1961 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside Pickup Fully Restored 4spd Flawlessly Restored

Description

Chevrolet’s 1961 Corvair Rampside Series 95 pickup was part of a line of trucks aimed squarely at the competition from Volkswagen. Its unique side loading capability was complemented by good performance and agile handling and, in the upscale Deluxe version offered here, chrome bumpers, grille and hubcaps, and a color-keyed interior to match its two-tone White on Green paint. Like its passenger-car counterparts, this 1961 Rampside, which underwent a FULL GROUND-UP RESTORATION, features a recently rebuilt MATCHING NUMBERS rear mounted 145 ci air-cooled flat 6 engine, mated to the rebuilt 4-speed manual transmission. Originally an Arizona, rust-free, wonderfully driving and dependable truck. Odometer shows 34,123, with little to known on the rebuild. Highlights to this cute and fun truck are: - Series 95 Corvair Rampside Pickup - Unique side loading capability – a comprehensive restoration using, among many things, stainless hardware where moister was a concern, new & NOS parts, new weather-stripping, NOS windshield, and contemporary dyed-to-match spray-in bed liner. - Rear mounted engine - 4-speed on the floor - Chrome bumpers - Wheel covers - Whitewall Radial tires w/spare and tools - Finished in Green and White – Green and light Gray plaid cloth bench seat – Matching green painted dash with silver accents – Aftermarket sunroof - Chevrolet introduced the Corvair lineup for the 1960 model year as the first of a series of generations of passenger compact cars. Chevrolet introduced a more utilitarian style of vehicle the following year under the model designation "Corvair 95". The Corvair Ramp Side pick-up was only in production from 1961 – 1964. In appearance and design, the vehicles were similar to the competing Volkswagen Transporter, which was essentially a bus-like adaptation of the Volkswagen Beetle that moved the driver over the front wheels (Forward control), also commonly defined as a cab over vehicle. The Corvair air-cooled horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine was located in the rear of the vehicle under a slightly raised cargo floor. It was similar in principle to the 4-cylinder engine of the Volkswagen, but unusual for most contemporary cars. The 145 cu in (2,375 cc) engine developed 80 hp (60 kW) at 4,400 rpm. Engine size was increased to 164 cu in (2,683 cc) for the 1964 model year, raising output to 95 hp (71 kW). Unlike the Corvair cars, the Corvair Greenbrier had a 95 in (2,400 mm) wheelbase and were thus known as "95s." They came standard with a three-speed manual transmission but could be ordered with a two-speed Corvair Powerglide automatic transmission (distinct from the usual Powerglide) eventually a four-speed manual was also made available. There were essentially two different bodies available in the 95 series: the van and the truck. The base version was the panel van (Corvan) with no side or rear windows. The van was named Greenbrier. The Greenbrier normally had windows all around and six doors, although an option was to have eight doors where there were opening double doors on both sides. The Greenbrier seated up to nine people with the available third-row seat. The 95s and cars had an optional heater running off of gasoline from the vehicle's tank. The Greenbrier also had a camper option. A Corvair truck could be ordered as a "Loadside" or "Rampside". The Rampside had a side ramp to be used for loading and unloading cargo (were-as the Loadside offered a fold down tailgate). These were used by the Bell Telephone Company, because loading and unloading of cable drums was eased by the side ramp. General Motors stopped producing the truck versions of the Corvair in 1964 and the Greenbrier was the only remaining 95 in (2,400 mm) wheelbase Corvair for 1965. Eventually, Chevrolet and Volkswagen would abandon rear-engined vans in favor of conventional or front-wheel-drive water-cooled engines.