Options?

This 700 club couple stands up to close inspection and is rich in original extra cost options such as the wide band whitewalls and bowtie trim rings seen at right. Note the period correct 6.50-13 4-ply tires!

In the photo below, we see a few other options; a horn ring (replacing a button), manual AM radio, dash-mounted clock, and the controls for the optional gas heat and defrost system. Note that the 700 is fitted with a bench seat, as opposed to the bucket seats that would later become a Corvair trademark.

It's interesting to note that Corvairs built before the introduction of the Monza series in May of 1960 were not available with 4-speed manual transmissions. Until May, only two transmissions were available; a 2-speed Powerglide automatic with dash-mounted shifter, and a 3-speed manual with a floor-mounted shifter. As was common in other cars of the period, the Corvair's 3-speed transmission was synchronized only in 2nd and 3rd gears. A downshift into 1st while moving required the driver to double-clutch. If you wanted to avoid a loud, grinding protest from the transmission, you either came to a full stop before selecting 1st gear, or you learned to double-clutch.

Double-clutch?

 Double-clutch technique is simple, but a bit of nuisance. It requires the following steps:

1. depress the clutch and shift to neutral

2. quickly release the clutch (while in neutral) and stab the gas pedal to increase engine RPM by an amount roughly equivalent to the (previously determined) RPM drop between 1st and 2nd gears

3. quickly depress the clutch again (before losing the effect of the previous step) and shift to 1st

4. enjoy your success and the absence of grinding noise or grit teeth in unison with grinding noise

Believe it or not, it was not until the 1966 model year that Chevrolet provided fully synchronized 3-speed manual transmissions in the Corvair.