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Ken Leonard | all galleries >> Galleries >> UCI Car Show & Knott's Replicar show > 1962 Corvair Monza Convertible - Click on Photo for much more info
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1962 Corvair Monza Convertible - Click on Photo for much more info


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Harrison Ramsey 27-Oct-2021 02:34
Just purchaseda1967 carvair convertible Monza 4 cabs,.88000 miles.How much are these Cars worth?
Robert Nowack 21-Feb-2014 01:13
I live in Roseville Ca. I want to buy a Monza convert with A/T. I cant drive a manual.NOT restored but in good cond.Prefer "64" but open to others.I am a retired mech but no longer care to work on them I sold a restored red one to someone in south ca. Wish I had it back:) PLEASE contact Bob at nowack@ssctv.net Heres hoping :)
paul hastings Sr 27-Jul-2012 02:22
That is very Good information on the 62 Monza Convertable.I am thinking of selling it. I am wanting to sell this car but I don't what to ask for it.
Guest 06-Nov-2009 21:21
just bought my first corvair 1962 convertible monza from the original owner I am so excited will pick it up nov 30 all red with white top
jeffrey 29-Sep-2009 22:04
There is a 4 door, '62, located in New Mexico, parked for years, but complete, may or may not start. Wife said 850.00 and it's "outta here! What should I do. It would cost about 2 grand to bring it up to real value. What do you think? jeffreytaos@gmail.com
Jackson 08-Aug-2009 18:19
I purchased a 1962 Corvair convertible in Sept. 1962 in Anaconda, MT, the only one sold in Montana that, or so the salesman said. It was a great little car, fun to drive and got good gas mileage. It was a blue/green metallic with white top and blue/green vinyl interior. I only has it for 2 years, but really liked the car.
jordan 04-Mar-2009 15:03
hey peoples!:)
Frank OHara 05-Dec-2008 00:00
Kjell, The '62 standard model Corvair was 110 BHP, The turbo Spyder model was 140 BHP. The Spyder was a quick car for it's day.
Steve McKevitt 12-Aug-2008 17:52
Hello,
Nice site. Nice info. My first car was a '62 Corvair convertible, cream with red interior. Dang, I loved that crappy car. At 55 mph, no matter what, the front end shimmied down the highway. And the heater! ...What heater you may ask? The one that warmed the air by sending it through the engine compartment, blowing "Parfum de Engine Oil" into the passenger compartment. LOL

Still, ... what a great car !
Ken Leonard24-May-2008 06:06
I am just a photographer, not an expert on classic car values. You might want to go to the H.A.M.B. discussion group, register and ask your question there. There are over 40,000 registered users, so there is a good chance you will get an answer.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=5
Guest 23-May-2008 23:46
how much is the resale on a 1961 carvair monza white not the greatest condition the guy wants 3500 i started laughing
Guest 24-Feb-2008 01:20
Ken, U.C Irvine is having their car show on April 19th 2008. Here is a personal invitation to the show. Love your pics from the show from a few years back. Steve 949-510-2951
Guest 07-Feb-2008 02:40
hey hey all i am restoring a one of a kind 1962 Corvair van it is with the top, and is from the owner of corvair, it sat out in the middle of a feild out in texas since 1985 and i am just now getting around to restoring it to perfect condition. Please contact me if you want to see it.
smitty 13-Aug-2007 03:12
I am looking at a 63 corvair model 700 with 43+ooo miles ,doesn't need much body wise 'cept for paint and tires general maint. Trying to get it reasonable ,like $1140 .That is what the acorn site suggested ,,,,,,,,,,,al
ce 11-Jun-2007 17:21
i am getting a 1964 corvair and i was wondering how much a '64 engine would cost
kjell 05-Jun-2007 17:06
i have found an 62 corvair engine in sweden and want to now
how many hp this engine had in 62.
if somone kindly want to help me with the amnswer.

