Once all this has been installed, a large box-like fiberglass cover hides the engine from general view. The front of this cover is recessed to form the new seats, and a full upholstery kit (an optional item) really dresses things up with carpeting on the floor and cover top, and padded upholstering for the seats.

When the full cover and upholstery are installed, the Corvair merely looks as if its carrying a big box where the back seat used to be. That's about all that's visible from the outside. There is a scoop recessed under the front bumper to let outside air into the radiator. The radiator mounts in what formerly was the trunk and requires both air inlet (front) and outlet openings in the bodywork. The former engine compartment now is the trunk, and is large enough to carry more than enough luggage for two people.

Put this all on the street (or strip) and what kind of performance can you expect? The original Crown demonstrator has only a stock 327 cu. in., 350-horsepower Chevy V-8, coupled to close-ratio transmission gears. The chassis has Crown's Corvair heavy duty suspension kit installed and the wheels mount 10.35-15 Indianapolis type tires. Honked on at the drag strip, it easily turns times in the mid-12's, with a best time ever recorded of 12.22 sec., elapsed time and 105 mph.

Because of the phenomenal traction inherent in this type of chassis arrangement, drag slick tires aren't needed. The Corv-8 gets a tremendous bite from its 40-60 weight distribution.