BaT Comments On Corvair Greenbriar Van

[ARCHINSTL]

This was in a comment from someone about the Corvair Greenbriar van listed yesterday on the always-interesting BringaTrailer site:
" I’ve noticed that Corvair Guys are more likely to be oddballs than regular car guys.
Ranging from mildly eccentric to bat-poo crazy.
And more likely to have parts cars around than most motorheads. That’s a comment on people. As far as the cars go, They seem to be a lot of amusement at a low price.
But those dudes can be weird."

Oddly - I had a customer who had a succession of Gen II Corvair coupes (Monza's?) that were set up solely for autocrossing. He said they were highly prized for this type of competition. I think he did this for over 20 years with the 'vairs.

And while I had no experience with Corvairs, I always admired the packaging of the Greenbriar van - and also the good-looking Monza coupes. The van, in particular, had a neat interior. That van also had a practical commercial model and a pickup type as well - at least one of these had a side ramp that could be let down to roll something into the bed.
Of course, I never had to live with a Corvair...

I'm certain that no one would ever apply that "bat-poo crazy" epithet to we sober, practical, and heads-screwed-on-right T4WD owners...
Tom M.

[takza]

I knew someone with a new 140 Hp Corvair Monza...never got to ride in it though. He was rather level headed though. Now the guy that had the electric blue Corvette Stingray...maybe not so much.

[Petros]

hey, my dad owned several Greenbriar vans, I remember camping in a white window van when I was very young. It had a low floor since it did not have the drive train under the body, the problem I think it was rather underpowered, and it did not like the California desert heat. Ran fine near the coast where we lived.

Also my father-in-law has owned several corvairs, including a stationwagon, and a turbo coupe (which he never got running but gave to his son). He was always talking about building a corvair powered dune buggy, he had owned several VW powered ones. I also worked with a guy that used to race a Monza. I guess when set up properly they can handle exceptionally well compared to most American made compacts cars. I always thought they were interesting and very different than most other Detroit machinery, but I was never brave enough to own one.

I think different or even odd might be a better way to describe Corvair owners, but not eccentric. All I have known were great guys.

[solarlord]

thats one vehicle you never see outside the states, the corvair van ,what a fantastic shape i love that look ,saw one in parsipani NY on a camp site all orginal sixties cream and red interior the couple had all retro sixties camping gear etc, they were wacky but good fun-i think it had been a post/mail van in calif before before-dec

[ARCHINSTL]

For those unfamiliar with BaT, here is the site: http://bringatrailer.com/
I check it daily, as there is always a daily string of 1 to 4 cars for sale on it, with comments from the site's owner(s) and many pithy comments from us motorheads. There can be a Lagonda listed next to a Mustang next to a Chevelle NASCAR-tribute next to a 914 next to a Model T next to an A-40.
It's really interesting and as mentioned, the comments are good, too. Many learned remarks from worldwide.

Of course, there are many disparagers of J-tin from Philistines.
In fact, when that $10K T4WD was on eBay a few months ago, it made BaT! I was quite surprised - Do a Search on the site for "Tercel" and it will pop up - also read the string of kind memories (and some not-so-kind) and comments about our Wonder Wagon.

Incidentally - it has a sister site with VERY interesting motorcycles that span the ages, whether road, track, or MX.
Tom M.