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A Little Space Age With A Lot Of Euro.... {PIC}

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Rich Sufficool
(@rich-sufficool)
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The '53 Corvette was more of a styling exercise than a true sports car. With its 150 HP "Blue Flame" 6 and 2 speed Powerglide, it was hardly ready for the track. But it got the different GM design teams going nuts playing with this cheap and easy fiberglass body building. For Chevy, there was that not particularly practical Nomad wagon, but then taking cues from Euro designs like Bertone's Alfa B.A.T.s and the Disco Volantes, they built this fast back concept called the Corvair for the 1954 Motorama circuit that seemed to actually have production potential. While the ribbed hood bulges suggested a V8, the 'Blue Flame" w/ Powerglide were still under the hood with their 265 cid V8 still a year away in development. The 6 was rated on the Corvair at 195 HP, but I don't know what justified the rating. Finished in a sparkling Ruby Red, it offered nothing more than the basic Corvette chassis did. You can't overlook the potential of this fastback design that could been engineered into a true Sports/ GT car.

Corvair Concept 010
Corvair Concept 002 001
Corvair Concept 020 001
Corvair Concept 014 001
Corvair Concept 027 001
Corvair Concept 018 001
Corvair Concept 011
Corvair Concept 012
Corvair Concept 006 001
Corvair Concept 038 001
Corvair Concept 019

 



   
Harv Goranson, John Kuvakas, Geno and 7 people reacted
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(@karl)
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If I had to drive a Corvette, I could see myself in this one!  😍 😎 



   
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(@ed-davis)
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@karl I think you would look good in that car.


Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA


   
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(@chris)
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Posted by: @rich-sufficool
↑

"You can't overlook the potential of this fastback design that could've been engineered into a true Sports/ GT car."

Absolutely!    Perhaps GM miss the boat with this one?     I love convertibles, but this fastback Vette is very attractive. 



   
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(@perrone1)
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Posted by: @chris
↑

Posted by: @rich-sufficool
↑

"You can't overlook the potential of this fastback design that could've been engineered into a true Sports/ GT car."

Absolutely!    Perhaps GM miss the boat with this one?     I love convertibles, but this fastback Vette is very attractive. 

It IS, indeed. So was the one they did in '63.

 



   
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Rich Sufficool
(@rich-sufficool)
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@karl You might just rather have Dave Kindig's V12 version:

image
image
image
image
image
image

 



   
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(@karl)
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@rich-sufficool Cool but that split window Sting Ray is hard to beat! 😎



   
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(@perrone1)
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@rich-sufficool 

Kindig's customs really ARE Bitchin' Rides!!



   
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Geno
 Geno
(@geno)
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Too bad GM didn't run with it. I love the Kindig designed cars. The man and his team have carloads of talent.💯😎



   
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(@jack-dodds)
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It is a shame GM didn't go with this fastback design as well; it looks great.  The '63 Split window Vette is as good as it gets IMHO.



   
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John Kuvakas
(@jkuvakas)
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Posted by: @karl
↑

If I had to drive a Corvette

Them's fightin' words!


John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA


   
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Harv Goranson
(@mg-harv)
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Matrix also did the original car in Seafoam Green. Period B&W photos show the car in a light color, and the 1:1 exists today. I see no period pics with a dark car. So is the red a replica, a build using discarded parts, or were there two?

Matrix MX20302 091 Corvette Corvair pic1
Matrix MX20302 091 Corvette Corvair pic2
Matrix MX20302 091 Corvette Corvair pic3

This post was modified 9 months ago by Harv Goranson

   
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(@chris)
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@mg-harv Wow-wee!   I like this color even better - very cool.  😎 😎 😎



   
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(@perrone1)
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Posted by: @mg-harv
↑

Matrix also did the original car in Seafoam Green. Period B&W photos show the car in a light color, and the 1:1 exists today. I see no period pics with a dark car. So is the red a replica, a build using discarded parts, or were there two?

Matrix MX20302 091 Corvette Corvair pic1
Matrix MX20302 091 Corvette Corvair pic2
Matrix MX20302 091 Corvette Corvair pic3

Both are correct Chevrolet builds. Listen at aprx the 1:11 point:

 

 



   
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Rich Sufficool
(@rich-sufficool)
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@mg-harv The car debuted at the 1954 New York Motorama in Ruby Red. It was either repainted or replaced with Seafoam Green.

1954 Corvair red 315

 



   
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