SleeperSS
Senior Member
Posts: 2602
Loc: Spanaway, Wa
Reg: 10-17-04
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04-22-08 08:26 PM - Post#1417926
I saw what should have been a Corvair but it had the Pontiac Arrowhead on the front. Did our neighbors to the north have a Pontiac Version? It's been some time since I've seen it but now that I think about it, I think it may have been a p/u. There were a couple of Corvairs on the freeway so I might be wrong on the p/u with the Pontiac emblem.
BTW...it was the early body style.
U.S.C.G. "So others may live"
'96 S-10 SS
'02 BlaZeR2
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persh
Frequent Contributor
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Loc: Tucson, Arizona
Reg: 07-19-00
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04-23-08 06:31 AM - Post#1418159
In response to SleeperSS
The Canadians did a version of the Chevy II and several other cars of course, but not the Corvair. There was a concept car called the Pontiac Polaris that was Corvair-based, but it never went into production. Interestingly enough, the first Pontiac Tempests weren't rear-engined but did sport the Corvair transaxle in the rear of the car and shared a lot of Corvair parts.
Edited by persh on 04-23-08 06:31 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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 wagonmaster
Senior Member
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Age: 70
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04-24-08 04:49 AM - Post#1418985
In response to persh
the first Pontiac Tempests weren't rear-engined but did sport the Corvair transaxle in the rear of the car and shared a lot of Corvair parts.
YES they did,and we put a bunch of those parts on the ground more than once when they put a 326 in the '63 LeMans!! My GF had one, a three speed, and it did NOT like clutch popping, or power shifts!! LOL! Her Dad wouldn't let me drive it after a few of those...Imagine that!
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persh
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1491
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
Reg: 07-19-00
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04-24-08 11:26 AM - Post#1419253
In response to wagonmaster
I'm sure your foot just slipped of the clutch. 
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David Hayward
Deceased RIP David
Posts: 7051
Age: 64
Loc: New Forest, UK
Reg: 04-10-99
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09-05-08 12:24 PM - Post#1515734
In response to persh
Oshawa built the Corvair in the new 'Corvair Plant' which they had built especially. Export Corvairs were all lhd including for the UK and South Africa, and initially all came out of Oshawa.
As you know Oshawa also produced the Acadian, then Acadian Beaumont which were Chevy IIs then Chevelles for Pontiac dealers to sell BUT officially they were Acadians and not Pontiacs. Ostensibly they were to provide Pontiac deakers with an alternative to Corvairs. However, they also did a remarkable mix-and-match for export, and in 1962-3 produced a CKD 'Chevrolet Beaumont' for GM Suisse in Biel/Bienne. This was a Chevy II with an Acadian Beaumont body! Thus you had the small Chevy six, which Vauxhall, Holden and GM South Africa took on and adapted, with the more luxurious Acadian body. Weird or what?
Another snippet is that when the Corvairs were very much a secret from about 1958 onwards, testing was done at a California HQ, labelled as the Holden Car Project. Test cars were badged as Holdens, thus giving the impression that they were designing a new car for Australia. GM-Holden's never did immport the Corvair officially but they did bring in some Canadian Chevy IIs to test the water in 1962.
Automotive Historian, Writer & Author
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VintageCarryall
Valued Contributor
Posts: 2634
Loc: Arizona
Reg: 10-08-06
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12-20-08 04:58 AM - Post#1588720
In response to David Hayward
Oshawa built the Corvair in the new 'Corvair Plant' which they had built especially. Export Corvairs were all lhd including for the UK and South Africa, and initially all came out of Oshawa.
As you know Oshawa also produced the Acadian, then Acadian Beaumont which were Chevy IIs then Chevelles for Pontiac dealers to sell BUT officially they were Acadians and not Pontiacs. Ostensibly they were to provide Pontiac deakers with an alternative to Corvairs. However, they also did a remarkable mix-and-match for export, and in 1962-3 produced a CKD 'Chevrolet Beaumont' for GM Suisse in Biel/Bienne. This was a Chevy II with an Acadian Beaumont body! Thus you had the small Chevy six, which Vauxhall, Holden and GM South Africa took on and adapted, with the more luxurious Acadian body. Weird or what?
Another snippet is that when the Corvairs were very much a secret from about 1958 onwards, testing was done at a California HQ, labelled as the Holden Car Project. Test cars were badged as Holdens, thus giving the impression that they were designing a new car for Australia. GM-Holden's never did immport the Corvair officially but they did bring in some Canadian Chevy IIs to test the water in 1962.
