Corvair emblem Corsa fender emblem

A stroked 383 cubic-inch Corv-8 Monza Roadster

Contributing to the super clean appearance of the California-based 383 roadster are flush-mounted, early 1980s Honda door pulls, and reworked bumpers painted body color. The paint is mid-'90s Lexus maroon, modified by replacing the brown toner with an equal amount of red pearl. In direct sunlight it's a wine color, at dusk it's deep purple, and depending on the artificial light falling on the car, it can be luminescent burgundy.

Look closely at the bumpers and you'll notice the absence of stock carriage bolts normally used to attach them to their mounting brackets. Instead, the bumpers are welded to the brackets. They are then bolted to the body from the inside, just as on the stock Corvair. This allows the bumpers to be removed in the same manner as in the stock configuration.

Corv-8

Corv-8 Corvair at the crossroads

As you can imagine, a day of cruising Mulholland Highway and Topanga Canyon in this mid-engine 'vair would rate as a memorable experience. Bob Mehlhoff of Chevy High Performance magazine did just that, riding shotgun in the 383 roadster while Archibald demonstrated its abilities. To read Mehlhoff's account and view some excellent detail photography, follow this link.

As cool as the maroon mid-engine roadster is, Archibald learned while building it, how to build a better mousetrap. Eventually, he reluctantly sold the car to help finance an even more ambitious project. The roadster is in good hands with its current owner, Harlan Hinkley, says Evans, claiming Harlan knows how to let the car off its leash.

"The 383 roadster loves to run," he muses, "as do most V-8 Corvairs."


Corv-8 evolution: Aesthetic Design Engineering LLC
SuperVairTM

Archibald Evans' personal passion is morphing into a business. At the suggestion of long-time friend and colleague, Ralph Gonzalez, he's formed a limited liability company, Aesthetic Design Engineering LLC. The company's mission it to develop an updated kit enabling enthusiasts to transcend the limitations of original Corv-8 kit design. A long time admirer of the father of the Crown Corv-8 kit, Ted Trevor, Archibald respectfully points out that 40 years of automotive and technical development now make it possible to evolve the Crown design beyond its original performance parameters.

Enter the SuperVair development vehicle, with a powertrain beefy enough to handle the brute strength of its 650 hp, 506 cubic-inch Brodix big block. SuperVair is designed as a road race car and not a drag car, but it should break 10 seconds in the quarter-mile. It is normally aspirated with a single carburetor rated at 1000 cfm, andget thisa dual turbocharged variant is planned, promising 1200 hp plus!  

"The SuperVair project is the culmination of all of the knowledge and experience Ralph Gonzalez and I have accumulated with street and strip automobiles, and especially V-8 Corvairs," he says, "and between us, that amounts to over 60 years. That knowledge is going into a race-breed conversion kit."

Evans and Gonzalez have entered all the dimensions of the late model Corvair into a computer-assisted design (CAD) program. In four years, $250,000 was invested in the project refining all elements of the design to their lowest common denominators. The rear suspension went through eleven variations in 2½ years before they were satisfied they could simplify no further. They've gone through three hub configurations and several engine mount and frame designs. They've also developed a unique air-handling strategy that includes exhausting heated engine air through a custom slotted back-lite as seen in the picture below.

Late model Corvair slotted rear window

The ADELLC R/S slotted rear window for the late model Corvair is made of high impact aircraft quality acrylic, and is designed to allow the warmed air off of the engine to ventilate. It is being offered in three versions; 3/16" tinted, 3/16" clear and 1/8" tinted. The 3/16" material will withstand elevated temperatures for greater lengths of time and is rigid enough to be hinged while the thinner 1/8" version affords reduced weight in a fixed position. The 3/16" R/S window is recommended for extended use. A scratch resistant coating is available.

ADELLC suggests the R/S slot affords many solutions to owning and maintaining a mid-engine late model Corvair. It can be either hinged or fixed with quick release fasteners allowing easy access to the engine compartment/former rear seat area. The slot is designed not only to allow for the ventilation of the warmed air off of the engine but also to improve the air flow over the roof of the vehicle. The slotted area intrudes into the cabin slightly following the roof line which reduces the likelihood of moisture finding its way into the vehicle (click here for an interior view in a separate window). Anyone interested in ordering one should contact Aesthetic Design Engineering LLC.

Photos by Archibald Evans
Cutaway views by Ralph Gonzalez
For more information on V-8 Corvairs visit: www.v8vairs.com

© 2005 www.corvaircorsa.com

Aesthetic Design Engineering LLC (ADELLC)
Business hours: M-F, 9 am to 5 pm, PST
Telephone: (310) 921-2124  Fax: (310) 921-2126
Email Archibald Evans: ade383@hotmail.com

End of 383 Corv-8 feature

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