20th Jul 2008, 15:49

I bought a brand new 1963 Corvair Monza, maroon with black interior and eventually put over 100,000 miles on it. That was 35 years ago. I have had many, many brands and models since then, the good, the bad and the very ugly. My '63 was absolutely trouble free for over 100K miles. I kept a repair log on it which indicates I spent a grand total of $28.50 in repairs, yes-$28.50. This doesn't count such things as brakes or wiper blades. Yes, after a few years, it leaked oil. I fixed that by wiring a dog food can under the point of the leak. Had to remove it now and then to pour out the oil. Like many jerk kids, I added trombone exhausts, moon hubcaps, and chrome air filters over the carbs. Drove it in a few minor rallies and street raced small european 2 seaters. I never experienced any "tuck under" of the rear wheels, even when pushing it too hard in curves. Only reason I sold it was to buy a new Olds 442. Naturally, I wish I had both of those lovely cars back and could be out of my mini-van.

27th Aug 2009, 02:49

I have a 1963 Corvair 4 door, which was my wife's grandfather's car, and when he passed away no one wanted the car. It was dented everywhere, paint was gone and no floor boards. I towed the car to my house where it sat for several years. One day I decided to restore the rusty old thing and made several phone calls. I had the motor rebuilt, had the rust and the floor boards fixed, and had it repainted. Then replaced several other parts with new. Now she looks like a new car, drives like a dream. She get looks every time I drive her.

19th Feb 2012, 23:49

I have owned two Corvairs; a 1969 Monza coupe, which unfortunately was totalled last summer when I got rear ended by an obnoxious lady who was probably blabbing on her cell phone. I put a lot of work into that car, but it was very reliable, brakes worked well, and it handled like a sports car.

I replaced that one with an Artesian Turquoise 1966 Monza 4 door hardtop with factory A/C, 110 hp engine, and Powerglide. That one was pretty shabby when I got it, but it's starting to look very nice, and now she runs very smoothly. The '66 definitely has more "go" than the '69, probably because the 69 engine was designed to control emissions, and thus lost some horsepower in the process.

Corvairs are the best handling antique cars from the 1960s, they are styled beautifully, they are easy to repair, and they are cheap to buy! What else could you ask for??