JBC818 and AloneAndOld: I've owned Corvairs for over 30 years and have yet to have had even one accident in one of them! Unsafe? Nonsense. Keep the tires inflated to factory specs and the car handles fairly neutrally, if anything tending to understeer. Sure, if you want to roll one over, I guess you could; anything is possible. All I know is that I've entered Corvairs in various autocross events dating back to the early 1980's and never came close to rolling one of 'em! (Won my class in several)
OK, so Ralph Nader was just a Grump; it wasn't that the "drop axles" on Corvairs were flipping them over and Killing people. It wasn't the front mounted gas tank, that would throw gas on the occupants in an accident. It wasn't the GAS HEATER that could BLOW UP if accidently left on while refueling the car. It wasn't the Single Channel brakes that could Fail and leave you with NOTHING. Gruesome pics of this stuff is still on the web...Ralph was RIGHT!
@AloneAndOld Then why are you still around after having SEVERAL? Why do some many people have them and enjoy them? Why are they very successfull in Autcrossing events against cars 40 years younger?
@jamacadada : AloneandOld is right, the Corvair was unsafe and poorly designed (too low and cramped inside). The French made much better cars in those days: Renault and Peugeot for example.
@AloneAndOld Then why are you still around after having SEVERAL? Why do some many people have them and enjoy them? Why are they very successfull in Autcrossing events against cars 40 years younger? Oh and there are plenty of gruesome pictures from all types of cars. Do a little research and find out the percentaage of people that died in a Corvair compared to other cars of the period. You will see how wrong you are.
@jamacadada - First of all, I'm trying to be POLITE to you; you sound like a person who is somewhat younger, and "longs" for a simpler time that you may have felt you missed out on. We owned several, because we were a big family who bought many cars at the same time and we bought into ads,etc., on what great cars these were. Ralph nader did America a Service; cars are MUCH safer now, due in part to people like him. NO DOUBT the 'Vairs used in autocross today have been modified...
@AloneAndOld I don't know old you are but I'm old enough to have owned a 1962 Corvair coupe when I was 16. it is was my first car and I did some crazy things in it. It was also the first car I went over a 100mph in. I have also owned a 67, 65, and still have a 66. Ralph Nader might have got you padded dash boards but little else. 65+ Vairs are still some of the finest handling cars ever built. Raced one a couple of weeks ago against a Z-R1, RX-7 and Miata. No MODS. What MODS should I make???
@AloneAndOld Please expain "drop axle" and "single channel brakes" because they were never on a Corvair. Here is a hint though, single channel brakes are new technology and think 4X4 or hot rod on the axle statement.
@jamacadada - Single channel brakes are not certainly NOT a "new technology", The brakes were ALL on one line, if that line broke, you had NO brakes. A more modern car, thanks in part to Ralph Nader is able to STOP even if it loses one of the brake channels...
@AloneAndOld You really need to stop. You really know nothing about cars and are exposing it. Single channel is reference to ABS that use one sensor for the rear wheels. I think dual master cylinder is what you are trying to say? Cars of that day had one master cylinder and the Corvair cant be singled for that. Oh and I received your message. I have not blocked any of your comments and furthermore, I'm more of Libertarian than a Liberal. Do I need to explain that for you as well?
I owned a Corvair, and it was a VERY dangerous car; the drivers' side hubcaps would scrape the highway coming off of a ramp. The heater would choke you to death in the winter.
@AloneAndOld Another DANGEROUS car owner! Why didn't you replace the seals? I don't know what you were doing to make the hubcap scrape and I don't think that was really what was happening. If you had that camber on a wheel, the hubcap would have flown off and a possible tire failure as well. It simply is not possible. For the record the Corvair is the only vehicle in history to be deemed SAFE by the NHSTA.
@jamacadada - You DON'T KNOW what you are talking about; I owned the car when it was NEW. It wasn't until 1964 when Chevrolet put U-joints at the end of the axels to correct the problem. Today, these are know as constant velocity joints. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU POST!
@AloneAndOld The suspension you had was refered to as swing axle. Swing axle was very commonly used in those days. Volkswagens, Porsches, Mercedes all had these types of suspensions. You had u-joints on your car as well. U-joints are used to transfer power into a long shaft. In front engine cars, (rear wheel drive) they are used in the drive axle, or driveshaft, in rear engine the driveshafts are split into axles for each wheel (front wheel drive works the same)
@AloneAndOld Well that does not make any sense. If you thought they were so dangerous then why did your family have SEVERAL? Why do you feel a need to to go to videos and post negative things about them? There are many people who post these videos because they like or love Corvairs. Why do you feel the need to insult others knowledge, enjoyment of a car and be negative?
