The CorvairThe rise and fall of a car that changed America

By: Jewel Burleson, Alex Bates, Noah Pope, and Ann-Elise Mitcham

Why was the Corvair an Unsuccessful Car?

It included many flaws with poorly made parts such as the engine and the rear wheels.

The engine was made of aluminum making it light which made people think it was well designed, but Ralph Nader disagreed. He stated that it was ‘unsafe at any speed.’ The rear wheels tucked under on turns resulting in a vehicle roll.

Also, because Chevrolet didn’t take the time to perfect the car. This resulted in many kinks and problems.

What Inspired the Idea of the Corvair?

The company Volkswagen had made a perfect compact car.

Chevy borrowed multiple ideas from Volkswagen for their compact car.

For example, Chevy borrowed the air-cooled engine and the swing-axle. Both were very lightweight and durable.

How Did the Corvair Change America?

The Corvair’s many flaws promoted the lawsuit industry in America.

It was one of America’s first compact cars.

It was the first car with a rear engine, so its wheels had better traction on icy streets.

What made the Corvair a popular car?

It made almost double the gas mileage than other cars at the time.

It passed many tests in cold weather with flying colors.

It was taken on a 6,000 mile journey from Chicago to Panama proving that it was very reliable on all terrain.

Bibliography

"The Great Debate." The Great Debate RSS. N.p., 09 May 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.

Bibliography

"1964 Chevrolet Corvair Series News, Pictures, and Information." 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Series Images, Information and History (Corvair Monza, 900 Series, 600 Series, Monza Spyder, Deluxe, 500 Series, 700 Series). N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.

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