That is interesting..........
I have never seen/heard of any RHD Corvairs but I did see a pic of the remains of a 1966-67 Beaumont 4 door hardtop right hooker on a ZA website last night 
1994 Dodge Caravan SWB 3.3L V6
1962 Studebaker Lark 4 door 350 Chevy/TH350
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salguod
Forum Newbie
Posts: 2
Reg: 05-27-09
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05-27-09 08:39 PM - Post#1705876
In response to SleeperSS
I saw what should have been a Corvair but it had the Pontiac Arrowhead on the front. Did our neighbors to the north have a Pontiac Version? ....
I just came across this on Hemmings:
Looks like just what you've described. I went a Googling for "Pontiac Corvair" and found my way here. No explanation, in fact the seller doesn't even mention the odd grille & emblem.
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4carbcorvair
Contributor
Posts: 265
Age: 46
Loc: Maine
Reg: 09-02-07
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05-28-09 03:00 AM - Post#1705933
In response to salguod
That is the 62 Corvair front grill trim, not a Pontiac emblem. Top left of page 298 shows the 62 center emblem for the front: http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog.cgi
GM had thought out a Pontiac and I believe an Olds version IIRC. There are pics of them somewhere online. GM decided to keep the Corvair in Chevys line only.
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4carbcorvair
Contributor
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Age: 46
Loc: Maine
Reg: 09-02-07
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05-28-09 03:03 AM - Post#1705934
In response to 4carbcorvair
Here we go, Pontiac Polaris. This was a pre-production car. http://www.autopuzzles.com/cfeature9.htm
And here are some more pics!
http://www.cardatabase.net/search/search.php?manuf...
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salguod
Forum Newbie
Posts: 2
Reg: 05-27-09
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05-28-09 05:51 AM - Post#1706023
In response to 4carbcorvair
Interesting. I don't ever remember seeing a Corvair with 'grilles' like that.
Thanks.
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4carbcorvair
Contributor
Posts: 265
Age: 46
Loc: Maine
Reg: 09-02-07
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05-28-09 10:15 AM - Post#1706200
In response to salguod
Every year Corvair up to 66 had a different front grille trim. 66-69 all used the same.
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David Hayward
Deceased RIP David
Posts: 7051
Age: 64
Loc: New Forest, UK
Reg: 04-10-99
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05-28-09 01:34 PM - Post#1706344
In response to 4carbcorvair
Just to recap, there were never any right hand drive Corvairs. All South African cars imported from Oshawa were lhd, as were all UK cars.
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Avatar: sole surviving 1939 Chevrolet truck assembled in Southampton, England |
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Bill K.b
Senior Member
Posts: 4442
Loc: upstate NY
Reg: 10-24-05
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06-02-09 12:13 PM - Post#1709630
In response to David Hayward
I suspect GM may have caught wind of the upcoming Falcon, Comet, Valiant and Lancer, plus saw the success of the Rambler and Lark, and decided not to put all it's eggs in one basket with multiple models on the Corvair platform - and gave Buick, Olds and Pontiac their own compact instead with a more conventional driveline. (well, that can be argued in the Pontiac's case).
Those who can, do. Those who can't, criticize it on the internet.
Driving 2002 Express 2500
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VintageCarryall
Valued Contributor
Posts: 2634
Loc: Arizona
Reg: 10-08-06
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06-06-09 12:29 PM - Post#1712122
In response to David Hayward
Just to recap, there were never any right hand drive Corvairs. All South African cars imported from Oshawa were lhd, as were all UK cars.
That is weird that GM did not offer a RHD Corvair since there was no engine/tranny in the way compared to the subsequent Chevy II--------which did offer a RHD variant even here in the USA (there is one known RHD rural postal delivery 1967 Nova SW).
1994 Dodge Caravan SWB 3.3L V6
1962 Studebaker Lark 4 door 350 Chevy/TH350
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Black90GMC
Forum Newbie
Posts: 8
Reg: 06-08-09
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06-08-09 10:47 PM - Post#1713741
In response to VintageCarryall
Just to clarify something here,Acadians were Novas with some slight badging and trim changes and the Beaumont was based on the Chevelle.The differences there were in grilles, taillights,body trim,and dashes.And yes ther were sold at Pontiac dealerships across Canada.
As to persh's comment about the Lemans,I'm not absolutely sure but I believe they also came with a four cylinder,basically half of a 389.
