1960s Chevrolet Corvair

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Just wondering whether Ralph Nader’s favourite car the 1960s Chevrolet Corvair that gained infamy of being "unstable at any speed" was released here in Australia at the time?

Kind regards
Lionel

[V8Ian]

I don't think Lionel, there may have been some privately imported.

Wasn't it "Unsafe at any speed"?

[Lionelgee]

I don't think Lionel, there may have been some privately imported.

Wasn't it "Unsafe at any speed"?

Hello Ian,

You are correct with "Unsafe". Why they were considered "unsafe" was because they lacked an anti-roll bar. This allegedly made them unstable. "Nader identified a Chevrolet engineer who had fought management after the management had eliminated a front anti-roll bar for cost reasons". The aspect of tyre pressure differential was an interesting approach to take to possibly resolve the issue. Well, as long as the specified pressure was maintained.

Factoids accessed 20th May 2025 from, Swing axle - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_axle)

Kind regards
Lionel

[JDNSW]

I don't think that they were particularly unsafe compared with other US cars of the time. But they could be considered unsafe because their handling on corners was very different compared to all other contemporary US manufactured cars, and probably more fussy about tyre pressure.

And I don't think I have ever seen or heard of one in Australia, although it would be unusual if at least one or two had never found their way here, perhaps as a diplomatic vehicle. I am certain they were never made in Right Hand Drive.

[Lionelgee]

Hello John,

Some further research found that Nader might have just over emphasized aspects of the car's handling attributes. It made a better story I suppose. This in turn sold more books. Not many lessons were learnt anyway. The placement of the petrol tank in a competitor's 1970s Pinto and the outcome of rear end collisions were a case in point. Safety versus cost of manufacture and size of profits. Safety versus Profits...

Kind regards
Lionel

[loanrangie]

Rear engined flat 6 with a transaxle so a bit tail heavy without much weight up front, never formally imported here but have seen them at car shows before.
GM even did a turbo version.