I think this is pretty cool! '65Torvair
#1
I think this is pretty cool! '65Torvair
Before anyone flames me for posting this, it is pretty "badass"...not mine by the way, but must be a handful!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/V8-Bi...item3cc2eac696
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/V8-Bi...item3cc2eac696
#4
Before anyone flames me for posting this, it is pretty "badass"...not mine by the way, but must be a handful!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/V8-Bi...item3cc2eac696
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/V8-Bi...item3cc2eac696
#6
It's almost a Ferrari.
I like the Vista with the 455 in the back more.
0115080102060103012008080303d4c54b8b1049a49800b81e.jpg
I like the Vista with the 455 in the back more.
0115080102060103012008080303d4c54b8b1049a49800b81e.jpg
#9
Just sold my 62 Vair last year. They are (IMO) really fun cars. They are really well and handle really well. Incredilbly easy to work on, inexpensive, and parts are readily available.
There is a whole subset of guys who throw just about every imaginable power plant in them. Such Vairs are REALLY a hoot to drive! As you would imagine with any heavily modified cars, there is a huge gap between those that are done well, and not-so.
There is a whole subset of guys who throw just about every imaginable power plant in them. Such Vairs are REALLY a hoot to drive! As you would imagine with any heavily modified cars, there is a huge gap between those that are done well, and not-so.
#11
#12
I meant real Chebbie engines, not those bizarre dry-cooled flat monstrosities that look like something Ferdinand Porsche would have designed if he'd worked for John Deere instead of Albert Speer. :P
- Eric
- Eric
#13
Years ago I purchased a 1967 Toro 425 that came out of a Corvair. The owner said he really liked the power, and in a straight line none of his buddies could keep up with him. But he said due to the width of the Toronado setup his axles were very short. It cornered lousy! That's why he replaced it with a Chebby 4.3 setup. John
#14
Felt about as comfortable working on my Vair as I was on my lawnmower!
Got pretty good at balancing my carbs - not sure I would have felt as comfortable w/ 4 of them and a turbo!
#16
That is quite clever.
Nice car, by the way. My Dad had a maroon '65 Corvair, was his first new car. It is the first car I can recall from my childhood. BY '65, they fixed the issue with the rear suspension Nader criticized (rightly). Looks like this guy decided to "regress" a bit with regards to safety.
Last edited by aliensatemybuick; February 29th, 2012 at 09:00 AM.
#17
I saw a picture of the prototype Olds equivalent from back in the day. Quite a smart little machine. Too bad they didn't make it.
I'd love to build a late model coupe with an Olds 215 in the back. I've got the adapter but no engine or car to put it in.
Mike
Edit: Aliens take a look at the NHTSB's assessment of the Corvair's original swing arm design.
#18
ON EDIT: OK, seems not. Regardless of what a 40 year old gubmint document says, or Corvair apologists or detractors over the years, this is probably an argument akin to abortion or gun control; in other words, not worth having in this space. Basically, the auto industry has a history of putting safety behind saving a few bucks (such as on a pair of UV joints). True not just about Corvairs, or GM, or even the olden days vs today.
That said, I like the later Vairs, even if the steering column in my Dad's car fell in his lap during one drive my family won't ever forget.
Last edited by aliensatemybuick; February 29th, 2012 at 09:36 AM.
#19
Only if you are using the stock Corvair transaxle flipped around. If you use the TH425, a stock Chebby bolts up with an adapter plate and runs just fine.
#20
Nader was definitely correct w/ respect to the auto industry needing to take safety into consideration, but he was totally off base WRT his criticisms of the Vair (not just suspension, but also heater (IIRC) and steering column.) But having a whipping boy helped him sell books. Ralphie found a convenient target by buying into Ford's advertising strategy. Reading his book is interesting. But it is also impressive how much it is based nearly entirely on anecdotes.
If you didn't expect the car to oversteer, and drove like a maniac, you could get into trouble.
Last edited by eds; February 29th, 2012 at 10:56 AM.
#22
Excellent, Eds, you beat me back here. I just read the report the other day and after all the testing they said sometimes the early model Corvair did better than the others.
Some of the "evidence" Nader used was a factory film in which they purposely rolled the car to show how hard it would be. They had to work at it because the car just wouldn't roll.
Nader was/is a snake. He admitted later he had nothing against the Corvair; it was convenient for him to use it to make a name for himself. I had heard he tried the same stunt on VW and their swing axle, and they told him to get bent. Now look at those pictures posted above and tell me when any car will -ever- look like that.
The biggest thing was paying attention to the tire pressures. And I agree with you about driving like a maniac. But, if you drive like a maniac in any car something bad is bound to happen.
Mike
Some of the "evidence" Nader used was a factory film in which they purposely rolled the car to show how hard it would be. They had to work at it because the car just wouldn't roll.
Nader was/is a snake. He admitted later he had nothing against the Corvair; it was convenient for him to use it to make a name for himself. I had heard he tried the same stunt on VW and their swing axle, and they told him to get bent. Now look at those pictures posted above and tell me when any car will -ever- look like that.
The biggest thing was paying attention to the tire pressures. And I agree with you about driving like a maniac. But, if you drive like a maniac in any car something bad is bound to happen.
Mike
Last edited by slantflat; February 29th, 2012 at 03:09 PM.
