Restored original black classic vintage

1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Description

The Chevrolet Corvair Monza is a unique collectible amongst American manufacturers. It was the only mass-produced US. car with a rear-mounted-air cooled engine, and GM produced close to 1.8 million of these versatile cars. The Corvair line up spanned two-door coupes and convertibles, four-door sedans, station wagons, pickup trucks and even vans. One has to wonder if given more time, the Corvair engineers would have found a way to make them float and fly. This beautiful '64 Monza convertible is... quite the looker and an even better driver. Ralph Nader supporters need not apply. Professionally applied by a previous owner, the rich Tuxedo Black exterior paint continues to present a deep and lustrous finish. The sheet metal runs straight and the panel gaps are to industry standards, although it seems that this one is better assembled than factory new. The amount of chrome GM attached to a Corvair was tasteful by 1964 standards, and it is all in very good condition. Trim pieces run the length of the car and chromed trim letters announce "Corvair" on both the hood and the trunk. Then of course there are the bumpers and a conservative grille, which was not necessary for anything but fashion. All the trim has buffed up nicely and shines well against the black background, and although the paint is not without a few minor flaws, it still presents very well. The manual black convertible top raises and lowers easily so no worries about servicing expensive electric top motors, and once it's up, the vinyl top adds plenty of cover when the weather turns ugly. Vision is good through the plastic rear window and the balance of the car's glass all-around is in likewise good condition. For a budget classic-car, you're not going to get much better styling and presentation than this. The interior continues the designer's straightforward approach and the Medium Red imitation leather works well up against the dark exterior color treatment. The optional, low-back front bucket seats are a welcome step up from the standard bench seat, and are still wide enough to accommodate most any drivers with great comfort. The matching red vinyl coverings on the seats and door panels are potentially original, and are in good condition showing minimal wear and no splits and tears or sun fading. Spin the Retrosound AM/FM/iPod compatible radio on to listen to '60s-correct tunes and if it turns chilly, there is an optional heater/defroster, which is surprisingly effective. Interior space is excellent for a compact, and thanks to the rear engine-format, there's no tunnel to divide the interior up. Simple and practical, the guts of this Monza are a very comfortable place to be cruising in. This step-up Monza model is equipped with the more powerful 164ci, 2.7 Liter. The engine pumps out a rather peppy 95 horsepower, a 15 horsepower bump from the standard Corvair powerplant. The motor turns over easily and moves our Chevrolet at a pleasant clip down the highway, and still delivers bright performance and good fuel economy thanks to a fairly beneficial power-to-weight ratio in this light compact. The first-generation Corvairs were all equipped with a swing axle rear suspension and coil springs at all 4 wheels, much like a certain other rear-engined car we know. The chassis is clean and solid, and it's important that the body tub be clean and free of corrosion due to the Corvair's unibody construction. Completing the look, this tidy little ragtop rolls down the road on 175/80/13 BFGoodrich whitewall radials mounted on the original steel wheels with wire hubcaps. Perfect for all you minimalist classic car enthusiasts out there, this slick little Corvair Monza is ready to enjoy today. Call now!