hullinger Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 (edited) I recently put together a little 4 minute video showing some of the cool features that Chevy built into the Corvair Greenbrier van. I figured I'd share it here and get your opinion about the van, video or features. Chris Edited October 3, 2016 by hullinger (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_padavano Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 Cool video, but I don't think that "engine location" is an unknown feature of the CorVan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 (edited) Chris, Great video ! I owned a 1962 Greenbrier Factor Camper - never should have sold it. Recently I photographed a very rare double rampside van - one of (3) made ! https://www.instagram.com/p/BKzM_WHh3SH/?taken-by=directenclosedautohauler Jim Edited October 3, 2016 by Trulyvintage (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 A friends family bought one, new, to transport the older brother, who had muscular dystrophy. They allowed the younger brother, my friend, to drive it when they didn't need it. We kinda abused the thing, but it never broke. Now, on to another pet peeve. Number 764 on my list. It isn't masonary, it's masonry. Pronounced mason-ree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hullinger Posted October 3, 2016 Author Share Posted October 3, 2016 Jim, that's a great looking Rampy. I especially like the color combo too. And Carl, thanks for the education. My daughter hates it when I add an extra "r" in library, and pronounce it lahy-brer-ree 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_a Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 (edited) I was over at a dealer east of KC 4 days ago, and saw a row of 4 Corvairs out back. Two vans, one early 4-door (I think), and a pickup. It had a rear tailgate only. Weren't the rampsides more common? Edited October 3, 2016 by jeff_a (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hullinger Posted October 4, 2016 Author Share Posted October 4, 2016 There were two versions of the Corvair pickup, one was the Rampside (for obvious reasons) while the other was a Loadside that had rear tailgate only and no side ramp. I have no idea why a new truck buyer would want a Loadside instead of a Rampside and production numbers showed the same. Rampside production was something like 13,786 while Loadside was less than 1/10th at 2,844. Check out this camper version of a Rampside without the ramp. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 What about a 'Rampvan'? Apparently, this was an idea considered by GM but never developed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hullinger Posted October 4, 2016 Author Share Posted October 4, 2016 Nice find on the ramp van. Man, I love that idea. That would predate the clamshell side door that some customized '70's vans had, like this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Very cool vans/trucks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hullinger Posted October 4, 2016 Author Share Posted October 4, 2016 @CountryTravler, I just noticed your from Dodge City Vintage. Take a look at this truck I just recently passed onto its new caretaker. Any connection??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 On 10/3/2016 at 8:45 PM, hullinger said: @CountryTravler, I just noticed your from Dodge City Vintage. Take a look at this truck I just recently passed onto its new caretaker. Any connection??? Not us. Do you have any other info on the truck? Dodge City in Canada maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Tierney Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Bought a Greenbriar for a trip (Portland to El Paso area and back, me. wife and two small kids)...was really nice, would've kept it except wife was spooky about not having any crush metal ahead of us... Rear end seemed just a touch possibly unstable on 60-65MPH freeway curves; didn't think about rear stabilizers until after left, but don't know if vans suffered the rear wheel foldup the sedans did or was just my (remembering the foldups) imagination.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Some cool Vairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 And then the ultimate Corvair Van, the UltraVan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hullinger Posted October 8, 2016 Author Share Posted October 8, 2016 Those are some sweet Rampsides. Makes me think that I need to get one as a junk and yard waste hauler. Hmmmm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayrhead Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 Great Video!! Glad you are able to enjoy such a sweet ride. I don't own a GreenBrier but reaaallllly like my '62 Rampy. I get a lot of looks from people as most of them hink it is a custom truck and don't realize it was a produced from 1961 to 1964.... Cheers!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I somehow cant imagine that wrecker version being very practical. I have owned a few Corvairs over the years. Fun rigs. I would love to stumble across a nice Spyder vert again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 http://www.corvaircorsa.com/spyder.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) On 10/30/2016 at 9:41 AM, JACK M said: I somehow cant imagine that wrecker version being very practical. I have owned a few Corvairs over the years. Fun rigs. I would love to stumble across a nice Spyder vert again. I had 2 Spiders in my time. Even got pulled over for street racing and the cop would not give me a drag racing ticket because he said that he would have laughed out of court. Wrote me a defective equipment ticket. HEHE Edited November 1, 2016 by countrytravler (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hullinger Posted November 1, 2016 Author Share Posted November 1, 2016 On 10/30/2016 at 2:25 PM, countrytravler said: I had 2 Spiders in my time. Even got pulled over for street racing and the cop would not give me a drug racing ticket because he said that he would be laughed out of court. Wrote me a defective equipment ticket. HEHE A few weeks ago a buddy took me out in his Corvair coupe with the 180 HP turbo engine. He wasn't gentle with the car and I was wildly impressed by how strong a runner that car was. A real screamer and easily held a sustained 6K RPM. As a comparison, I had a '63 Biscayne with a stock 283, 195 horsepower, 2 barrel and Powerglide and it had identical acceleration to a Corvair with a 110 engine and Powerglide. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 (edited) Customer just pick this up. Penny, my 63 Corvair I just bought Sunday just outside of St Louis and am driving home to Maine. Edited November 2, 2016 by countrytravler (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hullinger Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 Nice. I love the weathered look on the '63. That amphibian Rampside sold at auction maybe a year ago. As for the '63, she might just look real good lowered with some great wheels and tires, like this one. What are the plans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xander Wildeisen Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 Not to look like a van idiot, but what was the mystery machine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hullinger Posted November 5, 2016 Author Share Posted November 5, 2016 I always considered the Mystery Machine to be a Chevy van. The Scooby-Doo show came out in 1969 and I think the artist was sure to make the van design nondescript. You'll see however current day recreations of the Mystery Machine made from each of the makes - Ford, Chevy, Dodge and WV. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 Built right the Corvair Van can be quite the workhorse. Pictured here, our 1964 four speed with oversize GM brakes, 3:89 posi axle mated up with a 1966 Corsa 140/4 Single Rochester’s, dome pistons, total seal rings, stainless steel valves, otto oil pan and valve covers, external oil cooler, electronic ignition, alcohol injection, RAM air and dual Clark’s Tuned Extractor Exhaust system produced 235 BHP @ 4500 RPMs and towed our 61 back and forth to auto shows all over the northeast without issues. True… top speed was 72 MPH, steep hills were 50 MPH and towing I think we got 12 MPG but it never left me stranded, and the rubber necking traffic in the passing lane was worth every mile. My only regret.. was selling that van. I wish I knew where it was today. Last seen 1989, somewhere in or around Wingate North Carolina with Everett Smith. Glad I kept the 61Read more at http://barnfinds.com/custom-1962-corvair-rampside-flatbed/#9SCRYx2jPt1b22Kg.99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 (edited) http://barnfinds.com/custom-1962-corvair-rampside-flatbed/?utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Newsletter+(Instant)&utm_content=morelink Edited November 23, 2016 by countrytravler (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victorialynn2 Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 On 10/7/2016 at 5:16 PM, padgett said: And then the ultimate Corvair Van, the UltraVan. My grandparents had one of these. I spent many summers in it. It was fun but always thought it looked like a "pregnant caterpillar". That was something I heard my grandfather say and it fit. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now