#24
love it, every time I see a corvair I think of my 3rd grade teacher who of course seemed very old 40 years ago, she just passed a few years ago but tooled around town in a gold corvair - the only one in town, was a cool car - she was a cool person.
#26
Not at all, man. 2 NHTSB reports - 1 in-house and 1 independent - subsequently said Vairs were no more unstable than any other contemprary cars - even before the late-model suspension redo. I've looked quite a bit, and have not been able to come up with ANYTHING (in terms of studies as opposed to anecdotes) claiming otherwise.
Nader was definitely correct w/ respect to the auto industry needing to take safety into consideration, but he was totally off base WRT his criticisms of the Vair (not just suspension, but also heater (IIRC) and steering column.) But having a whipping boy helped him sell books. Ralphie found a convenient target by buying into Ford's advertising strategy. Reading his book is interesting. But it is also impressive how much it is based nearly entirely on anecdotes.
If you didn't expect the car to oversteer, and drove like a maniac, you could get into trouble.
Nader was definitely correct w/ respect to the auto industry needing to take safety into consideration, but he was totally off base WRT his criticisms of the Vair (not just suspension, but also heater (IIRC) and steering column.) But having a whipping boy helped him sell books. Ralphie found a convenient target by buying into Ford's advertising strategy. Reading his book is interesting. But it is also impressive how much it is based nearly entirely on anecdotes.
If you didn't expect the car to oversteer, and drove like a maniac, you could get into trouble.
I think the 65 and later cars are quite pretty and could see myself owing one one day, esp one of the more exotic ones, and with a 4 speed of course.
#28
Actually Nader caused the car to be built three extra years. By the time the 65s came out there was an internal memo from Chevrolet that there was to be no more development and that 66 would be the final year. After the debacle with Nader Chevy decided to keep building the car so it wouldn't look like they were caving in to him, thus making it look like he was right.
The switch from a swing axle to IRS didn't have anything to do with Nader since the book came out after the car was in development. The IRS was just to make it more kin to the Corvette.
John Z probably thought it was bad because it was a fun car that he didn't think up, and who cares what Lido thought since he worked for Ford and was afraid it would steal sales from the Mustang.
Mike
The switch from a swing axle to IRS didn't have anything to do with Nader since the book came out after the car was in development. The IRS was just to make it more kin to the Corvette.
John Z probably thought it was bad because it was a fun car that he didn't think up, and who cares what Lido thought since he worked for Ford and was afraid it would steal sales from the Mustang.
Mike
#30
You mentioned a couple of other issues on which folk can disagree based on their personal beliefs, preferences and such. But I don't think the safety of the Vair fits in such a catagory. If someone wishes to contend that the Vair was not safe, then I think the burden should be on them to identify the evidence supporting that position - and I truly don't believe that support exists.
I've given up trying to convince the general public, but wanted to make sure any such misconceptions weren't accepted amongst THIS group.
Another thing - a whole lot more folk refer to Nader's book than have ever read it. Few realize that only the first chapter or so really focuses on the Vair. The rest addresses the industry as a whole. I found it a very interesting read. Amazing how perceptions and expectations have changed within our lifetimes.
#31
Didn't mean to jump on you, man - sorry if it came across that way. Its just that I think the Vair is a really neat little car - a real significant point in US carmaking history. But it is truly amazing how deeply seated the idea of "unsafe at any speed" is with the American public.
Yup, people forget, Nader's book was not really about the Corvair, it was about the automotive industry. The car requires no demonization or vindication, it was what it was. The best vindication of the car is that is was no worse than any other POS built during the same era.
#32
Yup, in these days of "Eight airbags to protect you and your loved ones!" we forget how true the quote attributed to Lee Iacocca, "Safety doesn't sell!" was back in the sixties.
Until Nader's book and press conferences, nobody ever mentioned safety when selling cars, because to mention safety made people think of danger, and nobody buying a car, in the days before seatbelts, wanted to think about what might happen in an accident.
Safe or not, I'd love to drive that car, though - Looks like a rocket sled (pardon the pun) !
- Eric
Until Nader's book and press conferences, nobody ever mentioned safety when selling cars, because to mention safety made people think of danger, and nobody buying a car, in the days before seatbelts, wanted to think about what might happen in an accident.
Safe or not, I'd love to drive that car, though - Looks like a rocket sled (pardon the pun) !
- Eric
#33
First Toro drivetrain I've seen in a closed Corvair. I've seen several Rampsides and Loadsides with these installed.
With the midships engine, I expect this thing probably doesn't handle bad at all. 65-69 Corvairs are among the most beautifully styled American cars ever, and right up there with anybody else's styling. This one is tasty with its front grillework and those big taillights.
GM has never been as adventurous since as they were in the 60s.
With the midships engine, I expect this thing probably doesn't handle bad at all. 65-69 Corvairs are among the most beautifully styled American cars ever, and right up there with anybody else's styling. This one is tasty with its front grillework and those big taillights.
GM has never been as adventurous since as they were in the 60s.
#34
Not sure how I would want to power one of those, maybe stock. Maybe Quad4 ? As much as I like Corvairs and 455's it doesn't seem like the right engine for that car. ?
Looks well done unlike most Toro swap's I've seen.
Looks well done unlike most Toro swap's I've seen.
#35
I personally think the V6 3.8 liter supercharged GM engines make a better, more balanced swap and put out plenty of HP and decent torque for a Fiero.
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