<VV> R.I.P. Pinky, but other design studies were saved ?

[Charles Lee]

I remember "Pinky" being found on a car lot, being sold as a "used car" and 
someone bought it (for the KH wheels ?)
This was an unofficial 'design study' if I remember correctly ?  Built for 
Mitchell's wife to drive ?
Or was it a true 'prototype' for the upcoming convertible ?

Has anyone else heard that (around 1977) GM had no plans of their own to 
preserve the Astro I, Monza SS and GT, an other 'design studies'.
These cars were scheduled to be scrapped - not into screen doors and 
refrigerators, but into pretty much 'dust', since it was too expensive to 
keep them (according to my phone conversation with I-can't-remember-whom).

I asked him if it was possible to donate them to Corsa, but our 
gleam-in-our-eye museum was 'built' yet, and would not be secure enough 
anyway ("Why is security a problem if they're being scrapped ?" - Response 
"Design Security")

However, they have apparently reconsidered 'disposing' of these beautiful 
prototypes so unceremoniously, since they were saved from the crusher, and 
exist to this day.

I believe I may still have some letters relating to my communications with 
GM, but that was back around 1976-78 or so ?

Can anyone corroborate any of this memory dump on my part ?

Unfortunately, "Pinky" was not an official prototype, and didn't even get 
this consideration.

Charlie
Former BOD from New York, circa 1978
Charter Member since 1969

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tony Underwood" <tony.underwood at cox.net>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 10:55 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> R.I.P. Pinky


> At 07:44 PM 11/29/2009, peter koehler wrote:
>>As a note of clarification, "Pinky" was the first Corvair
>>convertible that GM built. He started off life as a 1960
>>model year 2 door coupe. The roof was cut off and a
>>folding top was engineered by GM. Many other features
>>found a trial on Pinky, including a 3 speed automatic
>>transaxle - depending on who you talk to.
>
>
> According to those who should know, Pinky did indeed have a 3-speed
> automatic transmission.
>
>
>>I talked to the
>>last person who drove Pinky back in the early '80's. He
>>assured me that there were two upshifts from a standing
>>start = a three speed automatic transmission. Pinky
>>suffered Michigan winters and road salt and was a rusty
>>mess when this fellow parked him.
>
>
> ..still shoulda been saved.   ;)
>
>
>>The car was sold for a
>>mere pittance and the new owner only had eyes for the
>>Kelsey Hayes wire wheels that Pinky was still wearing.
>
>
> I was acquainted with someone who had a serious interest in the
> wheels.   Gawrsh that was a long time ago...
>
>
>>The
>>wires were removed and put on a Spyder and Pinky was sent
>>to the scrap heap. This was no later than 1983. I really
>>don't think there is any chance that any part of Pinky
>>still exists - with the exception of the Kelsey's. It is
>
>
> Now, according to scuttlebutt the transaxle did...  somebody salvaged
> it and I was told it ended up in the classifieds in the Communique
> many years ago.   Or, something like it with three speeds.   It got
> sold to somebody, whatever it was.   The rest of the car was pretty
> sad and nobody bothered to save it, vanished into
> history...  probably was turned into a storm door and a
> refrigerator... if there was that much metal left on it.
>
>
>>nice to dream, but this one is probably just a dream that
>>will never be full-filled. Sorry for the cold water. -
>>Caveman Pete
>
>
>
>
> I await comments on those who may have seen that Communique
> ad...  need to dig through my Communiques, see if I can find it.
>
>
> Smitty...?
>
>
>
>
> tony..
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