Starting with a clean slate, Chevrolet engineers under the leadership of Ed Cole designed a new compact car with a decidedly European influence " the Corvair, a merger of 'Corvette' and 'Bel Air.' With a rear-mounted, air-cooled flat-six engine and independent suspension at all four corners, over 250,000 were sold in the first year. For the 1965 model year, the Corvair was redesigned by the great stylist Chuck Jordan, inspired by a sleek Pininfarina-designed concept. The great David E. Davis considered the 2nd generation Corvair to be the prettiest post-war American car of all time. A recipient of a complete restoration, this Corvair Corsa Spider (convertible) was finished in its original color of Aztec Bronze. The accompanying copy of the original sales document shows this example was sold new for $2,983.41 by Don Barber at the Chevrolet Pensacola Buggy Works dealership in Pensacola, Florida. Original options include a tinted windshield, bronze vinyl trim, push button radio, Deluxe seat belts, Mag Wheels, and the highest-priced option " a four-speed manual transmission. Under the rear bonnet is a numbers-matching 2,683cc air-cooled flat-six engine producing 164 horsepower. Documentation includes a copy of the original sales document, owner's guide, and a large file of invoice records going all the way to 2024.
