The 2015 Mecum Auctions in Austin - Automobile
Feature Car: 1969 Chevrolet Corvair Monza. The Story Behind The Sale The Chevrolet Corvair was an American original. A small unibody car with its all-aluminum engine in the rear, it was introduced in the fall of 1959 as an alternative to the Volkswagen Beetle, which was then making everyone more conscious of fuel efficiency. And yet as the Corvair evolved to its final year of production in 1969, it had become a kind of sports car. There were Corvair models in two-door, four-door, and convertible configurations. Hard to believe now, but the 1960-1964 model years also included a Corvair station wagon, van, and even a ramp-sided pickup truck (just like a similar Volkswagen model). Corvair wasn’t just a car. Yet when the second-generation Corvair was introduced in 1965 with its sleek styling and Corvette-style independent rear suspension, it became more like a Ford Mustang than a VW Beetle. Sadly, scandal associated with the first-gen Corvair’s swing-axle rear suspension caused sales to plummet after Ralph Nader’s “Unsafe at Any Speed” was published in 1965. Though the government later exonerated it of charges of evil handling, the... The second-generation car is desirable and is getting some recognition at car shows as an important collectible. Source: www.automobilemag.com
