Corvair fans name car as unique choice

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 15 (UPI) -- Fans of the Chevrolet Corvair, meeting this week in Jacksonville, Fla., say the model ditched by General Motors 40 years ago remains a unique car choice.

Florida resident Jeff Kent, who had his rear-engine Corvair modified into a muscle car, said the former GM product offers a more intriguing alternative than more popular Chevrolet models, the Jacksonville (Fla.) Times-Union said Wednesday.

"They are unique and different," Kent said at this week's 2009 Corvair Society of America Convention. "Everybody's got Chevelles and Camaros. We enjoy the Corvairs."

Corvair Preservation Association historian Dave Newell said a certain type of person is drawn to the Corvair and its rear-mounted, air-cooled engines.

"Most Corvair people are non-conformists," Newell told the Times-Union.

"They have a personality. It may not be perfect, but you can't love something that's perfect. They have character, are fun to drive and different," he added regarding the Corvair model.