This looks too good to be true to me...

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3445263818.html

Are corvairs really this cheap?? Are they basically a poor man's porsche from the same period?

that one looks pretty nice for the asking price so maybe more than meets the eye, but around here they don't command much... I've seen ratty ones closer to the $1k mark, and decent driving ones for $2500-3500. $3500 gets you a very very nice looking and driving ones.

None have been cheap enough to make me want one, personally. always found them a bit unsightly.

Recently I saw this driving around town and now it shows up on my small town CL for $2,700
http://sandusky.craigslist.org/cto/3444127764.html#.ULjsIWcSS9I

In reply to JohnRW1621:

The later model years like that one seem to pull more of a premium......

mrwillie, that looks like about right for a 110hp auto with brakes that need fixed...

Looks like a cheapie paint job helping the car photograph well.

Other than the engine configuration, it's hard to compare one to a Porsche. But IMO they're potentially a bargain. The '64 pictured with an automatic would be mighty slow, and it still has the swing axle suspension, albeit an improved one. A '65 or later manual Corsa has decent scoot and a very good suspension. They're extremely easy to work on, and the normally asperated versions are pretty trouble-free. You can buy a bolt-in fuel injection and electronic ignition setup for around $1500! They're certainly on my wish list.

More like a high power VW type 3 than a Porsche of the day.

I stopped by to look at one that was on the side of the road a couple years ago that had a faded for sale sign in the window. The guy spent a little money on it previously and as a result thought it was worth $4000 or $5000 I can't remember which but he was adamant that was what it was worth. The car to this day sits in the same spot, hasn't moved, the car has gotten a little more rusty, the for sale sign a little more faded...

i think that '64 is a pretty good deal, if it's a NC car it's probably not a rustbucket, but since it's an automatic it isn't highly sought. a '64 has single-circuit brake system, so could be a rusted line, leaking wheel cylinder, or bad MC.

that '68 is either a 500 or a Monza, not both. i'm guessing 500 since there's no bright trim on the rain gutters. '68 and '69 monzas have better seats than earlier years, but 500 is going to have a crappy bench so that doesn't really apply. and with the limited info the seller provided, it's really hard to justify almost three grand for a 500.

mrwillie wrote: ...Are corvairs really this cheap?? Are they basically a poor man's porsche from the same period?

Yes... yes they are. If you spend $10,000 on a Corvair, you get a VERY nice car. $6,000 will get you a very respectable car in general.

This can be a good thing and a bad thing. Of course you will never make any money restoring or reselling Corvairs (unless you are super lucky), but it does make spare parts (and parts cars) very cheap. But that of course means no one want to put any money into them, which hurts the after market / restoration parts market.

As far as poor mans Porsche and big Type 3 engine. I always describe the engine as a cross between a Porsche and a VW engine. It has the 6 cylinders of the Porsche, but the OHV of the VW.

Essential a Porsche engine without the higher redline, or a VW with 2 extra cylinders (and a working thermostat system)

The car shown looks like a decent buy (it does need brake work). The key would be rust (what the paint is covering) and if the engine is in good shape (Corvair engine rebuilds can be very expensive in comparison to the value of the car)

Corvairs with new paint can be scary. Since the cars are not worth anything, few will put in the effort to do a proper job and will cover up rust, pile on bondo etc. It's generally safer to buy a car with original paint, then at least you know what you are getting into and most of the time a complete strip and repaint will be needed anyway.

Here is an potential example of what I am talking about:

64 Convertible Corvair on Ebay

Looks super nice eh? Take a closer look. The paint looks nice, but the rest of the car seems to fall way short of that. Makes you a bit suspicious about what is under that paint eh?

All of the above comments make sense to me. I understand now.