With the hubbub of its introduction over (but with sales not meeting expectations) GM needed to inject new spark into its fledgeling nameplate. The Corvette Corvair was one of several prototypes to debut during the 1954 Motorama. It pointed the way toward the Corvette's future as a comfortable GT.

Posted by Maynard078@reddit | WeirdWheels | View on Reddit | 10 comments

[-]

HilltopHideout@reddit

The Corvair got a raw deal. By the time Nader published his hit piece book, they'd already fixed all the safety problems. Imagine where the air cooled engine might have gone.

[-]

I'm a fan of the Corvair and always have been. Nader's attack on the car was vitriolic, unfair, and unable to be replicated anywhere on any skidpad. It was no more dangerous than a contemporary Impala or Coupe de Ville, and he wasn't screaming to the rafters about those.

But GM screwed the pooch when they sicced squads of private detectives on him.

The Gen II Corvair was the best and I'll be looking for another car to replace my aging POS Sonoma soon. Instead of another pick-em-up I may just go down the old Corvair route.

That'll teach me, but good!

[-]