It is often say that the 1960 - 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza go the clean elevator car bunce in America . Many would fence that it began long before the Monza was even a gleam in Chevrolet ’s center , giving the honor instead to early Corvettes , Thunderbirds , and Studebaker Hawks .

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While sure a valid argumentation , these were comparatively expensive vehicle , and the New interpretation is that a " sporty car " leans toward the more affordable end of the price spectrum .

But whether a innovator of the concept or simply a follower , it can be accurately said the Monza saved the Corvair – and incidentally introduce the merchandising ploy of sticking vinyl bucketful and a storey - mounted gearstick into a compact and calling it a sports railcar .

Ironically , the Monza is perhaps more notice for what it led to ( the Mustang ) than what it did for the Corvair . As it turn out , GM ’s unique rear - locomotive engine compact proved one of the tummy ’s major albatrosses ; it was the subject of endless litigation , and diddle the principal villain in the Good Book that set up Ralph Nader . ( That book , Unsafe at Any Speed , conclusively show that the inattentive should not push back early Corvairs . )

Though the 1960 - 1961 Corvairs could indeed be a bit tricky to handle , late model were much improved , and by 1965 the Corvair sported a superbsuspensionthat made it one of the most inventive , effective , and progressive cars of the decennium .

The first Monza make it latterly in the 1960 model class as a " spring special " to prop up the Corvair ’s disappointing sales . Against the plug - average Falcon and Rambler , and the unique - appear but technically mundane Plymouth Valiant , the Corvair was doing much poorer than expected .

Indeed , the Monza was scarcely on the marketplace when GM Styling was hard at body of work on what would become the 1962 Chevy II , after theChevy Nova– a conventional compact that would , finally , outgun the Falcon . But then an unknown product deviser get the estimation of dolling up a Corvair coupe with a colorful vinyl interior , rug , and other luxurious doojigger , and Chevrolet dealers finally had something to cheer about .

Go to the next page to find out about the engineering and sales performance of the 1960 - 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza .

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Continued

Here at last was a Corvair that would betray , and sales would continue to be successful for the 1960 , 1961 , 1962 , 1963 , 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza .

There was nothing wrong with the coupe ’s styling : it looked European , not too unlike the little German NSU , but longer , more balanced . It lacked a conventional wicket ( stylists gave it a fake one in 1962 ) , but it was pleasant enough otherwise .

sale take on off tight , and though there was only prison term to build about 12,000 Monzas for 1960,Chevroletsoared into book production with the 1961s . When the detritus settled , that example yr had accounted for 110,000 Monza coupes plus another 34,000 of the new Monza four - door saloon – more than all the cheaper Corvair models put together .

In 1962 they added a handsomeconvertible , and Monza sale went to over 200,000 , which was the best ever . By the end of the first Corvair pattern generation in 1964 , there were only two non - Monzas in the lineup , and the Monza was still racking up six - figure sale totals – which was something , considering all the rival that had developed by then .

Largely the work of longtime Chevrolet engineer and late GM president Edward N. Cole , the Corvair was an partizan ’s car , radical and innovative . Its flat - sixenginedeveloped 80 or 95 bhp and was complicated : two piston chamber heads , six separate cylinder barrels , and a divided crankcase .

regrettably , it weighed nearly 400 pounds , which was 100 pounds more than Cole had hoped . The initialsuspensioncomprised wishbone and coil springs up front , semi - trailing swing axle at the back .

Enter the lawsuits , file by masses who wrecked their Corvairs mainly because they disregarded the manual ’s instruction and inflated thetiresequally – a potentially expensive mistake on Corvairs .

In 1962 , an option of stiffer springs , shorter rearward axle bound shoulder strap , and a front sway bar was made available ; the 1964s were improved again when a transversal camber compensating give was adopted .

Meanwhile , horsepoweredged up to 110 and a decent four - speed gearbox was brought out as an choice . There was even a Monza post wagon in 1962 , but it was n’t in keeping with the sporty railroad car ’s icon , and only 2,362 were built before it was degenerate .

Today it is the most suitable Monza next to the convertible security , which are far more numerous but offer unlimited fountainhead room . hoi polloi who think Ralph Nader was good about the Corvair ought to try a 110 bhp four - swiftness 1964 . Few cars of the era handle well , and fewer still pop the question more playfulness for the money .

For 1960 - 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza specifications , go to the next Thomas Nelson Page .

1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Specifications

The 1960 , 1961 , 1962 , 1963 , 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza was an telling , sporty car that offered a stack for the money .

Specifications

Engines : 1960flat 6 , 140 cid ( 3.38 × 2.60 ) , 80/95 bhp;1961 - 1963145 Criminal Investigation Command ( 3.44 × 2.60 ) , 102 bhp;1964164 cid ( 3.44 × 2.94 ) , 95/110 bhp

Transmissions:3/4 - amphetamine manual , 2 - speed automatic optional

hiatus , front : upper and lower A - arms , coil springs

Suspension , rearward : 1960 - 1963semi - dog swing axles , coil springs1964semi trailing swing axle , transversal compensating bounce

pasture brake : front / rear drums

Wheelbase ( in.):108.0

exercising weight : ( lbs):2,280 - 2,569

Top speed ( mph):NA

0 - 60 mph ( sec):NA