Rare Corvette Corvair Fastback

Unique ONES While we were surfing in cyberspace, for a moment we were amazed at a beautiful classic car called the Chevrolet Corvette Corvair Concept released in 1954. Uniquely, even though it carries the big name of Corvette, it has something unique appearing on the back that makes it more similar to the Ferrari 250 GT SWB 'Breadvan' Drogo.

1954 Chevrolet Corvette Corvair Concept combines two separable items, in this case the Corvette and the Bell Air, which its debut at the 1954 Motorama in New York. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/38wkeMo)

It's exciting that the Corvette also has a fastback variant, even though it's only a concept car. After doing some searching on the internet to resolve the curiosity of this car, we finally got quite valid information about it from several sources. Yes, this car appeared long before there was the Corvair of the 1960s. 

1954 Chevrolet Corvette Corvair Concept's top is said to be inspired by an airplane, which sweeps backwards and tapers gracefully into the rear design. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/38wkeMo)

As quoted of the Rare Car Network website, the Corvette Corvair is a very creative concept, a flowing fastback style exercise, which made its debut at the 1954 Motorama in New York. The name portmanteau combines two separable items, in this case the Corvette and the Bell Air.

1954 Chevrolet Corvette Corvair Concept. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/38wkeMo)

According to the GM Heritage Center, the production version of the model was then stalled and abandoned, due to slow sales figures for the Corvette at the time (1954). And usually concept cars that had expired in that era would be destroyed, but this Corvette Corvair fastback coupe reportedly survived the crusher, but strangely there was no trace of it.

1954 Chevrolet Corvette Corvair Concept seats appear to have a fiberglass-made divider between them, in a similar way to the Corvette roadster. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/38wkeMo)

There is also news that more than one car was actually built, but no document appears as verification. Until now, it is not certain how many units of the Corvette Corsair concept car was made by the American car manufacturer.

Apart from these two stories, there are a number of sources who say that the original 1954 Corvette Corvair concept was destroyed in that period, and then an authentic restoration project was carried out using the original 1954 Chevy Corvette chassis.

1954 Chevrolet Corvette Corvair Concept uses a 235.5 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine that offers 150 horsepower accompanied by a 2-speed Powerglide transmission system. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/38wkeMo)

It is necessary to determine which one is correct among all the information above, but what is certain is as quoted from the Rare Car Network that the cars that exist today (at least those discussed by him) are only limited to replicas. And the Corvair name, however, came to be used in the 1960 Corvair rear-engined compact car.

The beautiful appearance of this two-door fastback is exuded, as it has the front end of the Corvette, the enveloping windshield and design details on the rear that resemble a jet-fighter exhaust port. While the cut tail seems to be influenced or inspired by European designs (maybe the Ferrari 250 Breadvan Drogo).

1954 Chevrolet Corvette Corvair Concept's cut tail seems to be influenced or inspired by European designs (maybe the Ferrari 250 Breadvan Drogo). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/38wkeMo)

Furthermore, the top is said to be inspired by an airplane, which sweeps backwards and tapers gracefully into the rear design. Apart from that the roof also provides a glimpse of the quarter windows and C-pillar treatments of the 1958 Corvette.

The car, which is built on the original chassis of the Corvette, has a 102-inch wheelbase and uses a 235.5 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine that offers 150 horsepower accompanied by a 2-speed Powerglide transmission system to distribute power to drive its rear wheels. 

On the interior, the seats appear to have a fiberglass-made divider between them, in a similar way to the Corvette roadster. Much of the interior is largely stock, and the roof appears to have been grafted directly onto a production Corvette. No storage behind the seats. Even though it has a fastback design, it doesn't change the interior layout of the Corvair Concept. 

After not being seen in public for a long time, it was discovered that one of the beautiful cars (sea foam green color) was seen on the back of a trailer at the Bloomington Gold Corvette show in St. Charles, Illinois in 2011 (you can see on the Manonthemove website). And the last one of the replica cars (in red) also appears to be on display in a collection of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MANONTHEMOVE | RCNMAG | CONCEPTCARZ ]

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