Chevrolet Corvair Air Conditioning
The Chevrolet Corvair was available with air conditioning, but it was not a standard feature and was offered as an optional upgrade. The air conditioning was fully integrated into the new dashboard and resulted in an increase in sales to 4.03% – 9483 units in Corvairs, which was the highest number produced in any model year. However, it is noted that it is rare to see air conditioning in a Corvair, especially when considering the engineering changes required to accommodate it, such as retooling the body metal for side marker lights and addressing tightening emissions and safety standards.
It’s also mentioned that Chevrolet engineers chose to offer the C64 Air Conditioning on the 95 and 110 hp engines only, and a few more were installed by venturesome mechanics at Chevy dealerships and Corvair enthusiasts.
Additionally, there are references to aftermarket air conditioning units being installed in Chevrolet Corvairs, indicating that it was possible to add air conditioning to models that did not come equipped with it from the factory.
In summary, while the Chevrolet Corvair did not come standard with air conditioning, it was available as an optional upgrade, and aftermarket units could also be installed in the vehicles.
If you have any further questions or need additional information, feel free to ask!
Contents
- Did Corvairs come with air conditioning?
- What year did they start putting AC in vehicles?
- Do Corvairs overheat?
- Why was Corvair unsafe at any speed?
- Why was the Corvair banned?
- Why did the Chevy Corvair fail?
- What is unique about the Corvair?
- When did cars start coming with AC?
- Are Corvairs air-cooled?
- What was the controversy with the Corvair?
Did Corvairs come with air conditioning?
When the Corvair was first made available with A/C in the Spring of 1961 the base price of a Monza Club Coupe was $2201.00 So the Air Conditioning added around 16% to the cost of the car!! About 1% of the buyers stepped up – about 3000 Air ‘Vairs in 1961.
What year did they start putting AC in vehicles?
1939
1939 – Packard becomes the first car manufacturer to offer air conditioning as an option. The cooling system is located in the trunk, rather than in the dash, and you have to manually install or remove the drive belt from the A/C compressor to turn the system on or off.
Do Corvairs overheat?
Overheating is very unusual for a Corvair with an intact cooling system. Kinda like “never happens”. The key is “Intact” meaning all the perimeter seals are there, fins are clean, damper doors work, oil cooler is clean.
Why was Corvair unsafe at any speed?
In his 1965 book, Unsafe at Any Speed, Nader called the Corvair “the one-car accident.” He wrote that a design flaw in the rear suspension made the car likely to flip over when driven in abrupt maneuvers, like, say, avoiding a ball that suddenly rolled into the street.
Why was the Corvair banned?
However, its tendency to oversteer and spin out of control caused problems that led to a redesigned suspension in 1964. After Nader’s book appeared, Corvair sales dwindled. General Motors withdrew the car from production in 1969.
Why did the Chevy Corvair fail?
However, its tendency to oversteer and spin out of control caused problems that led to a redesigned suspension in 1964. After Nader’s book appeared, Corvair sales dwindled. General Motors withdrew the car from production in 1969.
What is unique about the Corvair?
Corvair is the 1st and only mass-produced American vehicle offering an air-cooled rear engine design, unibody construction, factory turbo-charging, and 4-wheel independent suspension.
When did cars start coming with AC?
1940
The 1940 Packard was the first car to offer factory-installed air-conditioning. By 1969, more than half of all new cars sold were equipped with A/C. Some brands affixed window decals to promote their air-conditioned automobiles. For cars not equipped with factory air, dealer-installed, under-dash units were popular.
Are Corvairs air-cooled?
The Chevrolet Corvair is a compact car manufactured by Chevrolet for model years 1960–1969 in two generations. A response to the Volkswagen Beetle, it remains the only American-designed, mass-produced passenger car with a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine.
What was the controversy with the Corvair?
By the time Nader’s book appeared in the fall of 1965, the Corvair was already a thoroughly controversial vehicle, mainly due to complaints about its pronounced oversteer and quirky swing-axle behavior.