kjell
diyg 08-Mar-2007 21:41
I fell in love with the lemon yellow corvair when it came out. I have a white 62 monza that I would like to have painted the original yellow. how do I find a paint chart etc for the yellow?
LANCE 16-Jan-2007 05:04
I own a 1962 greenbrier,looking 4 a fuel tank.any help?
Tyler K 12-Jan-2007 00:01
I have a 1962 Greenbriar with doors on both sides of the passenger compartments. I have only ever seen pictures of the Greenbriars with doors on the right side. Does anyone know anything about these strange little 8 door vans?
vicv 05-Jan-2007 07:24
I have a 1962 corvair 2 dr with a turbo asking 2000.00 obo live in whittier calif call vic 562-743-3715 or 562-946-1608 needs a little tlc.can email pics
vicv 05-Jan-2007 07:19
I have a 1962 corvair 2 dr with a turbo asking 2000.00 obo live in whittier calif call vic 562-743-3715 or 562-946-1608 needs a little tlc.
Guest 29-Dec-2006 01:53
How much is the Monza convertible in Ken's photo?
thanks.
Bill Morris 04-Dec-2006 06:13
I was wondering the same thng as Mike was asking, what is the relative value of a 62 convert in good shape, the one I;m looking at is white with 27,000 original miles in good to very good condition. --Thanks, Bill
Christine 16-Jul-2006 04:29
best regards, nice info
mike 06-Apr-2006 15:50
Hi...there is a 1962 Corvair convertible for sale my hometown in really good shape, ready to drive...theyt will take $7500 for it, it is black like the one pictured here, it isn't mint, but it is great shape. Is $7500 a fair price? Thanks, Mike
mboyd05@attglobal.net
Rick Johnson 16-Jul-2005 07:15
1962 Corvair Monza Convertible. Recently I shared with you my historical commentary on the Chevy II Nova 400 and the reason for its origin and ultimate success in the marketplace. Perhaps more interesting is the story about Chevy's original compact and why it was such an important car in American automotive history.
It is widely the opinion of most automotive experts that without the Corvair, there would not have been a Mustang, and without a Mustang, there would not have been the "Pony Cars" that evolved from its stupendous success. Give credit to the sporty little Corvair Monza Coupe, with its novel bucket seats and "four on the floor". First introduced in the Spring of 1960, it accounted for only 11,926 units because of its late introduction in the model year. But in 1961, the popular Monza took off and accounted for over 75% of total Corvair production. Ford Motor Company, particularly one Lee Iococca, was paying attention to the Monza's success, and the fact that there was a growing youth market that didn't have a lot of money to spend, and they were turned on by a fun to drive, sporty little inexpensive car with bucket seats and a 4-speed. So, using their own compact Falcon as the base, Ford transformed it with a long hood, short deck design, offered notchback or fast back styling, even a convertible, equipped with buckets and a floor shift, starting under $ 2,500. The Mustang was born, and the Pony Car era had arrived with Camaro, Firebird, Cougar, Challenger, and Cuda soon to follow. Ironically, this car that owes its existence to the Corvair, is also largely responsible for Corvair's demise. In the Fall of 1964, just a few months after the Mustang's phenominal successful introduction, Corvair's 1965 second generation car appeared in Chevrolet showrooms across the country as pillarless hardtops and a convertible in three series, including a new top of the line turbo-charged Corsa. Within eight months of the introduction of this new and beautifully designed and executed car, GM and Chevrolet issued an executive order that there would be no future development program for the Corvair. Although '65 sales improved significantly over model year 1964, they begin to steadily decline. By 1967, the wonderful turbocharged Corsa series was gone. Production ended on May 14, 1969, after only 6,000 units.

Significant historical information and facts about Corvair:

1. Ed Cole, who developed the first overhead valve V-8 engine for the 1949 Cadillac, and was the architect of the 1955 Chevy small block V-8, Chevrolet's first, was the "Father of the Corvair" and Chevrolet's General Manager at the time when serious development of the compact began. He later became the Head of General Motors.

2. The Corvair's inspiration and benchmark was the Volkswagen Beetle. Like the Beetle, it too had a rear air-cooled engine and all-independent suspension.

3. The Corvair was Chevrolet's first unitized body and first production turbo-charged car.

4. The Corvair engine was a complex design and expensive to produce. Although turbo-charging and multiple carburetion helped in boosting horsepower, the design ultimately restricted the engine as to size, modification, and other enhancements. The basic engine was 164 cubic inches developing 95 or 110 horsepower. A 4-carb 140 horsepower engine could be ordered. The ultimate was the 180 horsepower turbo-charged engine.

5. 1961 and 1962 were the best model production years, 329,632 and 328,500, respectively. Model offerings by 1962 included a convertible, a station wagon, a coupe, four-door sedan, the Greenbrier window van, a Rampside pickup, and a Corvair95 panel van. A "Monza Spyder" turbocharger option was available for the first time in model year'62 on Monza coupes and convertibles with four speed transmissions.

6. Much of the initial design of the first generation Corvair was credited to Ned Nickels, who was responsible for the famous Buick portholes. Nickels' initial design was significantly influenced by the 1959 Oldsmobile, especially the front end and hood. The flat "flying wing" roof on the four-door sedans was derived from the larger '59 GM sedans to keep an unmistakable GM family resemblence.

7. Ralph Nader is another important person in Corvair's history. His book, "Unsafe At Any Speed", brought unfounded adverse publicity for Corvair. Although the Corvair was eventually vindicated, it was long after production had ceased on the Corvair. Don't expect to see a "Nader for President" on the bumper of a Corvair.

8. The Willow Run Plant where Corvairs were assembled was acquired by GM from Kaiser-Willys. It was a dedicated facility, exclusively for the Corvair.

9. Pontiac, Buick, and Oldsmobile variants of the Corvair were considered but never adopted. More convential designs emerged for their compact offerings the Tempest, the Special, and the F-85, respectively.

10. The car that owes its beginning to Corvair is still in production today, looking remarkably like the original designs of the nineteen sixties. Still reasonably priced, still offering buckets, and a floor shift.

11. Corvair Corsas, Monzas, and Spyders have often beed referred to as " a poor man's Porshe".

12. The Corvair Society of America ( CORSA ) is the club for Corvair Owners and Enthusiasts. Through this organization, the Corvair continues to enjoy a strong and enthusiastic following.

Note: The car in Ken's photograph is a 1962 Monza Convertible. This was the first year a convertible was offered. There were 13,995 produced. The convertible sold for $ 2,483.
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