GM Shows the Future by Sharing Its Past at Amelia Island Concours

AMELIA ISLAND, FL - March 9, 2007: General Motors brought four prized Corvair-based 1960s concept cars from the GM Heritage Collection to the March 9-11 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance for both historical and visionary purposes.

While providing a reminder of American automotive history for vintage car enthusiasts, these unique concepts also offer a glimpse of the future by demonstrating the rich heritage of innovation that continues to define the work of GM Design.

When Chevrolet introduced the Corvair in 1960, it launched a vehicle decidedly different from its American competitors.

Featuring a rear-mounted, all-aluminum, air-cooled, horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine, Corvair’s design offered great benefits: a low silhouette, flat passenger compartment floor and, combined with 4-wheel independent suspension, significant improvements in ride quality, handling and braking balance.

That innovative platform also gave designers the ideal platform on which to build the four revolutionary Corvair concept cars appearing at the 2007 Amelia Island Concours; the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder, the 1962-63 Corvair Monza GT and SS Concepts and the 1967 Corvair Astro I.

The first of these Corvair-based concepts was the Super Spyder. Built on a shortened 1961 Corvair platform, the Super Spyder featured a 2-seat configuration, metal tonneau cover with integrated headrest and three chrome exhaust pipes exiting behind each of the rear wheels. A supercharged engine guaranteed performance to match its looks.

The final Corvair concept was Astro I. With a design target of low “aero” drag, the Astro I combined a small frontal area, low roofline and a “tall” back to achieve its aerodynamic goals.

The centerpieces of the quartet of Corvair concepts are the Monza “twins”; the GT coupe and open-top SS.

Similar in appearance, there were significant mechanical differences between the two concepts.

For the Monza GT coupe, the standard Corvair engine placement was rotated 180˚, putting the engine ahead of the transaxle, creating a true mid-engine car. Riding on a 92-inch wheelbase the GT was track-ready and had more than a passing resemblance to the yet–to-be introduced Porsche 904 race car.

In the case of the SS, the engine was left in its stock location behind the transaxle, allowing a shorter (88-inch) wheelbase.

Both the Monza GT and the SS feature magnesium-alloy wheels, 4-wheel disc brakes and fixed seats with adjustable pedals, features that would not find their way to production cars for years.

On loan from the General Motors Heritage Collection, these four Corvair concept cars provided a vision of the future to enthusiasts in the 1960s. Today, they serve as inspiration for new designs that will define the future for today’s enthusiasts.

The Corvair concepts represent just four of the more than 700 vehicles found in the GM Heritage Collection of historically significant vehicles that date back to the early 1900s.