Fitch Phoenix #001... [PIC]

Of course there is no #002. Legendary John Fitch, WWll fighter pilot, a kick-starter of Corvette racing and LeMans driver, had a long standing relationship with GM. When Chevy released its 140hp Corsa flat six in 1965, he began tinkering with it in his 4 bay Connecticut garage and soon developed the fast back Corvair Sprint. As early as 1963, he was planning a rear engine grand touring coupe.  Out of the design stage, he used a shortened 1965 Corvair chassis and had his neighbor, cartoonist Coby Whitmore design a Targa top body that was cast in Turin, Italy with its distinctive fender mounted spare tires. Fitch debuted the Phoenix in 1966 and projected building 500 units. Soon after, Congress established the Highway Safety Bureau to dole out safety standards and Ralph Nader killed the Corvair with "Unsafe at Any Speed", and the Phoenix died with it. Only one prototype (#001) was ever made.