<VV> hand out

[Louis Armer]

CORVAIR MYTHS

THERE ARE MANY MYTHS ABOUT THE CORVAIR.  EVERYONE 
SEEMS TO “KNOW” A LOT ABOUT THE CARS BUT MUCH OF 
WHAT THEY “KNOW” IS INCORRECT,
FOR EXAMPLE:

•THE CORVAIR WAS KILLED BY RALPH NADER   - Ralph 
Nader wrote a book entitled “Unsafe at Any Speed” 
which addressed safety concerns within the 
automotive industry.  Only one chapter of the 
book mentioned the Corvair.  When Nader’s book 
came out in early 1966, Chevrolet had already 
decided to cease production.  In irony, Nader’s 
book actually help extend the life of the Corvair 
since Chevrolet decided to keep the Corvair in 
production until 1969 so no one would think Nader 
was right. (In fact, based upon intense research 
in the mid-60’s, the Corvair is the only car to 
ever be “proven” safe by the Federal Government.) 
The demise of the Corvair can be attributed to 
two things:  the popularity of the Mustang and 
Chevrolet’s desire to build a car to compete with 
the Mustang, i.e. the Camaro.  The Corvair could 
not be fitted with a V-8 which of course was the 
engine of choice in the mid to late 60’s.
•
• THE CORVAIR WAS ONLY BUILT A FEW YEARS 
-  Actually the Corvair was produced for 10 model 
years – 1960 to 1969.  The body style changed with the 1965 model year.

• CORVAIRS ROLL OVER – Lon Wall, owner of Corvair 
Underground states “in our 27 year history we 
have parted out over 800 Corvairs. Many were 
wrecked (as all cars can be) but yet only 2 out 
of 800 had been rolled. Go into any wrecking in 
the nation and pick out 800 of any other kind of 
car and I can guarantee that more than 2 will 
have been rolled (a LOT more than 2). Quite 
frankly I’ve come to the conclusion that Corvairs 
are probably LESS likely to roll over than other 
cars! ”  There is no evidence that Corvairs are 
more prone to rolling over than any other car.
•
• THE CORVAIR WAS DESIGNED BY VOLKSWAGEN (OR 
PORSCHE) – General Motors spent millions of 
dollars in the 1950’s as well as many years of 
development to make this one of the best designed 
cars ever built in the US. This myth is usually 
based upon the fact that the Corvair’s motor is 
air-cooled and rear mounted like the VW or 
Porsche.  The Corvair is 100% American designed.
•
• CORVAIRS CONSTANTLY THROW FAN BELTS 
-  Correctly installed belts as well as better 
designed belts virtually eliminate the “throwing” of fan belts.

• CORVAIRS ALWAYS LEAK OIL - In the 1960’s, O 
ring material was often inadequate for air cooled 
engines that typically run hot but with the 
updated material of today, oil leakage is basically a thing of the past.

• I KNEW SOMEONE WHO HAD A 4 CYLINDER CORVAIR 
-  All Corvairs were produced with 6 cylinder 
motors – there was no other engine offered as an 
option.  Engine displacement and horsepower 
ratings varied over the years and models but the 
Corvair always used the air-cooled 6 cylinder engine.
•
• YOU CAN’T GET PARTS FOR CORVAIRS – Actually 
almost every part associated with the Corvair is 
being reproduced today.  There are several 
Corvair specialty vendors producing and offering 
parts and the prices are in line with most marquee restoration parts.
•
• THERE AREN’T MANY OF THESE AROUND ANY MORE – 
Well there aren’t as many as there used to be for 
various reasons but there are many still on the 
road today and there is a large number of 
individuals collecting them.  In fact, the 
Corvair Society of America (CORSA) has a 
membership of around 5500 members and most of 
these members own more than one Corvair.



CORSA Tri-membership Chairman
CORSA Member
Corvanatics Member
Corvair Atlanta Director
1965 Corsa Coupe
1964 Greenbrier
http://darthvair.com
SECC Member
1965 Corsa Autocross car 1/2 owner
http://www.wtbrt.com/