Whenever I see a 1960 Corvair, I am reminded of Tony Fiore, author of The Corvair Decade, who once remarked that he was one of the first to buy a Corvair when it was introduced, October  2, 1959. At the time, the Corvair buyer was limited to the sedan; either a Corvair 500 or 700 model with an 80 hp engine. He probably had no idea at that time that he would later write what is arguably the best chronicle of the Corvair, one endorsed by high ranking executives at General Motors as "a terrific record about a great car" and a "prized automobile book." Tony was on hand at Daytona 2000, took part in the events, drove in the autocross, and autographed copies of his book for his fellow enthusiasts. No doubt he paused for reflection when he saw the Corvair below.

This 1960 Corvair 500 with 3-speed manual transmission and floor mounted shifter is owned by Kemp and Shirley Swiney of Pendleton, South Carolina. They are its second owners. It was sold originally by a dealer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It arrived from the factory as a solid Jade Green, and when the Swineys repainted it, they changed the color of the top to Cascade Green, conforming to one of the two-tone paint schemes offered in 1960. At the awards banquet on Saturday night, we learned the car placed second in the Early/Closed, Peoples Choice competition. 

This view seems familiar, perhaps because the car is strikingly similar to the one featured on the cover of the 1960 dealer brochure.