Corvair enthusiasts have described the fate of the last Corvair as one of GM history’s greatest mysteries. Photographers and reporters documented it coming off the line, but nobody seems to know for sure what happened to it after that day. Perhaps due to that enduring mystery, enthusiasts have put more stock in other “last” Corvairs, such as this 1969 Corvair convertible, described as the last Corvair convertible, which Tom Mack Auctions has consigned for its upcoming auction in Charlotte, North Carolina.
With lawsuits still threading their way through various court systems in the late 1960s, Chevrolet wanted to minimize the publicity surrounding the end of Corvair production as much as possible. The bowtie division knew from the outset that the 1969 model year would be the Corvair’s last – its production planners had determined that a run of 6,000 cars would suffice – but its public relations office didn’t send out an official announcement to the press until two days before the end of production.
Suddenly, the last Corvairs became hot commodities. Media and GM dignitaries alike swarmed the production line on May 14, 1969, the last day of Corvair production, and everybody from GM executives to Bill Harrah put in requests for the very last Corvair off the production line, an Olympic Gold Monza coupe fitted with the 95hp engine that many people believe was subsequently scrapped. Fisher Body built one more body – a Garnet Red Monza coupe that never received a VIN or body number – just in case Chevrolet needed it, and Chevrolet actually stockpiled about 20 Corvairs on a rooftop – including a 500 coupe, #5214, which was the last Corvair to remain in GM inventory – for various purposes, but that was the end of the line.
According to the seller of this Frost Green Corvair Monza convertible, #5997, the two cars that separate it from the last Corvair in VIN sequence were both coupes (#5999, a Lemans Blue Monza currently in the Corvair Museum in Ypsilanti, Michigan; and #5998, which remains unaccounted for), making this car the last Corvair convertible. Maggini Chevrolet in Berkeley, California, sold it new, and it remained with its original owner until the early 2000s. Even today, with its fourth owner, it retains its original 110hp drivetrain, original interior, and original convertible top; has been repainted just once; and displays 74,000 miles on its odometer. It previously appeared on the Hemmings.com classifieds with an asking price of $38,200.
In addition to the convertible, Tom Mack Auctions has also consigned an unrestored 1966 Yenko Stinger, YS-109 YS-019, a 39,000-mile, original paint, original interior Stage II car that was among the first 100 COPO cars that Don Yenko ordered to transform into Stingers. From the auction description:
Being an unrestored car it shows very well with some slight patina in its original Ermine white lacquer paint. It is probably the finest unrestored Yenko Stinger in existence as most were totaled rebodied from racing or rusted out. This car has no rust or body damage. The car has the original numbers matching Stage II engine, 3:89 posi differential, quick steering, telescopic steering column, wood wheel, radio delete and original Yenko installed Stewart-Warner gauges. It is a documented car in the Yenko registry.
Tom Mack’s Charlotte auction will take place September 20 at the Metrolina Tradeshow Expo. For more information, visit TomMackClassics.com.
