A wonderful thing happened in January of 1960, just three months after the first Corvair 4-door sedans hit the showrooms of America. Chevrolet began delivery of Corvair 500 and 700 series club coupes. It was a pivotal moment in the early evolution of the Corvair, one in which the concept of the car was amplified from strictly an economy car to that of a sporty economy car. It was the seed of a new spirit taking flight—one that would lead to turbo-chargers, quick steering and convertibles—all the good stuff.

Let's take a close look at one of those first club coupes, an awe inspiring Roman Red 700 owned by Rod Ryan of De Pere, Wisconsin. This car stopped me dead in my tracks when I first spotted it the day before the Concours d'Elegance competition, while it was being cleaned and polished in preparation for the event.

Hot enough for you?

The "GASHEAT" license plate refers to the gasoline powered heater and defroster unit, a $76 option in 1960. As I gazed at the gas heater and its surroundings in a corner of the trunk, I was amazed by the detail; the condition of the wiring and tubing, the rubber weather seal, the unpainted screw heads and the overall cleanliness of the painstakingly restored luggage compartment.