In a moment, we'll take a look at a couple of wide shots of the 1966 Monza as it was photographed in Washington State by recent owner Brown Maloney, but first, let's take a look at some of the finer aspects of the Canadian-built car's cockpit and seating areas.

The interior in this car is original, with a couple of exceptions or additions. The standard three-pod Monza dash unit which incorporated a speedometer, clock and gas gauge, has been replaced by a stock Corsa cluster with its 140 mph speedometer with integral trip odometer, clock, cylinder head temperature and manifold pressure gauges and tachometer. (A close-up view is available in the Interior section.)

The standard '66 vintage push-button radio is retained in the stock location, augmented by a Chevy multiplex unit mounted below the ashtray. A wood grain shift knob replaces the original white shift knob, and provides a tasteful match for the optional simulated wood grain sport steering wheel.

Because of Canada's northern location, Canadian buyers rarely ordered optional tinted glass. This car is equipped with tinted windows all around, likely a contributing factor to the excellent condition of the original upholstery.

Incidentally, glass on Canadian Corvairs is different than on American counterparts. It came from a Canadian supplier. 

The coupe's greenhouse provides excellent, all around visibility. The hard-top is hard to beat in this respect.

This interior view brought on a Sixties' flashback. From my late model coupe days, I remember the reactions of people seeing the rear seat area for the first time. They'd comment about the narrow seat bottom, or tell you they "wouldn't want to spend a lot of time back there."

I tried to resist, but couldn't help myself, and I'd immediately go into "Yeah, but..." mode, as in, "Yeah, but that's a fold-down seat!"

That wouldn't impress anybody today, but in the Sixties it usually resulted in an astonished response. I'd reach in and drop the seat back, adding, "Oh yeah, it's very cool...turns it into a 2-seater...with lots of room for whatever. You can even sleep back there!"

Once again, the car of firsts would redeem itself. "Yeah, but" is a very important phrase for any Corvair owner to remember. There are many ways to put it to good use when showing the car to the uninitiated.

Here are some example responses:

"Yeah, but it doesn't need power steering because the front is so light."

"Yeah, but is doesn't need power brakes because it has large brakes and stops with the best of 'em."

"Yeah, but it doesn't need anti-freeze!"

"Yeah, but in a head on collision, you won't end up with a stove in the front seat."