Corvair Monza Design Studies

Chris Happé visits GM Design
Monza GT/SS/Electrovair II

Many car enthusiasts dream of visiting the design studios of a major auto manufacturer, and I count myself among them. There is something appealing about a global company like General Motors trusting you in their design facilities—allowing you to view the concepts under development—to examine the "future cars." Of course, that is seldom possible, for obvious reasons.

Site visitor Chris Happé, a fellow Canadian from Whitby, near Toronto, Ontario, wrote to me and included some interesting photographs. Chris is a long time Corvair Society of America (CORSA) member, and it was through his association with the Society that he was authorized to shoot the pictures at the General Motors design studios in Detroit, in 1974.

This, in part, is what he wrote about his unique experience:

Dave Newell, CORSA Historian, had for ages been pleading with everyone he could find at GM to get permission to photograph the Monza GT and Monza SS for the Corvair Society archives. When someone suddenly said okay, Dave phoned me and said, "I'm in Detroit and I have permission to photograph the GT, and all I have is an Instamatic camera. How soon can you get here?"
I said, "I'll meet you there tomorrow morning, Dave."

The Monza GT, when we saw it, was powered by a 150 hp turbo engine, and had fully independent suspension all 'round. The GT, a mid-engine design, has the power train flipped around so the engine is ahead of the axle. The photo with the clam shell and the rear open gives you a good view of the GT's design configuration. Note the latches in the center of the roof areas of both sections.

The beefy tires are Goodyear Blue Streak Sports Car Specials marked "For Racing Purposes Only" and "Not for Highway Use" Sizes: 6.75 x 13 front and 7.80-13" rear.
The Monza GT appeared in 1962. According to GM design guru, Bill Mitchell, the car outperformed the fuel-injected Corvette of the day, due in part to its light weight (1500 lbs) and aerodynamics. He also is on record as saying some thought was given to the idea of the GT replacing the Corvette.