Edited by Black90GMC on 06-08-09 10:47 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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persh
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1491
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
Reg: 07-19-00
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06-09-09 11:07 AM - Post#1713978
In response to Black90GMC
Yes, the LeMans was available with the 4 cylinder. My neighbor had one back when they were new. It was half of a 389 and it reminded me of the Dodge slant-6 because it was off at a 45-degree angle. As I recall, it didn't run as good as half a 389!!
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Bill K.b
Senior Member
Posts: 4442
Loc: upstate NY
Reg: 10-24-05
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06-09-09 07:11 PM - Post#1714276
In response to persh
The Pontiac 194 was a 389 block with one bank lopped off. Shared rods, head, exhaust, and some other parts with the regular 389. Biggest issue was they were vibration-prone.
The Buick 215 aluminum was optional.
Those who can, do. Those who can't, criticize it on the internet.
Driving 2002 Express 2500
2002 Express 2500 extended
1988 G20 conversion
1993 GMC 3500 dually
Plus cars for swap and sale
& yes, I once tried a frame swap on a 51 Chevy. |
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Randy_W
None
Posts: 27804
Reg: 01-06-02
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06-12-09 07:26 AM - Post#1715713
In response to Bill K.b
The Pontiac 194 was a 389 block with one bank lopped off. Shared rods, head, exhaust, and some other parts with the regular 389. Biggest issue was they were vibration-prone.
The Buick 215 aluminum was optional.
And later, the 326 Pontiac engine in both 2 and 4 barrel versions.
I had a '63 LeMans convertible about 30 years ago, red/red interior, white top, slant 4 1 bbl, 2 speed auto mounted on the dash. Floor mount with console was available. I liked the car and my wife is still mad that I sold it and we've been looking for a non rust bucket '63 conv for years.  
Randy
DON'T mess with Old Men, we didn't get old by being, STUPID!!!
"The veneer of civilization is very thin!" (Arlo) |
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David Hayward
Deceased RIP David
Posts: 7051
Age: 64
Loc: New Forest, UK
Reg: 04-10-99
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06-07-10 03:24 PM - Post#1926632
In response to Randy_W
It might be interesting to know that at the 1962 London Motor Show was a lhd Turbo-Aire Corvair.
Automotive Historian, Writer & Author
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Bill K.b
Senior Member
Posts: 4442
Loc: upstate NY
Reg: 10-24-05
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06-07-10 06:37 PM - Post#1926757
In response to David Hayward
I could have saved a '63 convert about 3 years ago at a junkyard. I passed on it because for at least the second time that spring it got flooded up over the doors, that whole side of the yard flooded out. The car wasn't very rotty, at least not for up here, and complete - a V8/manual trans car at that. But you could see the sediment settled in the gauges. For what a nice one brings no one was going to take this thing to a bare shell and start over.
Those who can, do. Those who can't, criticize it on the internet.
Driving 2002 Express 2500
2002 Express 2500 extended
1988 G20 conversion
1993 GMC 3500 dually
Plus cars for swap and sale
& yes, I once tried a frame swap on a 51 Chevy. |
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Randy_W
None
Posts: 27804
Reg: 01-06-02
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06-08-10 10:02 AM - Post#1926974
In response to Bill K.b
'63 LeMans convertibles are bringing strong money nowadays for a pristine car. 
Randy
DON'T mess with Old Men, we didn't get old by being, STUPID!!!
"The veneer of civilization is very thin!" (Arlo) |
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427SS65
"15th Year" Platinum Supporting Member & Moderator
Posts: 14672
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06-12-10 12:09 PM - Post#1929082
In response to SleeperSS
I know this is a reply to an old post - however, I think the OP thought the 62 front emblem looked like a Pontiac. It was, in fact, a factory Corvair emblem.
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Bill K.b
Senior Member
Posts: 4442
Loc: upstate NY
Reg: 10-24-05
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06-16-10 02:56 PM - Post#1931310
In response to 427SS65
When I looked at the time you could still buy a nice one for $10,000 or less; not worth spending more than that to blow apart a flooded out, probably rusty one and rebuild it. Plus I'm sure anything the water got into and collected then froze in the winter and cracked things, so...
Those who can, do. Those who can't, criticize it on the internet.
Driving 2002 Express 2500
2002 Express 2500 extended
1988 G20 conversion
1993 GMC 3500 dually
Plus cars for swap and sale
& yes, I once tried a frame swap on a 51 Chevy. |
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