MY FORTY-SIX YEAR LUV AVAIR

 

This is a picture taken at our home in Cahokia, IL in 1963 when the car was brand new.

This is the original purchase order from Haus Chevrolet in East St. Louis, IL. The car was ordered in May of 1963. The cost was $3,223.38. I traded in a 1954 Ford Customline coup.

 

 This is the original sales contract.

 

 This is reproduction window sticker with price of accessories.

 

This is the VIN Number located on driver's door frame.

 

This is the paid note I received when I paid off the loan. 

 

This is the original title I received when I paid off the note.

 

I received this letter from Jordan Investment Company thanking me for financing my Vair with them.

 

I received this registered letter from Chevrolet warning about carbon monoxide from the engine compartment.

  

Twenty-five years of dust. I drove the car as a daily driver for 14 years.

Windshield was cleared and drug down the road 1/2 mile. It was originally stored in a Morton building and later moved to a sheep barn. I went 25 years without seeing it.

Side view inside sheep barn.

Interior was very nasty. Removed two large industrial size garbage bags of mouse and rat excrement. A softball size hole on the driver's side provided little resistance to varmints.

 

Seat frames had surface rust from mouse urine. Unbelievable stinch!

Rear seat frames.

 

Seat frames after being blasted and painted.

Notice holes in rear floor panel. Heater ducts had a lot of rusted pin holes. Inside fabric of top is rotted. Top did not leak but was replaced.

Welded new floor panels from Clark's Corvair.

 

Restored Interior.

  

Restored dash and steering wheel. I have replaced horn button with a restored original.

 

 Restored side panel from Clark's Corvair after restoration.

 Rear seat and carpet after restoration.

  

Original glove Box after restoration. Tissue holder was added during the restoration

 

Rare aftermarket Spyder gear shift knob purchased from Elco in the 60's.

 

Engine was seized. Notice mouse and rat excrement under air filter on left. A corn cob was stuck underneath the turbo heat shield on the right.

Restored engine compartment. Shrouds were powder-coated

Side view of restored engine compartment.

Engine on stand after restoration.

 

This is engine in Jim Allen's Garage in Peoria, IL who did the restoration.

 

Restored suspension powder coated with new bushings.

 

Restored rear end

 

 Trunk compartment before restoration

Trunk after restoration

 

 

  

A lot of blue.

 

 

 

Front Floors looked in better shape but had pin holes and a baseball size hole on drivers side.

Holes in both front and rear floor panels made new panels necessary.

 This is interior after new floors have been welded and primed.

New rear steel quarter panels were used on both sides.

 I drove the car without a windshield from Hoopeston, IL to Ambia, IN.  It was a cool ride on a cold fall day.

Side view of restored car. I started the restoration on Memorial Day 2000. The car was finished on April 2006.