Corvair vs Beetle — Rear-Engine, Air-Cooled Classics
The Chevrolet Corvair and the Volkswagen Beetle are the two great rear-engine, air-cooled classics of the era, and the Corvair was Chevrolet's answer to the Beetle. They share an unusual layout but feel very different: the Corvair is bigger and more powerful, the Beetle simpler and more universal.
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Chevrolet Corvair | Volkswagen Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Air-cooled flat-six | Air-cooled flat-four |
| Layout | Rear-engine | Rear-engine |
| Performance pick | Turbo Corsa (180 hp) | N/A (economy car) |
| Ownership | Reasonable | Cheapest / simplest |
The case for Chevrolet Corvair
Pick the Corvair for more car and more power: a flat-six (not four), a roomier body, and genuine performance in the turbocharged Monza Spyder and Corsa. The 1965-1969 second generation handles well and looks great, and values are still reasonable.
The case for Volkswagen Beetle
Pick the Beetle for unmatched simplicity, the cheapest air-cooled parts and service, and the deepest community of any classic. It is slower and smaller than the Corvair, but it is the easiest classic to own and the split- and oval-window cars are genuinely collectible.
Verdict
The Corvair is the more interesting drive, a flat-six rear-engine compact with a turbo option and (in second-gen form) a fine chassis. The Beetle is the simpler, cheaper, more iconic everyman classic. For an easy first classic, the Beetle; for something more unusual and quicker, the Corvair, especially a second-gen Corsa turbo.
Recent Chevrolet Corvair listings
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1963 Chevrolet Corvair
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1967 Chevrolet Corvair
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1965 Chevrolet Corvair
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1965 Chevrolet Corvair
Recent Volkswagen Beetle listings
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1970 Volkswagen Beetle
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1970 Volkswagen Beetle
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1959 Volkswagen Beetle
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