1962 Corvair Monza 900 Spyder Turbo Convertible on 2040-cars

Welcome to this long anticipated auction. Many of you know this rare car already. Many more have seen it advertised in Hemmings or elsewhere.

1962 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 900 Spyder Turbo convertible, This is a rare “pre-production” prototype show Corvair. It is also a well-known car with highly documented provenance. If you like the way it looks, and most people do, read on because it isn’t what it seems to be. What it seems to be is the nicest early model Corvair you have ever seen. But it is much more than that. Frankly it belongs in a museum. It has only 28,375 well-documented miles on the odometer. These are not miles after a restoration—these are original miles. I have felt fortunate to own this Corvair even for a short time. I bought with the thought in mind that it would be a forever car for me to enjoy. But my wife and I have accepted another assignment to work at the United Nations in Geneva (we came home a year ago after an initial two-year stint). As much as I love this car, I am committed to the human rights agenda of the Human Rights Council. So, sadly, after a brief period of ownership, this gorgeous, rare, well-documented car—an icon in American automotive history, needs to find a home hopefully with a good Corvair enthusiast.

It is hard to know how to price this vehicle. If you look at it and see just another outstanding original or restored Corvair Monza 900 Spyder turbo convertible, you are missing the point here. Of course it is all of that by definition. This is the first or, some believe, one of four “first” 1962 Corvairs (the others have gone missing), hand finished by the Special Vehicles division of the Engineering Department. The engine was removed in the pre-production process and blue printed and the block has the special work order number stamped in it. It was finished red on red with white stripes. It was finished in a way that no production Corvair would ever again be finished with the point being to give this new Spyder Convertible a inspirational coming out to Chevrolet dealers across the country. There are photos of it at a GM senior management meeting at the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginian in March 1962.  The car has been featured in the Corsa magazine. The car was a senior division car at AACA. A previous and long-term owner went through the brakes and fuel system to counteract the significant amount of “sitting” the car has done. My Corvair expert confirms this. The top is in perfect, like new condition.

Corvairs represent a daring effort by General Motors to be different. The air-cooled, rear engined, horizontally opposed six cylinder turbo charged Convertible that seat four, looks great and has a big front trunk was a daring move and represents an engineering achievement of substantial significance. And this one--well it is the best in the sense of its place in GM corporate strategy and in the production attention lavished on it. What is an exceptionally well-preserved, low mileage Corvair worth? I guess that is entirely a matter of how much you value it. You will win an award at every classic show you enter, be invited to every parade, and be hounded for photographs wherever you take it. If you are prepared for that, and the pride that comes from owning something unique in the automotive world, please bid. Clearly there is only one way the value of this vehicle can go and that is up, way up. Corvairs are already increasing in value but this one will always be unique—in a category of one. I will ship at my expense for the full price. Otherwise I must insist that this lovely vehicle be transported in an enclosed trailer by a shipping professional who is accustomed to expensive vehicles.

A few other thoughts and ground rules.

Scammers: Please don't offer to pay more than I am asking through the now commonplace PayPal scam. 

Trades: I am not interested in a trade unless you happen to have a black 1929 to 1940 Ford with flathead and in perfect original or restored condition.

Third party representation: Not interested in having someone offer to sell it for me. Thanks but not necessary.

Wheels: The wheels are not wire hubcaps. They are true knock off wheels, chrome plated and very rare and were very expensive. There is a minor amount of curb rash on one of the wheels. The Kelsey Hayes wire wheels are one of the most rare Corvair items today. They were also used on the 1962 Corvettes.

State of Tune: I have just recently engaged an older gentleman who spent his early career as the Corvair specialist at one of the local Chevrolet dealerships. He has come twice and gone over the entire car. Other than for timing and tune up it didn’t need much. Proper NOS ignition parts were used and he used the original factory manuals to make sure everything was set up correctly. In a few days I will be adding his signed statement about the condition of the car.

Shipping: I don’t know exactly how much to ship and shipping is, of course, the responsibility of the buyer. But I will help at this end. My guess is that the shipping price will be between $1,000 and $2,500 within the lower 48 states. I am willing to ship anywhere but hope that the historic American automobile will stay inside the U.S.

Warranty: There is none. I have learned by one sad experience, over a lifetime of vehicle collecting, that unless you say “as is” and “no warranty expressed or implied” and “please check everything and come to see and drive the car” that you might be in trouble in the hands of an unscrupulous buyer and a skilled lawyer. I am saying all of the above—there is no warranty and the car is sold as is and where is. Even the wording of this description is subject to interpretation. Sorry but this is the result of the litigious society we have created for ourselves.

Communication: I like frequent, clear, up front communication—usually by email unless you want to discuss something more complicated and in that case I am happy to talk to you by telephone.

Note: I am in the process of attempting to register this Corvair with the National Historic Vehicle Register. It meets at least two of the four criteria: (Criterion D: A vehicle that was the first or last produced, and, Criterion C: A vehicle that is distinctive based on design, engineering, craftsmanship or aesthetic value).  In my view the case is an easy one but others will, of course, judge for themselves.