@jamacadada - Oh, I forgot, this is the age of "don't dare say anything negative" let's just all hold hands and sing CumBaya. Our family owned several, because we were a Large family and believed in Chevy, America, Mom's Apple Pie, Smoking couldn't POSSIBLY hurt you...media crap like that. MY Corvair was relatively SAFE becaude I ended up PUSHING it, more than DRIVING it. My sister's almost Killed her, and my brother's almost choked him to death, with the gas heater...
@AloneAndOld I had a close friend who ended up in the river driving his Porsche 911, a high school buddy who skidded in a 280zx and died as it was wrapped around a tree, a class president that was scarred from a fire in a Mustang GT (another skidding tree incident), a girfriend with a cracked sternum from a flipped Volvo, and last another close friend who died not to long ago after being a vegetable for 20 years. He was in a Toyota Tercel impailed by a dump truck. All flawed cars i suppose?
@AloneAndOld You could not have believed in the things you speak of. You do not believe humans are responsible for their actions. You are the reason that we have ambulance chasing trial lawers. If you trip on your shoelaces I'm sure there was something wrong with your shoes. It is clear to see why you are AloneandOld. Lack of education, accountability and reason has clearly made you bitter. The fun for you is over now, because I have no interest in more communication with such a foolish person.
@AloneAndOld : You're right, GM changed to a fully articulated rear suspension in '64, but the damage to their reputation was already done and no one believed the improved Corvair was any better than the original. I think they did the same for the Corvette as well. Nevertheless, if GM wanted to reincarnate the Tucker in a smaller size, then they should have gone with a mid-engine design such as the Pontiac Fiero had in the 80's.
@jamacadada (cont) CV joints are an improvement on u-joints, as they use a ball and groove instead of needle bearings. Regardess, neither really have an effect on handling. The changes to the rear suspension on the 64 was a transverse camber compensating spring not u-joints. In 1965 they went to fully independent suspension complete with struts and they did add u-joints to the wheel side of the axle (so you are some what correct) Still think I don't know what I'm talking about??
After a year of restoration my '62 Monza in finally finished and Safety Certified. A few extras I hadn't planned on, but it's done. Down to the DOT today to get the Historic Plates and then the fun begins...... oh yeah, bring on those cruise nights. Vairs rock and Ralph Nader's a JERK..... NHTA proved him wrong in 1971, unfortunatly the damage was already done........... Nice song.
When I was 14 we purchased a used Corvair because we couldn't afford anything better. It always smelled of burnt oil, it used up more gas than a locomotive and we were lucky we weren't killed because of the noxious fumes that entered the passenger cabin from the engine.
Kudos to Ralph Nader for helping to get rid of this deathtrap of a car.
Dangerous car or dangerous owner? If the engine smelled of burnt oil then, it must have needed some seals replaced. If used lots of gas then it wasn't properly maintained. Corvairs were designed to be high mileage vehicles. They got over 20 miles to the gallon. If you operated a vehicle in that condition it was YOUR fault , not the car.
@jamacadada I totally agree. Blaming the car is bullshit. If anything, it's the owner's responsibility to make sure the car is safe by driving safely.
Mine's a 69...I never realized how good a 60s car could handle until I got my Monza...Im glad they are underpriced on the market, making these Chevys a real bargain!
But who the hell is Nader to tell people not to buy the car, simply because it handles differently from other cars. I'm sure there are plenty of people who have owned Corvairs over the years who have had nothing but good experiences with the car and would perhaps buy another one if one were available. I know I would buy one if I knew someone who had one for sale in good original condition. I love the song! Did you sing it?
Yea. Rear-engined cars naturally handle differently from cars with the engine up front. People just need to learn how to drive the cars. People who drive like idiots or are intoxicated pay dearly with their lives. European cars (VW, Mercedes-Benz, etc.) have had swing axle rear suspension for years before the Corvair was introduced. Why the hell Nader didn't go after those cars is beyond me. It's one thing to reminid people of a car's limitations, that way drivers know what they're getting into.
I've always hated Ralph Nader. He makes some good points regarding car driving safety, but he shoots himself in the foot by blaming everything on the car. That can't be right. Nice video! Nice song!
