1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza

1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Coupe — Trans Am “What-If” Livery • Custom Widebody • Rebuilt Flat-Six • 4-Speed

This 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 2-door Sport Coupe is a custom build inspired by the concept of a Trans Am race car built by legendary innovator Smokey Yunick. Originally assembled at the Los Angeles plant as a solid Cameo Beige vehicle with a bronze vinyl interior, this car has been transformed into a track-inspired street machine featuring extensive, custom-molded steel bodywork and upgraded mechanical systems. It features a black and gold race livery over a modernized race-style interior, with only 38 miles logged since completion.

Highlights

• Inspiration: Conceived as a “What If” Smokey Yunick built a Corvair Trans Am race car.
• Engine: Upgraded flat-six built with forged pistons, roller rockers, a high-volume oil pump, and four enlarged carburetors.
• Livery: Custom two-tone black and gold race paint scheme with red pinstripe accents.
• Body modifications: Custom steel flared fenders, shaved and tucked body seams, and de-chromed bumpers sectioned and molded directly to the body panels.
• Odometer: 38 miles accumulated since the build was completed.

Engine & Drivetrain

• Engine Type: Corvair horizontally opposed flat-six.
• Engine Source: Sourced from a fellow car club member’s donor Corvair with just under 10,000 miles before being torn down, checked for compression, and completely resealed.
• Internal Upgrades: .030 over forged pistons • Harland Sharpe roller rockers • Smith Bros. pushrods • OTTO OT50 camshaft • High-volume oil pump.
• Induction: Four primary carburetors enlarged to 1 5/32 bore with fuel bowl vents, operated via a Roger Parent throttle linkage.
• Lubrication: Front-mounted oil cooler with braided lines and AN fittings • Yenko-style oil splash baffle • Offenhauser oil pan and valve covers.
• Exhaust: Custom exhaust headers feeding into Flowmaster mufflers.
• Transmission: 4-speed manual gearbox rebuilt by Paul Keller, replacing the original factory Powerglide automatic.
• Differential: Rebuilt differential with new posi-traction plates and 3.89:1 gearing.
• Clutch Assembly: Bolted flywheel with a new clutch disc, throw-out bearing, and pilot bushing.
• Shifter & Mounts: Rebuilt shifter tube with bronze bushings • Shifter coupler with nylon insert • New transmission and “horse collar” mounts • New clutch cable with a Roger Parent pulley.
• Fuel System: New fuel tank • Airtex electric fuel pump • 3/8-inch fuel lines • Holley pressure regulator.
• Electrical: 63-amp alternator • Completely new wiring harnesses and fuse box • New battery.

Exterior

• Bodywork: Taken down to bare metal with rust repaired using fresh sheet metal.
• Flares: Rear fenders widened by 1 3/4 inches, front fenders widened by 3/4 inch, with internal wheel wells widened to match.
• Stance Modifications: Front wheel well lips moved forward by 3/4 inch to clear larger tires.
• Aerodynamics: Modified “Tin Fin” rear spoiler grafted directly to the engine lid • Front lip spoiler.
• Details: Shaved rain gutters laid flat against the roof • Molded rear cove ends • Fuel filler door deleted and relocated to a flip-up style cap on the driver-side rear fender.
• Paint: Completed using SPI epoxy primer, base coat, and clearcoat products.
• Glass & Rubber: New windshield glass • New weatherstripping and window felt tracks.
• Lighting: New headlight and taillight bulbs • New-old-stock (NOS) taillight lenses • Chrome headlight bezels.
• Wheels & Tires: 16×8.5 American Racing Torq Thrust wheels • Toyo Proxes R888 track-day tires • Extended wheel studs.

Interior

• Seats: ProCar black vinyl bucket seats with pass-through slots for racing harnesses.
• Safety: Integrated 4-point roll bar anchored behind the front seats • New seat belts.
• Controls: Grant three-spoke steering wheel • Hurst floor shifter with a red shift knob.
• Dashboard & Instrumentation: Stock dash housing Stewart-Warner aftermarket gauges • Ignition switch relocated to a custom console box between the front seats.
• Amenities: Rebuilt window actuators • Sound insulation using Kilzmat material • New carpet, headliner, door cards, and sill plates.
• Audio: Modern radio head unit • Hidden antenna • Four Rockford Fosgate speakers.

Chassis & Suspension

• Front Suspension: Disassembled and powder-coated • New-old-stock (NOS) Moog and TRW ball joints and tie rod ends • Rebuilt steering box, reinforced center link, and new idler arm • Short steering arms and polyurethane pitman arm bushings • Clarks heavy-duty springs and KYB gas shocks.
• Rear Suspension: Disassembled and powder-coated • New trailing arm bushings and U-joints • Polyurethane stabilizer bushings • ADDCO rear sway bar • Corvette strut arms with a Crown strut rod mount • Clarks heavy-duty springs and KYB gas shocks.
• Brakes: Front disc brake conversion • Rebuilt rear drum brakes with new wheel cylinders, hoses, drums, shoes, and hardware • Adjustable brake proportioning valve.
• Other Components: New front wheel bearings and seals • New speedometer drive gear and cable.

Known Imperfections

• Missing Components: Horn button is currently not installed but included.
• Windshield Wipers: Driver-side windshield wiper arm and blade are currently not installed but included.
• Fire Extinguisher: A floor-mounted fire extinguisher is present but requires inspection to verify pressure charge status.

Additional Info

• Documentation: Loose-leaf binder filled with build notes, diagrams, and receipts.
• Spares: Car cover, uninstalled wiper arm/blade, and the steering wheel horn button are included with the sale.

Factory VIN Decode (105376L112899)

• 1: Chevrolet division.
• 05: Corvair Monza series.
• 37: 2-door Sport Coupe body style.
• 6: 1966 model year.
• L: Built at the Los Angeles (Van Nuys) assembly plant.
• 112899: Production sequence serial number.

Factory Trim Tag Decode

• 03D: Built in the 4th week of March 1966.
• ST 66-10537: 1966 Corvair Monza 2-door Sport Coupe.
• LOS 5012: Assembled at Los Angeles plant; 5,012th Monza Sport Coupe body built there for the model year.
• TR 702-Z: Bronze Imitation Leather (Vinyl) bucket seats (exclusive Los Angeles “-Z” suffix).
• PAINT V-V: Solid Cameo Beige paint finish (upper and lower sections).
• Option W (Line 5): Group 1, RPO A02 tinted windshield glass (top tint only).
• Option 2M (Line 5): Group 2, RPO M35 Powerglide automatic transmission.

This highly customized Corvair Monza effectively captures the visual presence and spirit of a vintage Trans Am racer through its extensive metal fabrication and performance parts list. Having covered fewer than 40 miles since its comprehensive transformation, it offers an aggressive build that is completely ready to enjoy on the street or display at regional shows…

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