Some colors just don’t work for some people…and GM’s Evening Orchid color is that color for me. I know of at least one person who will vehemently disagree with me until the end of time about it, but I stand firm: Evening Orchid is the color of slinky undergarments for women and springtime flowers. Period. What would it take for me to own a car, any car, this color? This 1966 Corvair Corsa is just about the only way I’d even consider it. Why? Under that faint purple exterior is a Kelmark swap kit that is holding up a 385hp 425ci V8 and THM-425 out of an Oldsmobile Toronado. I’ve always liked the later Corvairs, they had a beautiful shape to them and the interiors are just about ideal in my eye. The rear-mounted V8 is just about icing on the cake, and the American Racing “Gambler” wheels add just enough old-school flavor to this car without being kitschy about it all. Would I drive it? Unashamedly so. Would I be in love with the color? Oh, hell no…but I could tolerate it.
Craigslist Link: 1966 Corvair Corsa with Kelmark GM FWD Conversion
(Courtesy: Bring A Trailer)
Beyond the color, when I observed that white furry thing that was either sitting nicely as it had been told to in the back seat or had died there I was truly alarmed. Only when I saw how the ratty paint was coming off the back of the bellhousing did it get it’s man-points back.
I do actually think late-sixties Corvairs coulda/shoulda been the perfect transportation cars. Light, low, enough room inside, good mileage. For musclecar, just add V8 kit…sometimes even now I think of getting one. The Corvair’s problem was there was just too many other cool cars around at the time.
He says it does wheelies…
He says it does wheelies?
That would be due to the vastly out of proportion amount of weight stuffed into its rear end. Typical – about the only Chevy I ever really liked and some clown goes and ruins it…
HATE the color, really like the car, often thought this swap was a good idea
Really clean car but too bad he didn’t repaint it back to original color, Marina Blue. It may be called Evening Orchid, it still looks pink to me.
Evening Orchid was a one year only color. Same with the Pontiac version Iris Mist. I guess it means it wasn’t that popular when new. Olds had it much longer. My grandmother had an Olds in this color.
Interesting concept, nice work on the execution, and gives me ideas for a 911 killing monster; but not my thing – too car show, not enough autocross