The great disappointments Chevrolet Corvair: killed by a lawyer who considered it dangerous


In the 1950s, it was the era of bodybuilders using fins, chrome and V8 engines. Ed Cole, who became CEO of Chevrolet in 1956, advocated advances in styling and engineering as well as more compact cars.

He supports the Corvair project, an automobile that goes against many American certainties: an air-cooled rear engine, a unibody construction and a size of 4.37 m. Small for the USA…

The Corvair comes with either a three-speed manual or a two-speed Powerglide automatic.





Very inspired by Volkswagen’s Bulli, the Corvair 95 was built on the same platform as the other derivatives. Monocoque construction in the land of ladder chassis and V8s. Chevrolet pictures

An unconventional car

Like what Volkswagen, Fiat and Renault produce, the Corvair is equipped with a 6-cylinder aluminum flat engine in a rear overhang.

It drives the rear wheels through a compact transaxle and the suspension is also revolutionary: swing-axle rear suspension and independent front suspension (much like Renault’s Dauphine).

The tires use a new low profile design. The styling was unconventional for Detroit: subtle and sleek, with no fins or chrome grille. Released in 1959, it was named Car of the Year in 1960 by Motor Trend magazine.



Shown alongside the new Northrop T38 light fighter (which would become the F5), the Corvair sedan boasts stripped-down, clean styling for a 1959 car. Photo Chevrolet

Shown alongside the new Northrop T38 light fighter (which would become the F5), the Corvair sedan boasts stripped-down, clean styling for a 1959 car. Photo Chevrolet

A car ? No, a range

From the beginning of 1960, the range was enriched with a two-door coupé, supported by a more nervous version called Monza in April.

Chevrolet adds to the Corvair lineup a station-wagon version dubbed Lakewood as well as the Corvair 95 minivan which seems to have been inspired by VW’s Combi.

A pick-up version, the Rampside, has a side access ramp thanks to a tilting side panel.

Finally, a convertible is added to the family. The first engine is a 2.3 l which develops 81 hp. It will soon be supplemented by more powerful versions, up to 182 hp.

it’s getting nasty

Due to the position of the engine, Corvairs are not especially known for their handling and oversteer can play tricks on the driver. Chevrolet is trying to defend itself by blaming improper tire inflation.

But undersized and poorly ventilated brake drums do nothing to improve the safety of drivers unaccustomed to these peculiarities.

Fatal accidents follow one another. In 1964, the rear suspension was revised by receiving a transverse leaf spring and coil springs softened while a stabilizer bar was installed at the front; which had been refused on release for cost reasons.



In the United States, in any range you need a station wagon. Under the boot floor, there was the air-cooled flat-six. Chevrolet pictures

In the United States, in any range you need a station wagon. Under the boot floor, there was the air-cooled flat-six. Chevrolet pictures

Nader Offensive

After years of success, notably in 1962 with 292,000 sales, the car got old. In 1965, the style was happily revised and independent rear suspensions gave the Corvair finally safe road holding.

It was at this time that a young lawyer, Ralph Nader, published a book with the vengeful title: “Unsafe at any speed”, which can be translated as “dangerous at any speed”… and 100 complaints were filed for deaths caused by accident.



Ralph Nader's book ruined Corvair's career. There were a hundred deaths at the wheel of this car when the first models did not have a stabilizer bar at the front, but then it was ultimately no more dangerous than a Dauphine or a Beetle which shared the same design. Photo DR

Ralph Nader’s book ruined Corvair’s career. There were a hundred deaths at the wheel of this car when the first models did not have a stabilizer bar at the front, but then it was ultimately no more dangerous than a Dauphine or a Beetle which shared the same design. Photo DR

Endgame for the Corvair

The book tears away; Chevrolet defends itself clumsily and has tests carried out which indicate that the car is safe.

It is however a fatal blow for the Corvair whose sales collapse. In 1969, the manufacturer sounded the end of the game after 1,879,000 cars built and apologized to Ralph Nader who obtained 450,000 dollars in compensation.

Now the surviving Corvairs are snapping up as collectibles.



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