<VV> CORSA concours and stock cars

[airvair]

All,

This recent discussion concerning concours and stock cars brings to my mind some truths that I’ve observed over the years. The first of which is that the hierarchy of CORSA, not only now but for its entire existance, has so often been shortsighted and unable to think outside the box. I can remember incident after incident of this being the case, so I won’t bore you with examples. But several important things we have today, like museum collection, the preservation of a strict definition of stock, the Air ‘Vair Group, and others, is due to the few visionaries, like myself, who have pushed various important causes and concepts. 

This is all due to one concept that seems to prevail in any decision the powers that be make, and that is that there are so few truly stock Corvairs existing that they don’t deserve any attention or consideration. Yet one fact is overlooked in this mentality, that is that without the stock Corvair, every modified Corvair wouldn’t exist. Stock Corvairs are therefore of the utmost importance, and anything concerning them should be preserved, cherished, and even promoted. Just like the fact that we will have no more originality than we have at the present, that what is original is constantly disappearing, and that if we don’t record it now, we will inevitably lose it for all time.  Any car is only original once, and to be accurate a restoration to stock is totally dependant on knowing what was stock to begin with.

What so many people seem to fail to see is that as time goes on, that it is the stock versions of any given marque that ultimately command the most worth and value. And THAT is what will ultimately determine the longevity of the club. That is why we must do what we can to preserve and recognize stock “survivor” cars, for they are in truth our future as well as our past.

That said, I will say that the conclusions that Bill Hubbell have stated are dead on true. Bill is one of our visionaries who have my full support, and I know that I am not alone in supporting him. We should be working towards an evaluation system like the Corvette club’s “Survivor” class. When such a designation is given to a car, its value instantly soars. So if we want the same results, we must have such a program.

At this year’s convention, the Lambrecht car seemed to take our entire attention, unfortunately, away from several other very worthwhile cars. One which I later saw in the car display was an all Marina Blue ’66 Monza coupe from South Carolina.  As I looked it over, I saw what a treasure it was, as the information that could be had off of it was priceless. It is regrettable that evaluations often take considerable time, and that we (the SCG personnel) couldn’t have had the time for that car and others. I can only hope that the owner will have another opportunity for us to look over and document his car.

-Mark Corbin