<VV> When is a '60 not a '60?

[peter koehler]

I've seen several non-'60's advertised as 1960 Corvairs. 
Most of the time the seller is not trying to dupe anyone - 
they just don't know the differences. I agree that the 
best way to tell if you are looking at a "real" 1960 is to 
check for the battery/spare tire location (battery on the 
passenger's side of the engine compartment and no 
provision for a spare tire back there on the '60 design). 
Also, if the car has channels in the main uni-body 
structure for a hot air heater then the car can not be a 
1960. So many things get changed over the years. Front end 
panels. Engines. VIN plates. But it would be really hard 
to alter the engine compartment or the uni-body.

As for the engine lid, did you know that late-built 1960's 
had a 1961-style outer panel factory welded to the 
1960-only inner panel? The 1960 production run lasted more 
than a year (July 1959 through the second week of August 
1960) and it appears that they ran out of the 1960-only 
style outer panel. The difference is that the vent 
openings in the outer panel were bent flat to make room 
for the spare tire in the engine compartment on '61 and 
later Corvairs. The 1960 inner panel has no provision on 
the right side for a spare tire cutout. All other early 
deck lids do. I'm not sure when the actual change was 
made, but I have a few '60's in my collection with this 
feature.

There was a 1962 Corvair station wagon for sale on Ebay 
recently in Youngstown, Ohio. The used car lot said the 
car was all original. But... it had a concave front panel 
between the headlights. Just like a 1960! Later I saw this 
car listed on Craigslist somewhere in Texas for less than 
the Ohio dealer wanted. Was the guy in Texas duped? My 
best best advice: Buyer beware and ask a Caveman before 
buying a questionable 1960 Corvair. - Pete K