Corvair card models

Spyder bite

Despite its original mission as a low-cost grocery getter for middle class suburbia, the Chevy Corvair quickly grew into its own niche as a sporty car within reach of the masses after its introduction in late 1959. With its 4-wheel independent suspension, light weight, and low-slung design, the only limiting factor in the Corvair's performance was its original 80 HP (60kW) engine. Chevy quickly responded with 84, 95, and 98 HP (62, 71 and 73kW) engines, and raised the bar yet again in 1962 with the introduction of the Corvair Monza Spyder. The Spyder extracted a then-phenomenal 150 HP (112kW) from its 145ci (2.4L) engine by the use of a turbocharger. Turbocharged engines remained in the Corvair lineup through 1966, reaching their peak with the 164ci (2.7L), 180 HP (134kW) Corvair Corsa engines of 1965-66.

Our downloadable 1/32 scale model kits come as a set of 4 1964 Spyders, the final year of the Spyder name.

Spyder building instructions

Rest assured, all purchases go to a good cause - getting my '65 Monza back on the road, and keeping my 1960 700 sedan going!

At home on the racetrack, too

With the complete redesign of the second generation Corvair (1965-69), the rear suspension was changed from a Volkswagen-style swingarm to a true 4-link system nearly identical to that of the Corvette. The upgrade made an already good-handling car truly excellent. Yenko Sportscars (Canonsburg, PA), later to gain fame for their big-block Camaro drag cars, took advantage of this with their first product: the Yenko Stinger. The Stingers were modified versions of 1966 and 1967 Corvair Corsa 140 HP (104kW) models built for SCCA road racing. Stingers were offered in five stages of tune, with engine outputs from 160 HP (119kW) to 270 HP (201kW).

V-8 muscle

While the Stinger wrung the most from a basically stock 'Vair for racing use, there was another go-fast option for street 'Vairs: the Corv-8, installing a small-block Chevy V-8 into the rear seat area. A conversion kit was marketed by Crown Engineering of Newport Beach, CA. In spite of the unusual (for an American car) layout of the Corvair's drivetrain, it was actually a fairly straightforward task to mate a small-block to the front of the Corvair transmission with the Crown kit. For around the cost of a Camaro, you could have a car that not only matched the Camaro's weight and horsepower, but also had the handling advantages of being mid-engined and having fully independent suspension. And it was a true "sleeper" on the street, with the only noticeable exterior change being a small air inlet below the front bumper to feed the radiator.

Stinger/Corv-8 building instructions

L - R: '66 Stinger, '67 Stinger, '66 Corv-8. '66 Stinger is built as the "simple" model w/ 2D wheels, the others have the optional detailed chassis & 3D wheels.

Prototype body and Minilite wheel for 1/18 scale Stinger.

Created on ... March 10, 2004