@Seattlecarnut : Yes, they were very common with German cars. It wasn't until several years later that VW changed to a fully articulated rear suspension. It was called the Super Beetle. That's what GM should have done in the first place, and they definitely shouldn't have used an air-cooled engine. It should have been a water-cooled 4-cylinder mid-engine design. The Pontiac Tempest had a swing axle also for 3 years, then changed over to a solid rear axle in '64.
@JBC814 I agree. I don't mind rear engined vehicles, and I like the boxer engine, but I would've made it water-cooled or perhaps even a diesel engine (for the trucks and vans). I'd also give it self-adjusting disc brakes.
BTW Joe: Where can I get a copy of this great song, and have you done any others on the topic?
corvairjim1 6 months ago
JBC818 and AloneAndOld: I've owned Corvairs for over 30 years and have yet to have had even one accident in one of them! Unsafe? Nonsense. Keep the tires inflated to factory specs and the car handles fairly neutrally, if anything tending to understeer. Sure, if you want to roll one over, I guess you could; anything is possible. All I know is that I've entered Corvairs in various autocross events dating back to the early 1980's and never came close to rolling one of 'em! (Won my class in several)
corvairjim1 6 months ago
Your Comment referring to ABS is Ridiculous; the corvair was WAY before any ABS technology...
AloneAndOld 9 months ago
OK, so Ralph Nader was just a Grump; it wasn't that the "drop axles" on Corvairs were flipping them over and Killing people. It wasn't the front mounted gas tank, that would throw gas on the occupants in an accident. It wasn't the GAS HEATER that could BLOW UP if accidently left on while refueling the car. It wasn't the Single Channel brakes that could Fail and leave you with NOTHING. Gruesome pics of this stuff is still on the web...Ralph was RIGHT!
AloneAndOld 9 months ago
@AloneAndOld Then why are you still around after having SEVERAL? Why do some many people have them and enjoy them? Why are they very successfull in Autcrossing events against cars 40 years younger?
jamacadada 9 months ago
@jamacadada : AloneandOld is right, the Corvair was unsafe and poorly designed (too low and cramped inside). The French made much better cars in those days: Renault and Peugeot for example.
JBC814 8 months ago
@AloneAndOld Then why are you still around after having SEVERAL? Why do some many people have them and enjoy them? Why are they very successfull in Autcrossing events against cars 40 years younger? Oh and there are plenty of gruesome pictures from all types of cars. Do a little research and find out the percentaage of people that died in a Corvair compared to other cars of the period. You will see how wrong you are.
jamacadada 9 months ago
@jamacadada - First of all, I'm trying to be POLITE to you; you sound like a person who is somewhat younger, and "longs" for a simpler time that you may have felt you missed out on. We owned several, because we were a big family who bought many cars at the same time and we bought into ads,etc., on what great cars these were. Ralph nader did America a Service; cars are MUCH safer now, due in part to people like him. NO DOUBT the 'Vairs used in autocross today have been modified...
AloneAndOld 9 months ago
@AloneAndOld I don't know old you are but I'm old enough to have owned a 1962 Corvair coupe when I was 16. it is was my first car and I did some crazy things in it. It was also the first car I went over a 100mph in. I have also owned a 67, 65, and still have a 66. Ralph Nader might have got you padded dash boards but little else. 65+ Vairs are still some of the finest handling cars ever built. Raced one a couple of weeks ago against a Z-R1, RX-7 and Miata. No MODS. What MODS should I make???
jamacadada 9 months ago
@AloneAndOld Please expain "drop axle" and "single channel brakes" because they were never on a Corvair. Here is a hint though, single channel brakes are new technology and think 4X4 or hot rod on the axle statement.
jamacadada 9 months ago
@jamacadada - Single channel brakes are not certainly NOT a "new technology", The brakes were ALL on one line, if that line broke, you had NO brakes. A more modern car, thanks in part to Ralph Nader is able to STOP even if it loses one of the brake channels...
AloneAndOld 9 months ago
@AloneAndOld You really need to stop. You really know nothing about cars and are exposing it. Single channel is reference to ABS that use one sensor for the rear wheels. I think dual master cylinder is what you are trying to say? Cars of that day had one master cylinder and the Corvair cant be singled for that. Oh and I received your message. I have not blocked any of your comments and furthermore, I'm more of Libertarian than a Liberal. Do I need to explain that for you as well?
jamacadada 9 months ago
i remember your dad's corvair, what a beauty. i think i tried to slip into the drivers' seat while his back was turned LOL
great song
MsMandiP 10 months ago
I owned a Corvair, and it was a VERY dangerous car; the drivers' side hubcaps would scrape the highway coming off of a ramp. The heater would choke you to death in the winter.
