The car I never had
August 2012
My first car was a 1961 Corvair Monza 900 2-door hardtop 95 hp. I
paid $150.00 for it and took my driving test in it. That in itself
was an experience since it was snowing and they almost cancelled the
tests that day.
My next car was 1961 Corvair Lakewood Wagon. My brothers also got
caught up in it and so the love affair began…..
Between 1970 and 1977 I had several others including a 64 Monza 900
bought for $40.00, a 65 Monza 900 I ran at Island Dragway and a 63
Corvair Greenbrier Van for $25.00 found out in a farm field. My
older brother had a 65 Corsa – 4 carb convertible. My younger
brother bought a rusty 64 Spyder some years back but hasn’t done
much with it.
I had joined the Navy in 1972 (since I had a draft number of 85) and
in 1977 I received orders for Iceland. It was then that I sold my
last corvair, much to my wife’s pleasure. As much as I missed my
car, I knew it was for the best. Many other cars later, time in the
Navy & attached to the Marines (HM2/FMF) and a new love affair with
Goldwings not to mention 4 great children and a lot of volunteering
with Boy Scouts and Fire Departments, etc., we ended up with a house
in New Jersey and a second house in North Carolina where my
daughter lives. Things worked out very well when our oldest son
married a wonderful young lady who happened to be a Marine stationed
in NC, so they are house sitting there & we are in NJ.
We recently took a trip to NC to visit them and my son takes me out
to see something in the garage……
Here is a car under a cover. When we arrived, I assumed it was his
Mustang till I looked closer at the outline. Now I’m starting to
worry because my wife who was right behind me once said “NO MORE
CORVAIRS”……. I mentioned this to my son who said “Mom was in on it &
knew all about it”.
Turns out he wanted to get rid of a couple of jet skis he had so he
went on Craigslist and found a guy that wanted to trade a Corvair
for a jet ski!!! It just seemed meant to be. Now I have the engine
in NJ to rebuild while my son works on the body in NC. The family
tradition continues…..
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Found an engine thanks to an old Marine doing a V8 project with his
son. Just proves Corvair's are a family affair......
(See Update to 110 engine 05 Jan 2013)
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Update 05 Sept. 2016
Son was transferred to Okinawa so I retired in August 2016 moved to
NC in Sept. & now am getting ready to start the project.
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