right track here.  The problem is a lot of people
had and enjoyed Corvairs.   The muscle car guys are buying fantasy not
reality.  These aren't the guys that owned Hemi's and Vetts in the 60's . .
. they are the guys that  wanted to own them, but drove slant sixes and
Biscaynes instead . . . now they can afford the dreams of their youth they
do.  

Most Corvair guys have Corvairs because they enjoy the way the car looks,
drives, not because the price will double in five years.  Maybe that is why
I enjoy Corvair people so much.

Terry Kalp

---- Mark Corbin <airvair at earthlink.net> wrote: 
> I really don't think that's the problem. In talking around (usually when
> showing my Corvair off) it's really surprising just how many people either
> owned a Corvair or had a friend or relative who did. Not so much with
> muscle/pony cars.
> 
> I think it really has more to do with imagined self-image. Like prefering
> to have one's picture taken next to a pretty young thing. Back in your
> youth, maybe you did, and maybe you didn't - but you certainly want people
> to think you had..... ;o)
> 
> -Mark
> 

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