AloneAndOld 11 months ago
@AloneAndOld Another DANGEROUS car owner! Why didn't you replace the seals? I don't know what you were doing to make the hubcap scrape and I don't think that was really what was happening. If you had that camber on a wheel, the hubcap would have flown off and a possible tire failure as well. It simply is not possible. For the record the Corvair is the only vehicle in history to be deemed SAFE by the NHSTA.
jamacadada 10 months ago
@jamacadada - You DON'T KNOW what you are talking about; I owned the car when it was NEW. It wasn't until 1964 when Chevrolet put U-joints at the end of the axels to correct the problem. Today, these are know as constant velocity joints. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU POST!
AloneAndOld 10 months ago
@AloneAndOld The suspension you had was refered to as swing axle. Swing axle was very commonly used in those days. Volkswagens, Porsches, Mercedes all had these types of suspensions. You had u-joints on your car as well. U-joints are used to transfer power into a long shaft. In front engine cars, (rear wheel drive) they are used in the drive axle, or driveshaft, in rear engine the driveshafts are split into axles for each wheel (front wheel drive works the same)
jamacadada 10 months ago
@jamacadada - I'm AWARE of what it was called, We had SEVERAL Corvairs in our family...
AloneAndOld 9 months ago
@AloneAndOld Well that does not make any sense. If you thought they were so dangerous then why did your family have SEVERAL? Why do you feel a need to to go to videos and post negative things about them? There are many people who post these videos because they like or love Corvairs. Why do you feel the need to insult others knowledge, enjoyment of a car and be negative?
jamacadada 9 months ago
@jamacadada - Oh, I forgot, this is the age of "don't dare say anything negative" let's just all hold hands and sing CumBaya. Our family owned several, because we were a Large family and believed in Chevy, America, Mom's Apple Pie, Smoking couldn't POSSIBLY hurt you...media crap like that. MY Corvair was relatively SAFE becaude I ended up PUSHING it, more than DRIVING it. My sister's almost Killed her, and my brother's almost choked him to death, with the gas heater...
AloneAndOld 9 months ago
@AloneAndOld I had a close friend who ended up in the river driving his Porsche 911, a high school buddy who skidded in a 280zx and died as it was wrapped around a tree, a class president that was scarred from a fire in a Mustang GT (another skidding tree incident), a girfriend with a cracked sternum from a flipped Volvo, and last another close friend who died not to long ago after being a vegetable for 20 years. He was in a Toyota Tercel impailed by a dump truck. All flawed cars i suppose?
jamacadada 9 months ago
@AloneAndOld You could not have believed in the things you speak of. You do not believe humans are responsible for their actions. You are the reason that we have ambulance chasing trial lawers. If you trip on your shoelaces I'm sure there was something wrong with your shoes. It is clear to see why you are AloneandOld. Lack of education, accountability and reason has clearly made you bitter. The fun for you is over now, because I have no interest in more communication with such a foolish person.
jamacadada 9 months ago
@jamacadada - Man....go back to talking to yourself in the mirror.
AloneAndOld 9 months ago
@AloneAndOld : You're right, GM changed to a fully articulated rear suspension in '64, but the damage to their reputation was already done and no one believed the improved Corvair was any better than the original. I think they did the same for the Corvette as well. Nevertheless, if GM wanted to reincarnate the Tucker in a smaller size, then they should have gone with a mid-engine design such as the Pontiac Fiero had in the 80's.
JBC814 8 months ago
@jamacadada (cont) CV joints are an improvement on u-joints, as they use a ball and groove instead of needle bearings. Regardess, neither really have an effect on handling. The changes to the rear suspension on the 64 was a transverse camber compensating spring not u-joints. In 1965 they went to fully independent suspension complete with struts and they did add u-joints to the wheel side of the axle (so you are some what correct) Still think I don't know what I'm talking about??
jamacadada 10 months ago
I can email you pix I've taken of many Corvairs, mine included. Nice tune!
CORVAIRWILD 1 year ago
After a year of restoration my '62 Monza in finally finished and Safety Certified. A few extras I hadn't planned on, but it's done. Down to the DOT today to get the Historic Plates and then the fun begins...... oh yeah, bring on those cruise nights. Vairs rock and Ralph Nader's a JERK..... NHTA proved him wrong in 1971, unfortunatly the damage was already done........... Nice song.
