[Michael G.]

I worked at a Buick and Chevy dealership after school washing cars.
One afternoon I was ask if I wanted to come back and work at night.

That afternoon a blue rear engine chevy model was delivered, The Corvair.
Later that night two mechanics took that new Corvair for 1/2 hour spin with me in the backseat just as proud as a peacock.

These memories I'll never forget.
Those two mechanics have passed on, but I'll never forget them and that night.

[scooterstang]

I have had about every muscle car made but now I am driving an old chev pickup truck as my daily driver(trucks are huge here in panama City)

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

If you were into cars back in the 50's 60's you will recognize these Chevrolet cars.

I remember when all the new models came out in the fall and were covered up
on the trucks.
We used to ride our bikes to the local dealerships at night and shine a flashlight through
the back windows of their service bays where they parked the new models until the
announcement date.

Enjoy

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...06547747_n-jpg

I'll take that red 1961 convertible please!

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by PugMom

WOW!!! i LUV old cars! yesterday i had an old continental behind me, which i just couldn't take my eyes off. i hope the guy behind the wheel knew it was his car i was after!
those pix are just stunning!

A good way to start up a conversation. You like old cars, I like old cars, let's twist and shout!

[jimjamuser]

[QUOTE=Michael G.;2210213]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I also enjoy owning a couple Ford cars.

The sad part about Ford is it never realized what to do with the Thunderbird.
It's started out as two-seater and with good engineering could have competed with the Corvette.
This might interest you.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...earquarter-jpg

Yes, the 2-seater had great potential.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by sdeikenberry

You left out the greatest Chevy icon of the era...'57 Chevy...

I owned a 2 door hardtop 57 Chev until it got stolen in Tampa.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by airstreamingypsy

I had a '65 and a '69. I loved them both. My daughter got a new convertible about 7 years ago, the most uncomfortable car ever...... worst ride. Stick to the old ones.

There is a tradeoff between performance and comfort (soft ride). The customer gets to choose. Which brings up the fact that the Corvair was a FINE car with a great engine if only the rear had stiffer springs and shocks like a VW. GM gave up too soon on making improvements.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Larchap49

I can relate. There was a Chevrolet dealer and a Buick dealer within a mile of where I lived. My father was a Chevy guy, he had a 1952, then a 1954 that my sister totaled, a 1957 Belair V8 two door hard top Robins egg blue and white (my favorite) a 1962 Impala station wagon, and a 1966 Impala SS 396 which he totaled. For awhile he had a 1959 ElCamino as a second car. Then he switched to a Jeep Pickup. I had two 1955 Chevy Belaires a 2 door hard top and then a 2 door sedan both of which I put in big engines, 4 speeds etc. Then a 1950 2 door business coupe which came from California with rolled and pleated interior. I again went the big engine 4 speed low gears Crager mags route. Then a 1966 red Corvette 427 which I sold when I got married in 1972. Should have kept the car as the wife didn't last. I was a car mechanic from 1968 to 1973. Then a Chevrolet dealer Service Mgr from 2000 to 2020 when I relocated to the Villages

Wives need to come with a 10,000-mile warranty.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

I worked at a Buick and Chevy dealership after school washing cars.
One afternoon I was ask if I wanted to come back and work at night.

That afternoon a blue rear engine chevy model was delivered, The Corvair.
Later that night two mechanics took that new Corvair for 1/2 hour spin with me in the backseat just as proud as a peacock.

These memories I'll never forget.
Those two mechanics have passed on, but I'll never forget them and that night.

I am guessing that you HATE Ralph Nader as much as I do.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Wives need to come with a 10,000-mile warranty.

(Note to self! Do Not Even Crack a smile or your a dead man, Freddy!)

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by vMichael G.

I agree with you on the T-Bird, my dad had 2 a '62 and a '64, I almost had a '55 with the removable hardtop and porthole windows, the seller jacked up the price when I went to pick it up.....

I bought a '56 T-bird (w/the porthole top) back when I was in college (late '75 or early '76). Had the engine and transmission rebuilt and it was road worth, but a rust bucket. Plus, it had major electrical problems that just couldn't track down.

I sold it a few years later and it helped pay for my first year of Podiatry School...

The following year, I had a roommate who was a Corvette freak. He would scour the newspapers on Thursday/Friday, looking for older Corvettes with minor body damage (he knew how to do fiberglass work and he had a friend with a paint booth).

He would drive to NC or GA with a friend, buy one for a few grand, drive it back, fix the damage, repaint it and re-sell it for a couple of thousand more.

He tried to get me to buy one, a 63 Convertible, at cost, if I helped do the work... I'm STILL kicking myself over that one...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by New Englander

No way. The 58 was the king. Honorable mention to the 61.

Sorry, but the lines of the trunk alone on the '59 puts it above all others...

[Michael G.]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

The following year, I had a roommate who was a Corvette freak. He would scour the newspapers on Thursday/Friday, looking for older Corvettes with minor body damage (he knew how to do fiberglass work and he had a friend with a paint booth).

He would drive to NC or GA with a friend, buy one for a few grand, drive it back, fix the damage, repaint it and re-sell it for a couple of thousand more.

I worked with a young guy that use to buy use Corvettes on E-Bay and resold them for a few bucks profit.
He was living at home and sold them out of his parents garage until they needed their garage back in the winter.

[tuccillo]

The first generation Corvair, with the swing axle rear suspension, was not a fine car. This rather poor suspension design, coupled with most of the weight in the rear, meant the car was susceptible to sudden oversteer - not a good characteristic. Camber control during cornering is very poor. It had essentially the same rear suspension as the 63 Pontiac Tempest/Lemans and represents some very poor GM engineering. The second generation Corvair (beginning in 65, IIRC) had a modern rear suspension and was much improved.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

There is a tradeoff between performance and comfort (soft ride). The customer gets to choose. Which brings up the fact that the Corvair was a FINE car with a great engine if only the rear had stiffer springs and shocks like a VW. GM gave up too soon on making improvements.

[mbene]

Those old cars were works of art compared to the wind tunnel designed ones we have today, but they were deathtraps in a collision compared to the new ones. Search Youtube for old chevy vs new chevy crash test. And mourn the chevy they sacrificed to perform the test.