'57(?) Ford Corvair (British)

[Gryphon]

Any info or pics greatly appreciated. Found, then lost, one of these about ten years ago in Placerville CA. Fiberglass body. This one had marker lamps, possibly indicating participation at Silverstone. Haynes Museum claims they have the only remaining example. Would like to know more about these cars in general, and the current whereabouts of this one from my area in particular. Car had been in CA for at least 30 years when discovered ten years ago. Never titled or registered for road use as of 1997. Sorry, chassis no. not available. Thanks in advance.

[John Turner]

Into the Motorsport History forum first, I think!

[Al Weyman]

FORD!!!!! A Chevrolet surely, unless you mean a Ford Corsair http://www.fordcorsair.com/

[terence]

They did not come out untill 66/67 Al.I do know of the Corvair though ,a friend of my father had one ,long while ago now though.!Was'nt it a flat six, I remember it being rear engine,I think.

[Al Weyman]

Yes a Chevrolet, I actually used to own one, condemed by Ralph Nader but will go down in history as the first use of a turbo charged engine option (I think). Had an amazingly dangerous heater that was rigged to a timer and could be set to warm the car up before you got in it , it was like a garage paraffin space heater complete with spark plug which was fine but it worked on volatile petrol!

[KA]

Originally Posted by terence bower

They did not come out untill 66/67 Al.I do know of the Corvair though ,a friend of my father had one ,long while ago now though.!Was'nt it a flat six, I remember it being rear engine,I think.

Corvair production was 1960-69 according to Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvair

but that description in the first post doesn't seem to fit a Corvair particularly well at first sight- fibreglass body, Haynes Museum claiming they have the only survivor?

Could we be talking about a sports-racer of some kind- maybe a 50's Ford-engined special, rather than a production Chevy Corvair? I'm certainly puzzled

[terence]

Originally Posted by KA

Corvair production was 1960-69 according to Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvair

but that description in the first post doesn't seem to fit a Corvair particularly well at first sight- fibreglass body, Haynes Museum claiming they have the only survivor?

Could we be talking about a sports-racer of some kind- maybe a 50's Ford-engined special, rather than a production Chevy Corvair? I'm certainly puzzled

KA,My refference was to the Ford Corsair.I also remember my fathers friends car as having rust in it!!

[Al Weyman]

Maybe he means this car here (scroll down) The Convair, a fibreglass sports body on a Ford Pop chassis. http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/ford_based_specials.htm

[terence]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Maybe he means this car here (scroll down) The Convair, a fibreglass sports body on a Ford Pop chassis. http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/ford_based_specials.htm

Hmmm nice!

[D-Type]

The Corsair was heavier than the Cortina with similar engine and running gear so it seldom appeared in races or rallies at a level above 'racing the family car' but Ford did set some long distance records at Montlhery or Nardi. I think they were in the 'Ford publicist' class rather than true International Class Records.
There could never have been a Ford Corvair or Chevrolet would never have been able to to use the name.

[Al Weyman]

Hey hang on D-Type, don't for get it was also blessed(?) with that wonderful Ford contraption the V4 that graced many a Transit van, that thank God never found its way into a Cortina! Well I say that but funny enough a mate of mine had a genuine Lotus Cortina which had been fitted with the 2 litre V4 and it actually went quite well, he towed me all the way back from Ramsgate in my old Splitty VW camper when it expired on the way to LeMans and it was the fastest that old tub ever went in its life!

[D-Type]

I was writing from memory.

On checking I find that the original Corsair used the same 1500cc engine as the Cortina and later it had 1.7 litre and 2 litre V4 engines, while the Cortina 1600E and 2000E used in line engines.

The records were set with the 1500 car at Monza.

There was also a much later Austarlian Ford Corsair that was a rebadged Nissan

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by D-Type

The Corsair was heavier than the Cortina with similar engine and running gear so it seldom appeared in races or rallies at a level above 'racing the family car' but Ford did set some long distance records at Montlhery or Nardi. I think they were in the 'Ford publicist' class rather than true International Class Records.
There could never have been a Ford Corvair or Chevrolet would never have been able to to use the name.

I seem to remember that Ford Motorsport also used Corsair estates as rally service barges back in the Escort days. These were quite trick machines, with Minilite wheels and (more importantly) 3 litre V6 engines in place of the V4. (This was before they started to use something bigger like the Transit).
I'm sure the racer we're looking for history on will be a Ford based special as mentioned earlier in the thread, it was a popular (no pun intended) thing to do in the 50's, re-body a Ford saloon chassis...

[terence]

They were also kitted out with the front struts from the MK3/4 Zodiac,a guy who lived next door to me was the head chaufer at Ford and brought the first Estate home one evening,so we had to take it for a run,did'nt we? Having that lump up front ,I thought it was going to understeer like a pig,the Boreham boys obviously knew what they up to[Forgive the understatement]

[GBRM]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Maybe he means this car here (scroll down) The Convair, a fibreglass sports body on a Ford Pop chassis. http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/ford_based_specials.htm

That picture is taken at Haynes Museum.

[Farbrooke]

Ford used Granada Mk1 and 2 as service barges - V6 - they tweaked the rear suspension so the drive shafts ran level when full loaded - the minilites used to crack at the wheel studs - once had to buy 4 steel wheels from the dealer in Carlisle - mid RAC rally

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

but will go down in history as the first use of a turbo charged engine option (I think).

Oldsmobile used a turbo in the F-85 Jetfire at the same time. I think the Corvair claims to be first on the basis that it was announced to the public a few days before the Olds.

As the Jetfire was a turbo version of the Buick aluminium V8, maybe they can claim to have been first to turbocharge a Rover V8.......

[RTH]

Ian Richardson built a super saloon Chevrolet Corvair with something like a 7 litre V8 in the back ( a dark bronze colour if I remember correctly ) which was a quick and successful racing car

[Al Weyman]

( a dark bronze colour if I remember correctly )

How very 60's! Did it have matching beige interior and a beige vinyl roof?

[GBRM]

I thought it was blue?? Dad bought it and it was blue when he used it and the sold it, am sure it was the same car. Will post a picture when I get home tonight.

[D-Type]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

Oldsmobile used a turbo in the F-85 Jetfire at the same time. I think the Corvair claims to be first on the basis that it was announced to the public a few days before the Olds.

As the Jetfire was a turbo version of the Buick aluminium V8, maybe they can claim to have been first to turbocharge a Rover V8.......

Or to turbocharge a Repco for that matter ...

[johnh875]

Not sure you could call it a Repco at that stage D Type...

[D-Type]

Originally Posted by johnh875

Not sure you could call it a Repco at that stage D Type...

I know - the family relationship between the Oldsmobile, Buick, Rover and Repco aluminium V8s is complex.