While it's no secret I'm a late model fan, there's no denying I not immune to the special charm of the early model. Daytona 2000 showcased plenty of them, to the delight of attending early model enthusiasts.

$3000 Set of Wheels!

One of the most highly prized and attractive options in the history of the Corvair was a set of genuine wire wheels by Kelsey-Hayes. They were available only in the 1963 and '64 model years, and came complete with knock-off adaptors which enabled them to be attached to the standard 4-bolt flanges of the early model.

Worth hundreds as an original  option, they often trade at well over $1,000 today. A set of 5 fully restored wheels like the one pictured at right can easily lighten your wallet by 2 to 3 thousand dollars!

When I took a shuttle bus from Orlando to Daytona Beach on Wednesday, and told the driver about Corvair Speedweek, he remarked he had noticed all the Corvairs around the hotel and immediately launched into a story about how he drove his girlfriend's '63 Spyder "all the time" in the '60s, remembering that the car was a "blast to drive."

Later, I spotted the '63 Spyder at right, owned by Chris Wylie of Lexington, Kentucky. Chris bought the car new, and drove it to Daytona. He must agree with the shuttle jockey; it's a blast to drive!

Here, cruising with the top down, we see some happy members of the North Texas Corvair Association (NTCA) staging for the rally. The '64 belongs to NTCA President, Larry Schmuhl, seen behind the wheel and in the company of his wife, Mary, and son, Keith. After the convention Keith flew back to Texas and Larry and Mary drove their Monza to the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise, and north into Canada before returning to their Dallas/Fort Worth area home. The Schmuhls' round trip added 7,417 miles to the early model's odometer!