the American Dream: Chevrolet Corvair

the American Dream: Chevrolet Corvair by ric gustafson


In 1959, General Motors was trying to figure out how to compete with the Volkswagen Beetle. At the top of Chevrolet was Ed Cole and one day he brought an idea to Harlow Curtice, head of General Motors. His idea was for a car that had an air cooled engine which would eliminate the need for a water pump and radiator. If the engine was mounted in the rear and joined to the transmission over the drive wheels, no drive shaft would be needed. With an 8o horsepower engine and a top speed of 88 miles an hour, not only was it fast but could also hold six people.
Ed Cole was born in Michigan in 1909.  His parents were dairy farmers and eventually he found a place at the General Motors Institute in Flint. In 1952, Ed became Chevrolet's chief engineer. In December 1957, Cole's car idea was approved by the General Motors Board.
One problem with the Corvair became evident right away. Regular tires would not work because most of the weight was in the rear. The U.S. Rubber Company designed a new tire that rode on wide rims. The air pressure of the back tires was also increased. When the Corvair debuted in 1959, it got the nickname of a six passenger compact car. The new car had a light and short engine that fitted in the rear and was air cooled. The car was so light it was easy to drive without power steering.
Some critics of the new car were harsh. They complained about the lack of trunk space and that the price of the car was not much different than a full size car. Some complained about the stability of the car and that sometimes it oversteered. In 1962, The Corvair Monza Spyder coupe was introduced.
By 1965, 106 lawsuits were against General Motors because of the Corvair. General Motors began investigating a young lawyer named Ralph Nader. After a hearing and newspaper articles from Nader attacking the Corvair, General Motors fought back. In 1966, Nader sued General Motors for invasion of privacy. Because of these events, Congress passed the Motor Vehicle Safety Act in 1966.
In the 1970's, Ford introduced the Pinto which replaced the Corvair in popularity.



research help: ' Engines of Change' by Paul Ingrassia


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric