Inventory Listing

Nicely sorted and ready to enjoy. Later engine, deluxe interior, runs and drives very well. No stories, just go have fun!

From the bright color combination to the wonderfully useful interior to the funky yet reliable air-cooled powertrain, this 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportwaon is an unusual and affordable way to get a lot of attention at car shows. The two-tone Cardinal Red and Cameo White paint combination is this van’s original combination, and all Sportwagons came with the contrasting stripe running through their centers. This has obviously always been a nice, clean Corvair that has led an easy life and has probably been restored as needed over the course of its life. The bodywork is quite straight and clean, with doors that fit well and you already know there are no replacement aftermarket body panels, so that’s factory sheetmetal throughout. It also offers nice chrome bumpers, crisp ‘Greenbrier’ emblems, and a jaunty spare tire mounted out back. You’ll also find some pinstripe work on the oversized side mirrors, which are pretty nice to have when maneuvering in tight spaces.

The two-tone red and white interior is big enough for nine passengers and all their stuff, and the upholstery appears to be the upscale “Deluxe” trim. I would guess that the upholstery has been replaced at some point, since it’s just too nice to be 55 years old, but it has a nice patina that works rather well with the rest of the van and it’s important to note that it actually looks better in person than in photos, as the flash tends to magnify all the flaws. The front carpet is definitely a homeowner-grade deep pile, but it’s professionally finished and bound around the edges, so it fits well and looks decent under a red rubber mat. The instrument panel is from a Spyder (turbo) model, and includes a cylinder head temperature gauge, but it doesn’t appear to be hooked up. All the other gauges, however, are fully functional. There’s also a later AM/FM/cassette stereo and even a ‘70s 8-track player underneath, and it plays through a set of speakers mounted under the dash and in the back D-pillars that fill the interior with sound. Twin rear benches are in equally good condition, flanking a removable table with a US map on its surface, and the carpet back there is a short nap that may also be from a home store but fits well and presents no issues. The little map lights above the table an in the cargo bay all work properly and there’s a heavy-duty rubber mat to protect the floor in back.

The engine appears to be from a 1964 Corvair automobile, as it offers a 1964-only fan belt guard and forward-mounted dipstick, as well as an alternator instead of a generator. The engine bay is tidy if not detailed, and it runs superbly. A bit of priming from the electric pump and it fires right up without a lot of drama, and after warming up, it’s smooth and easy to drive. The two-speed PowerGlide automatic transmission works properly and it happily cruises at 55 MPH without seeming to work very hard. Brakes are firm and reassuring while the suspension rides like a luxury car, not a truck, gliding over rough pavement without disturbing the folks in back working at the table. Heck, this one’s not even a leaker! It’s fitted with original steel wheels that have been painted to match the bodywork, as well as a set of 195/75/14 General whitewall radials that are just the right size.

We here at Harwood Motors have quickly discovered that we really like this Greenbrier. Everyone who sees it smiles and now that we’ve driven it a bit, its user-friendly nature and awesome practicality make it a favorite. If you like unique, affordable, and easy-to-maintain collector cars, you won’t find many better than this.