Crackerssouth 1 year ago
I remember my first car, a 1963 Corvair,4 door Monza. Good runner on rte 66 at 75 mph. Wish I could find another one.
CPuck01 1 year ago
Corvairs were exonerated in a later study- Nader's claims were based on nothing. I'd still hate smelling the gas fumes.
1ShyAlbatross 2 years ago
Bleep bleaping bleep. CORVAIRS ROCK. It doesn't matter what any of you people say, The are the best vehicles ever made.
RALF NADER SUCKS.
TheMilitarynut 2 years ago
When I was 14 we purchased a used Corvair because we couldn't afford anything better. It always smelled of burnt oil, it used up more gas than a locomotive and we were lucky we weren't killed because of the noxious fumes that entered the passenger cabin from the engine.
Kudos to Ralph Nader for helping to get rid of this deathtrap of a car.
vegaslover777 2 years ago
@vegaslover777
Dangerous car or dangerous owner? If the engine smelled of burnt oil then, it must have needed some seals replaced. If used lots of gas then it wasn't properly maintained. Corvairs were designed to be high mileage vehicles. They got over 20 miles to the gallon. If you operated a vehicle in that condition it was YOUR fault , not the car.
jamacadada 10 months ago
@jamacadada I totally agree. Blaming the car is bullshit. If anything, it's the owner's responsibility to make sure the car is safe by driving safely.
Seattlecarnut 10 months ago
great song!
yesitsathing 2 years ago
B"H
Mine's a 69...I never realized how good a 60s car could handle until I got my Monza...Im glad they are underpriced on the market, making these Chevys a real bargain!
gojoe283 2 years ago
JP you ROCK
pcmckay 2 years ago
Cool !
The license plate on my 65 Corvair is UNSAFE. So many experts that have never read the book or even driven a Vair ! Thanks for the video ! Kevin
1unsafe1 2 years ago
But who the hell is Nader to tell people not to buy the car, simply because it handles differently from other cars. I'm sure there are plenty of people who have owned Corvairs over the years who have had nothing but good experiences with the car and would perhaps buy another one if one were available. I know I would buy one if I knew someone who had one for sale in good original condition. I love the song! Did you sing it?
Seattlecarnut 2 years ago
Comment removed
Seattlecarnut 2 years ago
Yea. Rear-engined cars naturally handle differently from cars with the engine up front. People just need to learn how to drive the cars. People who drive like idiots or are intoxicated pay dearly with their lives. European cars (VW, Mercedes-Benz, etc.) have had swing axle rear suspension for years before the Corvair was introduced. Why the hell Nader didn't go after those cars is beyond me. It's one thing to reminid people of a car's limitations, that way drivers know what they're getting into.
Seattlecarnut 2 years ago
I've always hated Ralph Nader. He makes some good points regarding car driving safety, but he shoots himself in the foot by blaming everything on the car. That can't be right. Nice video! Nice song!
Seattlecarnut 2 years ago
I agree and thank you!
jfpar4 2 years ago
@Seattlecarnut How can his points even be valid when he has never owned a car or driven one?
jamacadada 10 months ago
@jamacadada Exactly!
Seattlecarnut 10 months ago
@Seattlecarnut : Nadar condemned the car because it had swing axles, but so did the VW Beatle.
JBC814 8 months ago
@JBC814 Did it? I've never driven a VW Beetle.
Seattlecarnut 8 months ago
@Seattlecarnut : Yes, they were very common with German cars. It wasn't until several years later that VW changed to a fully articulated rear suspension. It was called the Super Beetle. That's what GM should have done in the first place, and they definitely shouldn't have used an air-cooled engine. It should have been a water-cooled 4-cylinder mid-engine design. The Pontiac Tempest had a swing axle also for 3 years, then changed over to a solid rear axle in '64.
JBC814 8 months ago
@JBC814 I agree. I don't mind rear engined vehicles, and I like the boxer engine, but I would've made it water-cooled or perhaps even a diesel engine (for the trucks and vans). I'd also give it self-adjusting disc brakes.
Seattlecarnut 8 months ago
@Seattlecarnut : Sorry, I didn't read your previous comments. Seems I'm preaching to the choir.
JBC814 8 months ago
@JBC814 You really should read comments before commenting. TTYL.
Seattlecarnut 8 months ago
what a fun song 5stars
mynameismic 2 years ago
Thank you so much!
jfpar4 2 years ago
Love IT...LOVE it... go JOE
pcmckay 2 years ago
Great to hear from you!
jfpar4 2 years ago