The car of my Dreams...

[Stephen W.]

Back in 1966 the local high school auto shop teacher drove a bright yellow 427 Corvette convertible with a black top. I used to catch the bus just east of the Town Line were the speed limit changed from 30 mph to 50 mph. Every morning we’d hear the secondary’s of that big Vette’s four barrel open up as he accelerated across the city limits.


In the spring of 1967 came a new sound. A familiar yet more powerful sound then I knew. It was the sound of a flat six with four carbs, headers and free flow exhaust. It was coming from a dark maroon 1966 Corvair Stage 2 Yenko Stinger. WOW! Did that little car look tough. The shop teacher had traded in his Vette for a Vair.


As I’ve mentioned before my brother and father both had 1965 Corvair Corsas. My brother’s was a metallic blue 140 with a white stripe around the nose. He called it his poor man’s Camaro. My dad’s had been pale yellow with a 180 turbo. He souped-up the engine and painted the car chartreuse metal flake. So, I had a thing for Corvairs.


In 1969 the teacher blow up his stage 2 Yenko’s engine. He decided to swap it out and put a Z28 high performance 302 in the back seat via a Crown Conversion Kit. I got to see the transformation in shop class. However, only the senior students were allowed to work on the car.
I loved that car as much as if it had been my own. I always wanted to build a CorV8 or better yet buy his. But family, jobs, life and the pursuit of other hobbies meant that idea got pushed to end of my to do list.
Well, time and the internet and lots of searches and I’ve found my old high school auto shop teacher and he’s still building stuff. Well… having it built for him since he’s now in his 80’s. He is putting a Tesla motor into a four door Corvair. Good luck to him.


Meanwhile, here’s some pic’s from 1971 of my dream car. I don’t know who or why the wheels were changed or the car was repainted and the rear deck lid replaced. These could have been done after he sold it. It looked better with body coloured rims, little dog dish hubcaps and the Stinger deck lid with duck tail.

[soundman98]

i can only wish my shop teacher was that cool

[wbradley]

That Vette was probably close to $6K new. A top spec Vette today would be around $120 to $130K I think. It was probably more affordable relative to income in '66 although they didn't sell them in very big numbers. People mostly bought full sized cars in the mid to late 60's. In '66 the Chevy Impala was the best seller, like today's Camry.

In '69/70 my kindergarten teacher drove a silver Corvette Stingray convertible I think it had a white top and I distinctly recall it having side pipes.
Corvettes were quite expensive but nothing compared to today relative to average incomes.

Corvairs looked cool, but I don't remember seeing many or really any Corvairs as a kid, perhaps they had already suffered the Nader stigma despite a redesign of the live rear axle by the time I was identifying cars. . My aunt had a blue coloured late 60's Camaro in those days, and the styling of the Corvair was quite similar inside and out. The layout of the Corvair had lots of potential but GM was often innovative to their own detriment.
I knew a guy who's dad had an early 60's Pontiac that had a rope drive. That's right, rope for a driveline. For real.

[Irace86.2.0]

Everything was cheaper relative to income. Homes were even cheaper still. Then again, wages should be about $40-60k higher for the median income (1).

https://mobile.corvettestory.com/1966-corvette.php

[Irace86.2.0]

I always liked the Corvair

[bcj]

The earlier body had the Lakewood variation. One of mom's friends had one she delivered newspapers in.
The american flat six made an impression on me (wow! like a porche) but that body style left me cold.

The chev kouki version dropped dropped the lakewood and went coupe only, but looked much better to my eye.
I've been conflicted ever since and was never really able to forgive GM for dumping the wagon.

[Stephen W.]

Originally Posted by wbradley

That Vette was probably close to $6K new.

< snip >

I do not know what he paid for the Vette new but, I know the Stinger was $3300 new in Feb. of 1967. Also that they allowed him $4500 on trade for his Vette. So he ended up with a $1200 credit.

Originally Posted by bcj

The earlier body had the Lakewood variation. One of mom's friends had one she delivered newspapers in.
The american flat six made an impression on me (wow! like a porche) but that body style left me cold.

The chev kouki version dropped dropped the lakewood and went coupe only, but looked much better to my eye.
I've been conflicted ever since and was never really able to forgive GM for dumping the wagon.

Well actually they also had a four door hardtop and a convertible version. But ya, more varitions in the pre '65 models including the trucks.

[wbradley]

Originally Posted by bcj

The earlier body had the Lakewood variation. One of mom's friends had one she delivered newspapers in.
The american flat six made an impression on me (wow! like a porche) but that body style left me cold.

The chev kouki version dropped dropped the lakewood and went coupe only, but looked much better to my eye.
I've been conflicted ever since and was never really able to forgive GM for dumping the wagon.

Attachment 219756

I know what you mean, I traded my 2018 STI for a new 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country today. Long live the wagon (despite 'Merica) lol

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by wbradley

That Vette was probably close to $6K new. A top spec Vette today would be around $120 to $130K I think. It was probably more affordable relative to income in '66 although they didn't sell them in very big numbers. People mostly bought full sized cars in the mid to late 60's. In '66 the Chevy Impala was the best seller, like today's Camry.

In '69/70 my kindergarten teacher drove a silver Corvette Stingray convertible I think it had a white top and I distinctly recall it having side pipes.
Corvettes were quite expensive but nothing compared to today relative to average incomes.

Corvairs looked cool, but I don't remember seeing many or really any Corvairs as a kid, perhaps they had already suffered the Nader stigma despite a redesign of the live rear axle by the time I was identifying cars. . My aunt had a blue coloured late 60's Camaro in those days, and the styling of the Corvair was quite similar inside and out. The layout of the Corvair had lots of potential but GM was often innovative to their own detriment.
I knew a guy who's dad had an early 60's Pontiac that had a rope drive. That's right, rope for a driveline. For real.

i was surprised i hadn't heard of that. but it turns out it was more of a nickname

https://www.thedrive.com/vintage/556...-the-strangest

[Stephen W.]

Originally Posted by soundman98

i was surprised i hadn't heard of that. but it turns out it was more of a nickname

https://www.thedrive.com/vintage/556...-the-strangest

I know she didn't go into great detail but... Ms. Vito did explain a lot about the 1963 Tempest in her testimony in the movie; My Cousin Vinny.
I often forget that not everyone in my age bracket (or any age) had the automotive upbringing that I enjoyed. So things I take for granted (or have forgotten) others may have no knowledge of. So the internet is good for some things, some times.