Craigslist: 1961 Rat Rod Death Trap

1961 Chevrolet Corvair
When I heard that an acquaintance of mine was considering getting rid of his Corvair, as much as I hope he ends up keeping it, I couldn’t help but share this sweet and well priced Chevy Corvair. It’s a funny and well written ad, so there’s not much for me to add here. The seller starts off with “This car is pretty sweet. It’s got no A/C, wipers run on fast only, and the doors don’t lock. It’s a bit rusty like the Sahara is a bit hot. But it turns heads and drops panties.” It only gets better from there.
Rear three quarter view of Chevy Corvair
He continues by saying that it isn’t a good first car for your kid and get them to college, however “What it WILL do is provide an outlet for trying out new cuss words, an excuse to buy tools, and make you look like a bad ass when pulling up to the local dive bar.”

What’s it got:
All brand new Painless Wiring from front to back
2600 Lumen LED headlights with working Hi/Low
Brand new headlights adjusters/springs
New black patio carpet throughout including back seat delete
Mooneyes 15″ red sparkle steering wheel
Mooneyes door mirror
Krewe of Satan red sparkle shift knob
Brand new battery
Rebuilt carbs
Brand new UNI air filters
1964 magnesium cooling fan
Brand new full billet distributor with all electronic ignition and HEI style cap
Brand new plug wires
Brand new spark plugs
New engine skirting
Painted engine cover
Straight pipe exhaust
Brand new electric fuel pump
Brand new stainless fuel lines and -AN fittings
Adjustable fuel pressure regulator
Brand new custom built red pleated vinyl bomber bench built by Rotten Larry
Bitchin’ brand new trailer style tail lights
La Cucaracha musical horn (not hooked up)
Stainless steel brake lines
15×8 0 offset Summit Racing baby moons
Falken tires with almost brand new tread
Brand new oil pan and gasket
Brand new alternator
Brand new external oil cooler with -AN fittings and flex hosing
Brand new electric cooling fan for oil cooler
What it doesn’t have:
good paint – shit’s rusty and patina. it’s perfect.
blinkers – god gave you a left arm for making hand signals
a muffler
seat belts
a working horn – the wiring is all there, just need to add a horn and go. apparently air horns pull more than 15A and keeps popping the fuse. Just toss in a normal horn and you’re golden
decent brakes – i replaced all the shoes, master cylinder, brake lines, and wheel cylinders three years ago. The other day, something popped up front and the pedal went to the floor. I’m sure it’s just a wheel cylinder from sitting for the past 2 years, but i stopped caring at this point. Wheel cylinders are $20 each or so. They’re seriously cheap. Toss a new one in and you’re driving safely again. MY laziness is your gain.
I’ll also toss in the old factory tail lights and housings if i still have them and an extra brake master as they’re kinda hard to find for under $100.
This thing also rides pretty sweet given its slammed stance. The springs are cut with 2″ spacers in the rear since i was too ambitious and cut off too much at first. But it sits perfect and clears speed bumps, etc. Given the rebuilt carbs and electric ignition, this bastard fires right up and doesn’t die. No spits and pops, just nice cruising. I can’t go anywhere without people giving thumbs up, or the finger. either way, all eyes on you.

Despite the rough appearance and a brake cylinder that likely needs to be replaced, it’s had a lot of work done to it as can be seen from the list quoted above, and it definitely has character. It’s priced at a reasonable $3,000.


Source: Tampa Craigslist – Hat tip to Chris 

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  1. Andrew_theS2kBore Avatar
    Andrew_theS2kBore

    If this were anywhere near SoCal, I would be sorely tempted. It’s a combination of every trend I dislike in the classic and modified car scenes, and yet the end result is staggeringly lustworthy.

  2. mr smee Avatar
    mr smee

    Now that’s prose.

  3. Roland Alfonso Avatar
    Roland Alfonso

    Also by de-cambering the rear suspension the outside suspension will compress during cornering as a result of a much lower rear roll center. No tuck-under and much more predictable handling.

  4. Manxman Avatar

    Not a bad price for all that stuff – I really dig that bench seat. I would keep the “patina” just the way it is. Adds a lot of street cred.

  5. nanoop Avatar
    nanoop

    Slightly related: in photos I often mistake Corvairs and NSU Prinzes:
    http://www.autobilder.de/uploads/photos/379.jpg