One of One ever produced3,800 milesCoachwork by Pininfarina, Designed Tom TjaardaUnveiled at the 1963 Geneva International Auto Show2,376 CC Flat 6-Cylinder Air-Cooled...
One of One ever produced
3,800 miles
Coachwork by Pininfarina, Designed Tom Tjaarda
Unveiled at the 1963 Geneva International Auto Show
2,376 CC Flat 6-Cylinder Air-Cooled Engine
Twin Single-Throat Downdraft Rochester Carburetors
4-Speed Manual Transaxle
Front Independent Suspension with Coil Springs
Rear Swing-Axle Suspension with Coil Springs
As imported automobile sales started gaining traction in the United States the major American auto manufacturers, who at the time were producing sedans and wagons, realized that there was a market for something smaller, sportier. While Ford and Chrysler chose options like swapping their V8 engines for four or six-cylinder engines and reducing the body size of their cars, General Motors selected a different path altogether. Under the direction of Ed Cole, Chevrolet birthed an entirely new car: the Chevrolet Corvair, named after the Corvette and Bel Air.
On October 2, 1959, the 1960 Chevrolet Corvair was unveiled, with its horizontally opposed, six-cylinder, air-cooled engine making it unlike the standard American production cars previously brought to market. To take the Corvair even further from the traditional automotive configurations at the time the engine was mounted in the rear of car, with independent suspension on all four wheels, wider tires, and a substantial amount of aluminum features. The new Corvair was named the 1960 “car of the year” by Motor Trend magazine and was featured with Ed Cole on the cover of Time magazine.
Initially only a four-door sedan, offered in a base and deluxe configuration, was available, in January of 1960 Chevrolet introduced a coupe version to the market, also available in a base or deluxe version. Though the Corvair was successful, selling over 14,000 models of the base coupe, and over 36,000 of the deluxe coupe models in the first year, General Motor's believed it could be just as well received in Europe. Bill Mitchell, G.M.'s Vice President of Styling sent the car to the famed Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina to be restyled in an effort to compete with competitors such as Volkswagen and Porsche. The newly styled Corvair was a two-seater coupe unveiled at the 1960 Paris and Torino Motor Shows. While the Corvair's modern, sleek styling earned it the front cover spot of Road & Track magazine in March of 1961, it did not impress the media or buyers. The restyled front end resembled that of the Ferrari 250 GT 2+2 Coupé, however the rear of the Corvair drooped in a less than eye catching manner.
In 1962, Pininfarina asked Tom Tjaarda, an American designer, to restyle the Corvair once more. The significantly restyled Corvair was unveiled at the 1963 Geneva International Auto Show and then shown in a presentation at the Paris motor show. Tjaarda's newly styled version of the Corvair was finished in a dark metallic green paint and featured a fuller nose, ellipsoidal headlamp nacelles, side lamps inset within and a more angular rear end. This version of the Corvair was larger with 2+2 seating and a flat deck top, while retaining its original A-pillar. Again, the Corvair was featured on the cover of Road & Track magazine in February of 1963.
While the second version of the Corvair had been well received by both the media and consumers, there was still room for improvement. Tjaarda removed the highly criticized A-pillar and some of the aluminum detail work. Then refinished in red the third and final version of the Corvair Coupe 2+2 was unveiled at the 1963 Geneva Show.
This 1963 Chevrolet Corvair remained with the Pininfarina collection until 1996 when Pascal Saint-Maux bought it in a private sale. After leaving Pascal the Corvair exchanged hands through several US owners until being bought by Weston and Elona Hook in 2001. It remained in a private collection and then sold in 2022 at the Pebble Beach Auction before coming to Canepa.
Finished in a brilliant bright red over a white interior, the Chevy Corvair Coupe Speciale Concept is a true rarity, covering just over 3,800 miles from new. It retains its original 145 cubic-inch air-cooled flat six-cylinder engine fed by a pair of single barrel Rochester downdraft carbs. The flat six produces 80 horsepower and is backed by the four-speed manual transaxle. The Corvair has four-wheel drum brakes, front independent coil spring suspension, and a rear swing-axle suspension with coil springs.
The Corvair Speciale is a testament to bold ideas and international collaboration. It's a car built for the connoisseur, for the enthusiast who appreciates not just horsepower, but the audacity of pushing boundaries. This is a chance to own a piece of history that is as beautiful as it is significant.