1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza

Description

We'll say it here first: Corvairs are happening. You might be raising an eyebrow at the price tag on this 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza convertible, but where else can you get this much convertible for so little cash? No, the days of Corvairs being cheap throwaways are well and truly over, you just haven't noticed yet.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, restored Corvairs to this level, but here's one that gleams in deep Tuxedo Black and looks like someone spent a small fortune on getting it right. The super straight bodywork was all new in 1965, foreshadowing the upcoming Camaro that would ultimately kill the Corvair, and delivering a sporty 2+2 look that works extremely well. The car hails from California and came to Texas in 2005, so doors that close easily and panels that show a lifetime in warm, dry weather and 20 years of careful storage. The gleaming black paint shows the results of many hours of blocking and sanding before the paint was sprayed. Black isn't this car's original color (that would be code P Evening Orchid, which wasn't to everyone's taste) but nobody will argue about the change because it looks so right. A few chrome and stainless trim pieces contrast nicely and they, too, are in excellent condition and offer a very correct look overall.

The black interior is correct for this car and it has been restored using correct patterns and materials throughout. Corvairs always had spacious interiors, and that's doubly-true in the convertible which feels like a much bigger car from behind the wheel. The gorgeous steering wheel has been restored and frames a full set of gauges that are the archetypal '60s sporty design, deeply recessed in their own hooded binnacles. This was originally a PowerGlide car, but if you're building the ultimate Corvair, you may as well go all the way and swap in a 4-speed, which is what happened here. Details like the carpets and door panels are in excellent condition, the dash has been refinished to match the rest of the car, and the back seat looks completely unused. The factory AM radio still lives in the dash and it's just about the only component on the entire car that hasn't been perfectly restored, but that also represents the chance for an upgrade. There's a new black power convertible top overhead and it seals up well with fresh weather-stripping throughout.

The 164 cubic inch air-cooled flat-six out back has been substantially upgraded, including four 1-barrel carburetors living under a correct factory air cleaner. Inside, there's a new camshaft from Clark's, a fresh balanced rotating assembly, and rebuilt heads that were milled to bump the compression just a bit. It was neatly detailed for an OEM look and runs superbly, with impressive bottom-end torque and a willingness to rev. The suspension was completely disassembled, sandblasted, and powdercoated for long life and all new bushings were installed when it was put back together. The brakes are all new and include a dual master cylinder for safety and the aforementioned 4-speed was rebuilt and includes a fresh clutch. 14-inch Buick road wheels are the most visible modification, but they look right on the Corvair and carry fat blackwall radials to complete the look.

This is probably the finest Corvair we've ever seen and with that in mind, the price seems shockingly reasonable. Corvairs can't stay cheap forever, and if there's one to own, this is it. Call today!