1962 Corvair Monza SS Spider concept 1:25

[ea0863]

Upon completing the 1962 Corvair Monza GT, I felt compelled to build its stablemate - the Corvair Monza SS Spider. There were apparently three iterations of this car, but I chose to go with its earliest version as it had the cleanest lines and was the most beautiful to my eyes.

 

As before, I began with the Entex Monza GT kit in 1:25 scale (closer to 1:27 scale in reality). There were two big changes that had to occur; the first chopping the top and creating the rear engine cover, the second lengthening the rear overhang. While the two cars might appear the same, I learned that the SS in fact had a 4" shorter wheelbase and an 8" longer rear overhang. This change was apparently to account for the engine being turned 180 degrees from its GT configuration ahead of the rear axle to rearward facing behind it (like the production Corvair). The former change was relatively straightforward, but the latter required hours of planning, cutting, and recontouring the rear end.

Upon completion of the kit, which was easily the most intensive bodywork I have ever done on a model, the results were very pleasing.

The windshield is a piece of clear plastic curved into shape.

The exhaust pipes are aluminum tube cut on a bias.

The rear panel is sunk further into the body and frenched in as the original was. The lights are aluminum tube and plastic centers.

The engine cowl has louvers approximated with Evergreen #4526 "metal siding" polystyrene sheet.

The interior again has fabricated sills and center console.

Once the build was completed, I was most looking forward to the photo of both cars together, as in this original:

All things considered, I am very proud of how my two came out.

And here is an illustration of the difference in rear overhangs between the two cars.

At this point, I'm a bit burned out on this kit, but eventually I may get a couple more to do the second version of the SS from 1963.

The third version of the SS from 1965 will be quite challenging as well, although it is a fascinating car - showing much of what was to come in the Corvette (and quite possibly Opel GT).

 

[bondo bill]

Cool pair

[Rich Chernosky]

Emre...I really like this project. The car is so sleek and racy  looking . You have captured it well. This is a fine piece of modeling...well done.  Do the third version by all means. It will be a great set. 

[michelle]

great job on the body mods 
and very cool subject never even knew about these concept cars 

[ea0863]

41 minutes ago, Rich Chernosky said:

Emre...I really like this project. The car is so sleek and racy  looking . You have captured it well. This is a fine piece of modeling...well done.  Do the third version by all means. It will be a great set. 

Thank you much Rich

[ea0863]

33 minutes ago, michelle said:

great job on the body mods 
and very cool subject never even knew about these concept cars 

Thank you Michelle. I find half the fun in our hobby is the new things I learn about the subjects of my builds

[michelle]

1 hour ago, ea0863 said:

Thank you Michelle. I find half the fun in our hobby is the new things I learn about the subjects of my builds

true
i have learned more about  international market big 3 cars from the 60's and 70's  cause the research i have been doing for the models of them i have made and the ones i am currently making 

[XYHARRY]

Beautiful build there Emre, great work on the conversion. 

Cheers, 

David. ??

[ncbuckeye67]

Very nice builds! That's the difference between a builder and an assembler.

[ea0863]

4 hours ago, XYHARRY said:

Beautiful build there Emre, great work on the conversion. 

Cheers, 

David. ??

Thank you kindly David

[ea0863]

3 hours ago, ncbuckeye67 said:

Very nice builds! That's the difference between a builder and an assembler.

You are very kind Jeff, thank you

[happy grumpy]

That's a beautiful build Emre. Has a corvette thing to it. Really nice job on that, friend.?

[ea0863]

6 minutes ago, happy grumpy said:

That's a beautiful build Emre. Has a corvette thing to it. Really nice job on that, friend.?

Thank you so much Mario. I really fell in love with it myself.

[espo]

Beautiful looking body work along with the paint finishes. The leading edges of the body look very much like a Corvette. I'll bet GM would have sold more of these than they did Corvairs. 

[Sonorandog]

Turned out excellent

[ea0863]

50 minutes ago, espo said:

Beautiful looking body work along with the paint finishes. The leading edges of the body look very much like a Corvette. I'll bet GM would have sold more of these than they did Corvairs. 

Thanks David, I couldn't agree more.

[ea0863]

32 minutes ago, Sonorandog said:

Turned out excellent

Thank you Steve

[Gramps46]

Spot on Emre.  Thank you for sharing with us.

[ea0863]

1 hour ago, Gramps46 said:

Spot on Emre.  Thank you for sharing with us.

I appreciate it Gary

[Yeah Nah]

Wow! Amazing project.

[Rattlecan Dan]

Very nice work. Corvairs never looked so good.

[ea0863]

1 hour ago, Yeah Nah said:

Wow! Amazing project.

 

24 minutes ago, Rattlecan Dan said:

Very nice work. Corvairs never looked so good.

Thank you Sirs

[PappyD340]

Super nice pair, well done!

[slusher]

Beautiful Pair!

[ea0863]

Thanks guys