Good day!

I could probably do some digging and find the answer but I'll bet someone here knows it right off. I was speaking with a gentleman today who has a 1960 700 coupe with a 4-speed transmission. Was a 4-speed transmission available in 1960?

It sounds like a pretty cool car that may be for sale.

Thanks for your info.

Enjoy the Corvair!

Paul Sergeant
CORSA Central Division Director / CORSA Treasurer
Lee's Summit, MO
CORSA since 1975
Member – HACOA, Corvair Minnesota, CORSA, Little Indians, POCI

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/20/2023 11:59PM by MattNall.

In the Corvair Gold literature it states no 4 speed in 60.

-Tom


63' Monza Spyder Convertable (in process) MY Build Thread
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NFCC, UMCC
Grand Island, NY

There is debate on that. I know it was planned but have never heard a definitive answer on if it was actually released.

Joel
Northlake, TX
5 Ultravans, 145 Corvairs and counting...

Follow up question...how big a deal would it be to swap a 3-speed for a 4-speed in a 1960. A cave man I am not but may become one depending on this car.

Enjoy the Corvair!

Paul Sergeant
CORSA Central Division Director / CORSA Treasurer
Lee's Summit, MO
CORSA since 1975
Member – HACOA, Corvair Minnesota, CORSA, Little Indians, POCI

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I think it will fit but if it is an aluminum 3 speed car you should give it a try. The one three speed Corvair I drove was really nice and fun.

Sam Russell
Durham NC
1962 Monza Wagon Ted Brown EFI Gen II
1964 Spyder coupe

Sorry, it already has a 4-speed. Just wondered how much chopping/re-engineering would have been done to get it in there. I'm guessing just a transmission cross-member swap(?)

Enjoy the Corvair!

Paul Sergeant
CORSA Central Division Director / CORSA Treasurer
Lee's Summit, MO
CORSA since 1975
Member – HACOA, Corvair Minnesota, CORSA, Little Indians, POCI

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A couple (2?) 1960 Corvairs were upfitted with a 4-speed transmission and loaned out to the Press back in the day to get some exposure. The option was not released and never built for retail sale. I think they made a couple (2 again?) 4-speed transmissions with an aluminum case like the standard 3-speed manual tansmission. I think Ken Hand has one of the aluminum case 4-speeds (ultra rare!!). It is possible to put a '61-'65 4-speed in a 1960. The trans crossmember has to be modified to clear the longer transmission, but it is possible. I had a '60 Monza with a later 4-speed. That car is still here in the local club. It is possible to put a later Saginaw 4-speed trans in a '60. Bob Kirkman did this with his "Stubby" custom 2-door 1960. More modification is required, but it can be done.

I see that in Tony Fiore's book, the 4-speed transmission was listed as an RPO #651. I defer to you Pete (Mr. Caveman). It sounds like an interesting car.

Enjoy the Corvair!

Paul Sergeant
CORSA Central Division Director / CORSA Treasurer
Lee's Summit, MO
CORSA since 1975
Member – HACOA, Corvair Minnesota, CORSA, Little Indians, POCI

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Paul, I see no one answered yet, so, Yes, putting a three speed transmission in a car that was retrofitted to a four speed is EASY. Well, if you think dropping the drivetrain is easy!

You need the three speed transmission and the three speed input shaft. All the other parts are re-used. Oh, and a little black shift ball if the car currently has a white shift ball.

Frank DuVal

Fredericksburg, VA

So a few questions for you Paul on this car. Are you sure it is a 60? Is the transmission case
aluminum or cast iron? Are you sure it has a 4 speed (3 forward plus 1 reverse = 4 speeds?).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2023 10:01AM by VairKing.

The suspension crossmember (horse collar) has to be modified to fit a 4 speed where a 3 speed or PG was fitted from the factory. Even the factory 4 speed suspension crossmember can look a little rough.
Pete calls it the trans crossmember above but that is what I like to call the transmission mounting bracket. I may be off.

Jim Brandberg
Isanti, MN
CorvairRepair.com

I have not yet seen the car. It's an hour plus from here. I spoke with the gentleman who owns it yesterday. He insists that it's a 4-speed but it also doesn't run so it's possible that it has a 4-speed shift knob and is really a 3-speed. The PO tore apart the carbs and tossed all the parts in a box and left it. According to the current owner, it has complete owner record back to the original owner. I may try to get over to see it in the next week or so.

Enjoy the Corvair!

Paul Sergeant
CORSA Central Division Director / CORSA Treasurer
Lee's Summit, MO
CORSA since 1975
Member – HACOA, Corvair Minnesota, CORSA, Little Indians, POCI

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It could have a 4sp because it has a floor shift and a 3sp would be on the column. If the owner doesn't know Corvairs that could be his thinking.

RJ tools
Salem,Oregon

All manual shift Corvairs had floor shifters. No column shifters ever. As for the listing of an option code, perhaps yes, there was a code released for publication, but no orders were ever filled with that part. I guess you could call it a "stop order" or something like that.

The 1960 coupe that I bought with an upfitted 4-speed also came with a "built" 140 engine. The engine was not installed in the car yet so I put in a generic 102 HP engine that I had sitting around the Caveman Garage and loaned the very pretty 140 to the Ypsi Corvair Museum for display. I think the guy I got the car from had big plans of a 140 HP 4-speed '60 Monza terror. Sorry he never saw it to completion.

I know no Corvairs ever had a column shift but to a person who doesn't know the cars, he could easily assume that it was a 4 on the floor. If the carbs were taken apart by the owner before this owner then this owner has never driven the car and may not know how many gears it has.

RJ tools
Salem,Oregon

I understood what you meant Rex. But I wonder if it has the push button shifter?
All early models are Spyders, right?

Which is more rare; 1960 Monza or 1960 700 Coupe?

Enjoy the Corvair!

Paul Sergeant
CORSA Central Division Director / CORSA Treasurer
Lee's Summit, MO
CORSA since 1975
Member – HACOA, Corvair Minnesota, CORSA, Little Indians, POCI

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1960 Monzas were not offered for sale until May of 1960 and then for less than 3 1/2 months. The 700 coupe production started in mid-December 1959 (I have body #7). 700's were plentiful, but anymore any 1960 coupe is very collectible.

No, all convertibles are Spyders or all with 4 carburetors.

Joel
Northlake, TX
5 Ultravans, 145 Corvairs and counting...