PERFECT HIT, WRONG TARGET; 1964 Corvair Monza Spyder.(Escape Roads)

Byline: BOB TOMAINE

Whether the Corvair suffered more from a loss of interest on the part of its builder or its customers is a tough question to answer. Introduced for 1960 to compete with compact imports, the Chevrolet Corvair used an air-cooled opposed six at the rear. The car's small size without great fuel economy-about 20 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway-was an odd combination in 1960 America, but if the car missed its target among the economy-minded, it found the enthusiasts almost at once.

Chevrolet recognized that, and 1962 saw Corvair's last wagon and its first Monza Spyder. The Spyder package's signature feature was a turbo-charged 150-hp engine, producing a staggering 70 hp more than the base engine. A four-speed transmission and better brakes were mandatory options, and the package included heavy-duty suspension. It wasn't glamorous but was more useful than the turbo in the real world, where lag limited help at less than highway speeds unless driven hard.

The Spyder was little changed for 1963, but in 1964, all Corvairs benefited from improved rear suspension. Handling, which enthusiasts praised, had been criticized for the rear swing axles' allegedly difficult-to-control surprises, so the 1964 car added a transverse spring to limit camber. It was the early-series Corvair's final year, and sales missed 200,000 for the first time. The believers remained, but they were too few, and General Motors focused on the conventional. Its Falcon-like Chevy II and later Mustang-like Camaro left less and less room for the Corvair.

Joanne Bridgman of Canadensis, Pennsylvania, was ...