Time goes on and I think it’s time to sell another one of my old cars. This is a 1965 Corvair Corsa that started life as a 140hp car but is now a 180. It is an LA built car that I bought in 2011 as a roller from California. It has never seen any rust which is why I paid as much to get it to me as I did to buy it. The car was originally maroon, but in the restoration process I had it painted black (in 2013).
The car has a Scarebird disc brake conversion, dual master cylinder, Clarks spoiler, and one coil cut out of the front springs to level the car. The wheels are 15 x 6 Summit rallye wheels with BF Goodrich radial TA’s that are still in great shape. It came to me with ’67 seats which I kept and recovered, to which I added Julianos repro GM seat belts. The steering wheel has a Seth Emerson adapter to Corvette wheel with a working ’65 Chevy horn button. Behind this is a fully functional LED equipped Corsa dash with quartz clock.
The 3:23 transaxle has been gone through and freshened with new seals. The engine is a ’69 140 block with ’65 turbo heads and distributor and Isky 270 cam. It is .020 over with forged pistons and total seal rings. The heads have been slightly massaged on the exhaust port side with new guides and valves. The oil pan is the desirable old Offenhauser aluminum deep pan with pickup.
Upgrades to the turbocharging system include a Mikuni HSR 45mm carb from Vintage Performance. The OE “pressure retard” system has been replaced with an MSD BTM unit with programmable retard. Also a Snow Performance dash programmable methanol injection system has been added. The turbo itself is a hybrid early model exhaust / late model compressor unit. I’ve also added an O2 sensor to monitor air/fuel ratio (very helpful for getting the carb dialed in). The fuel system is electric with a Revolution Electronics controller. The refreshed motor probably has about 2,000 miles on it if that.
The car is fun to drive. As you would expect alittle underwhelming under 2000 rpm, but healthy after that. After taking a buddy who’d never been in a Corvair for a ride he summed it up best: “I had no idea”.
I suggest anyone interested view the links below for more information on the car as well as amateur driving videos.
Seller retains the right to end the listing early unless it meets reserve as it is listed in multiple places (please do not ask the reserve, I will let the auction play out).
It needs a new shift knob : )
https://youtu.be/mSNB8iQo6FU?si=BRjLyXG3VMSZXTSk
https://youtu.be/XNyu4amm9Lw?si=U-FaEuUl33UR1NqD
Added 7/17: Car does have a small pan leak at front of oil pan.