The Pick of the Day is a 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza convertible listed by a California dealership on ClassicCars.com.
There’s no arguing GM made a lot of cool vehicles in the 1960s, but most of them followed the same basic formula: water-cooled I6 or V8 engine at the front. And many of them, particularly Camaros and Corvettes, got a lot of screen time in TV shows and movies. It’s hard to imagine JFK-/LBJ-era America and not picture a Camaro ready to race a Ford Mustang at a stop light or a couple on a romantic getaway in a C2 convertible. Then there’s the Chevrolet Corvair, which veers from the tried-and-true layout, but still looks great as a red convertible, as this 1965 Corvair Monza drop-top shows.
Introduced in the 1960 model year as a rival to European cars, the Corvair offered a sleek design, a four-wheel independent suspension, and the unusual combination of an air-cooled, flat-six engine at the rear of the vehicle. It continued being a little different over its two-generation lifespan that ended in 1969, spawning variants that included the Corvan and even a Rampside pickup, which – you guessed it – had a ramp on the side designed to make loading and unloading cargo easier.
All of the heavy lifting on this ’65 Corvair Monza convertible seems to have been done already. As part of a restoration, it was repainted in its original color of Regal Red, equipped with a new white soft top and fresh felts and rubber trim, and given a new white vinyl interior. If the front trunk is not spacious enough, the rear luggage rack is ready to carry some luggage.
The cabin features front and rear seat belts, the reportedly original AM radio, and an optional tissue dispenser (for those who won’t let their allergies spoil their open-air driving fun).
That restoration also covered the 164cid flat-six engine, which is connected to a Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission. According to the selling dealer, this Corvair “runs and drives beautifully.” Clearly, it also has the looks to match.
If you’re searching for a classic American car that’s a little different from the rest, this restored Corvair definitely qualifies. It also comes in at an asking price below 20 grand ($19,900).
Click here to view the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.
