1961 Chevrolet Corvair Lakewood 700 Custom
GM’s Competitor to VW Beetle
68 cubic feet of storage
Front & Rear trunk spaces
With the success of the Volkswagen Beetle’s air-cooled engine in America, American manufacturers, particularly GM, raced to produce a suitable competitor: In 1960, the Chevrolet Corvair became available to the public! 26,000 Corvairs were sold within the first two days on the market, proving their initial popularity. The name ‘Corvair’ took the first part of the ‘Corvette’ name and the last part of the ‘Bel Air’ name, aiming to bring a familiar yet exciting feel to the new model.
In 1961, the options available for Corvairs expanded significantly, including upscale Monza trim, Corvair 95 trucks and vans, the Lakewood wagon, and more, all introduced that model year. It seemed that for any purpose, there was a Corvair that would fit the bill! On the Lakewood wagon, two trim options were available: The base ‘500’ and the more upscale ‘700’, both of which included primarily cosmetic enhancements.
The Lakewood station wagon was marketed as an economical solution for family travel with its easy-lift rear door, durable and easy-to-clean interior, and front and rear trunks for storage: The 1961 model boasted 68 cubic feet of total storage space! However, when compared, the Ford Falcon was its main (and more successful) competitor, and the Lakewood was only available for two years.
The Lakewood 700 Deluxe was the most expensive Corvair model available for 1961, and was originally equipped with a 2.4L air-cooled flat six engine producing 80 horsepower. This particular example had its engine rebuilt, upgraded, and balanced, as well as suspension components upgraded by the Corvair Range in Gettysburg, PA, and it now produces 110 horsepower. Corvair engine crankshafts rotated counter-clockwise, opposite that of most other engines, so that regular transmission and pinion gear arrangements could be used in the rear-engine configuration. The engine is primarily cooled by a fan mounted horizontally on top of the engine, driven by a long V-belt, and the fans themselves underwent a long series of revisions throughout the Corvair line’s production.
This example was restored by Arone Restoration under the supervision of Corvair enthusiast Don Magas, who aimed to create his ideal Corvair by making subtle modifications to enhance the wagon. The restoration included floor replacement, bodywork repair, restoration of stainless trim pieces, repainting in a period-accurate shade, suspension & engine upgrades, an updated dashboard, and interior cosmetic changes.
Specifications:
Engine: 164 cu in, air cooled, flat 6-cylinder
Power: 110 hp
Configuration: Rear-engine, rear-wheel drive
Weight: approx. 2550 lbs