As you can imagine, a day of cruising Mulholland Highway and Topanga Canyon in this mid-engine 'vair would rate as a memorable experience. Bob Mehlhoff of Chevy High Performance magazine did just that, riding shotgun in the 383 roadster while Archibald demonstrated its abilities. To read Mehlhoff's account and view some excellent detail photography, follow this link.

As cool as the maroon mid-engine roadster is, Archibald learned while building it, how to build a better mousetrap. Eventually, he reluctantly sold the car to help finance an even more ambitious project. The roadster is in good hands with its current owner, Harlan Hinkley, says Evans, claiming Harlan knows how to let the car off its leash.

"The 383 roadster loves to run," he muses, "as do most V-8 Corvairs."

Corv-8 evolution: Aesthetic Design Engineering LLC SuperVair_TM

Archibald Evans' personal passion is morphing into a business. At the suggestion of long-time friend and colleague, Ralph Gonzalez, he's formed a limited liability company, Aesthetic Design Engineering LLC. The company's mission it to develop an updated kit enabling enthusiasts to transcend the limitations of original Corv-8 kit design. A long time admirer of the father of the Crown Corv-8 kit, Ted Trevor, Archibald respectfully points out that 40 years of automotive and technical development now make it possible to evolve the Crown design beyond its original performance parameters.

Enter the SuperVair development vehicle, with a powertrain beefy enough to handle the brute strength of its 650 hp, 506 cubic-inch Brodix big block. SuperVair is designed as a road race car and not a drag car, but it should break 10 seconds in the quarter-mile. It is normally aspirated with a single carburetor rated at 1000 cfm, and—get this—a dual turbocharged variant is planned, promising 1200 hp plus!  

"The SuperVair project is the culmination of all of the knowledge and experience Ralph Gonzalez and I have accumulated with street and strip automobiles, and especially V-8 Corvairs," he says, "and between us, that amounts to over 60 years. That knowledge is going into a race-breed conversion kit."

Evans and Gonzalez have entered all the dimensions of the late model Corvair into a computer-assisted design (CAD) program. In four years, $250,000 was invested in the project refining all elements of the design to their lowest common denominators. The rear suspension went through eleven variations in 2½ years before they were satisfied they could simplify no further. They've gone through three hub configurations and several engine mount and frame designs. They've also developed a unique air-handling strategy that includes exhausting heated engine air through a custom slotted back-lite as seen in the picture below.

The ADELLC R/S slotted rear window for the late model Corvair is made of high impact aircraft quality acrylic, and is designed to allow the warmed air off of the engine to ventilate. It is being offered in three versions; 3/16" tinted, 3/16" clear and 1/8" tinted. The 3/16" material will withstand elevated temperatures for greater lengths of time and is rigid enough to be hinged while the thinner 1/8" version affords reduced weight in a fixed position. The 3/16" R/S window is recommended for extended use. A scratch resistant coating is available.

ADELLC suggests the R/S slot affords many solutions to owning and maintaining a mid-engine late model Corvair. It can be either hinged or fixed with quick release fasteners allowing easy access to the engine compartment/former rear seat area. The slot is designed not only to allow for the ventilation of the warmed air off of the engine but also to improve the air flow over the roof of the vehicle. The slotted area intrudes into the cabin slightly following the roof line which reduces the likelihood of moisture finding its way into the vehicle (click here for an interior view in a separate window). Anyone interested in ordering one should contact Aesthetic Design Engineering LLC.