1961 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

1961 Chevrolet Corvair 95 Rampside Pickup Restored seldom-seen ramp side pickup example Debut year for the Rampside model; one of only 10,787 examples made in 1961 Unibody, forward control pickup truck with passenger-side ramp to load/unload cargo (code R-1254) 110HP 145 CID air-cooled, flat six-cylinder engine mounted behind the rear axle Two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission and 3.89 gearing Dark Blue exterior with silver trim and blue vinyl interior with center wheels covers from a late 70s-era C10 95-inch wheelbase and 4,600 GVWR Deluxe trim model If youre younger than 60 you might remember that Chevrolet made a model called the Corvair but even if youre over 60 you may not recall that until 1964, Chevy provided a family of air-cooled, rear-engined Corvairs convertible, coupe, sedan, station wagon, van and two pickup trucks and the rarest form was the ramp side pickup such as this beautiful restored example. Dressed in Dark Blue with contrasting spears of silver trim, the trucks paint and trim are in overall excellent order. This example was made in General Motors St. Louis, Missouri factory (VIN code S). The bodywork is straight, the engine bay is extremely tidy, the cargo bed with a floor liner looks great and the chrome bumpers fit tightly to the body. This truck rolls on Matrix white stripe radials, size 195/75R14 all around. Each wheel is mounted on a steel wheel topped with a 1970s-era C10 wheel cover. The wheel covers are in good, original order and the tires are in very good order. The compartment for the powertrain necessitated an elevated floor bed in the rear of the vehicle, an inconvenience for those wanting a full-sized flatbed pickup, but marketable also as loading areas at two levels. In one of the most innovative design elements of the Corvair 95 line, the Rampside pickup was given a side fold-down access panel. Out back is a 110HP 145 CID air-cooled, flat six-cylinder engine that is mated to a Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission and a 3.89:1 rear end. With its engine located in the rear, the Corvair 95 cab was well isolated from engine heat and noise with enough room for a full width bench seat. Inside, the vinyl bench seat has been reupholstered in blue that goes well with the exterior and contrasts nicely with the original gray metal dashboard and inner door liners but the speedometer is inoperable. There are mats on the floor versus carpet while the blue fabric headliner looks great. A black, two-spoke steering wheel greets the driver, which also contrasts nicely with the gray dash and door innards, which are all in good, original order. As in some current minivans, the gearshift lever is mounted on the dashboard. An Alpine AM/FM stereo with CD player completes the interior. Corvair 95s, named for their 95-inch wheel-base, were referred to by GM as Light Duty-Forward Control (L.D.F.C.) vehicles and marketed from 1961 to 1965. The line consisted initially of four models - two vans and two pickups. Forward control referred to positioning of the steering mechanism forward of the front axle and engendered the Corvair FC moniker for the line. The short, 95-inch wheelbase yielded vans resembling (in size) more recent minivans. With a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,600 pounds, the pickup trucks were intended for lighter though possibly bulky loads and not to compete directly with conventional half-ton pickups. Local fleet delivery service was in mind, but as history has shown, the market for the LDFC was smaller than expected -- the day of the compact pickup had not yet arrived. Nevertheless, forward control engineering plus short wheelbase afforded great maneuverability, a turning radius of only 19.5 feet and a clear view of the road ahead. Competition to this Corvair Pickup in 1961 included Fords Econoline, Jeeps FC-150 and Volkswagens Type 2 Pickup. This would make a great vehicle for advertising a small business or for a Corvair collector. Come to MotoeXotica Classic Cars today and check it out! VIN: 1R124S131572 This truck is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 77,633 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!? Note: Please see full terms and conditions listed below that pertain to the purchase of any said vehicle, thank you.