| Chevrolet Division
General Motors Corporation Detroit, Michigan |
| Engine |
140-hp, 164
cu. in. Flat-six |
| Transmission |
4-speed manual |
| Steering |
Standard |
| Suspension |
Standard |
| Brakes |
Drum F, Drum R |
Check
list |
| Engine |
| Throttle Response |
Good |
| Noise Insulation |
Fair |
| Drive
train |
| Shift Linkage |
Fair |
| Synchro Action |
Very
Good |
| Steering |
| Effort |
Good |
| Response |
Excellent |
| Handling |
| Predictability |
Excellent |
| Evasive Maneuverability |
Very
Good |
| Brakes |
| Directional Stability |
Excellent |
| Fade Resistance |
Very
Good |
| Interior |
| Ease of Entry/Exit |
Fair |
| Driving Position |
Good |
| Front Seating Comfort |
Good |
| Rear Seating Comfort |
Poor |
| General |
| Vision |
Excellent |
| Heater/ Defroster |
Fair |
| Weather Sealing |
Very
Good |
| Trunk Space |
Poor |
|
Like Nikita Khrushchev,
the Corvair has become an un-person. Chevrolet policy is to
keep chipping away at it (by removing the Corsa models for '67
and the 4-door models for '68), in the hope that it will go
away. Happily it refuses to do so, and Corvair lovers get more
passionate with each passing year. Despite
this, and despite the fact that ff its predecessor (the '60-64
model) is probably the most maligned car in the history of
the automobile, the Corvair is one of the best handling cars-in
stock trim-ever built. The steering is light and precise and,
IF although its rear-mounted air-cooled enI gine gives it
a slight rearward weight bias, its all-independent suspension
gives the Corvair road-holding qualities second only to the
best GT cars.
The Corvair Monza touched off
the current wave of American sporty cars, but it has lost
some favor with the enthusiasts market because of its limited
horsepowerthe top engine option, 140-horsepower, is a far
cry from the 300-plus Super Cars. Nevertheless, the Corvair
is light enough that 140 horsepower is sufficient to keep
pace with many higher-powered cars.
Trunk space is somewhat limited,
and the rear seat accommodations are not what we would like,
but those are our only major objections. |
