Corvair versus VW swing axles; safe/unsafe @any whatever?

[bobstad]

I've always been curious why Ralph Nader's broadside killing the Corvair over issues related to their original swing axle rear suspension, never had much bleedover with either Volkswagens or other very similar swing axle automobiles?

No one was looking for a rear engine Pontiac Tempest with swing axles, of course; though even that car's front engine, rear swing trans-axle version with the DeLorean flexible drive train from the mid '60s, must've exhibited some of the less than ideal characteristics of a swing axle rear drive suspension-no? Including increasingly worse angle of contact with road surfaces, as the axles flexed more radically; along with more complex issues, related to that and/or other similar phenomena...particularly resulting in the tendency towards unsafe driving characteristics.

A person would've imagined that during the time the Corvair was under assault, the then hugely popular Volkswagen would've attracted attention for a near identical mechanism including the rear engine; though I've never seen any discussion comparing the two, though sometimes even Porches have been objects of rational criticism, due to the pendulum like effect of a behind the rear axle motor, and the extreme weight bias that creates whether swing axle or otherwise.

Could there've been any sort of corporate collusion, able to so effectively shield VW; while leaving General Motors so obviously vulnerable? Or, were perhaps the specifics involved, just enough better driving characteristics on VWs than Corvairs; to make the latter that much more worthy of censure?

I more or less lived out of a '66 VW "square-back" sedan, the Type III station wagon-designed for the American market after the war, which became known amongst mechanics as "Hitler's Revenge;"* for the dozen years we were together from '82-'94: And also had friends also dependent upon a Volkswagen during some of the times when those were most popular as durable and practical flotsam/jetsam of a hugely successful and very long production run; so can appreciate perhaps much of the martial characteristics, which also made those vehicles great for people with significant budget and/or other serious enough issues.

Thinking now with much imagination of a more successful Corvair, that could've become successor to the Jeep; rather than the gargantuan Hummer? Doubtless, the world hasn't needed any such a successor to a VW's specific legacy...a "jack of all" proclivities, so to speak.

*The oil coolers were mounted ninety degrees from those in the bugs or buses, horizontal rather than vertical; ending up directly above the #3 cylinder, causing overheating and failure far more than with other VWs-to give a flat floor behind the rear seats, or flat trunk space in the fastbacks and notchbacks. An effective solution, was to relocate an appropriate aftermarket oil cooler; typically in the left rear fender, behind the air intake.

[bobstad]

I know I still have a worn paperback copy of Nader's book Unsafe At Any Speed; and if I'm not mistaken, this book takes to task not only the Corvair, but several other problematic enough to be unsafe automotive conundrums? I think the Corvair had it's own chapter, though there were several other items covered in other chapters, none related to the Corvair?

I could easily be mistaken, though that's what seems to still come through; from having actually read the book during the early '70s, along with Paul Erlich's The Population Bomb, to reference where my head was at then, and also a title by Abe Fortas on civil disobedience.[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...l-disobedience [http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.230...21106716934253

I also enjoyed reading books by another supreme court justice, William O. Douglas; from my home state of Washington: Someone a great outdoorsman, world traveler and political radical; besides his career as a judicial person...notably, with one great long article in the March 1962 National Geographic about his journeys in outer Mongolia; with beautiful pictures of yurts, amongst other things.

Somehow I got stuck into a career as a largely unsuccessful musician, at least commercially speaking and/or any great enough artistic values; so have had to rely upon SSDI/SSI due to some physical disabilities, as my income since early during '85. Without some spastic effect to the contrary now, things have been decreasingly discouraging for many years. I am known for dramatic Houdini like escapes on other levels than that master; so haven't gotten too discouraged, while the dreamscape lately probably reflects largess in selection of specific alcohol products...a too sweet, inexpensive malt beverage comes readily to mind about five dollars a six pack taxes & fees included, with six point two alcohol content.

[jfd64]

My father was a chevy car salesman in the sixties and loves the corvair.He encouraged buyers to put 100 lbs in the front trunk to help balance it out.

[lessersivad]

Nader not only took on the Corvair, but also the "X" framed full sized GM cars (1958-1964 Chevrolet as an example).

There was also mention of non-collapsing steering columns.

It's been probably close to 40 years since I read "Unsafe at Any Speed" so I don't recall if Nadar said anything negative about Ford or Chrysler products.

The 'vair lasted all the way thru the 60's so despite Nadar, it still had a good run.

[bobstad]

I too remember mention in Nader's book, about the steering column in a '58 Chevy being particularly lethal.

The second generation Corvairs were pleasingly sleeker looking, with some models having exceptional seeming potentials as serious drivers; when they brought out an alternative to the swing axle, though despite that attempt to mollify detractors unhappy with the original the Corvair did end with decreasing popularity-what serious fans sometimes thought of, as at least an American Porsche in potential.

I think that the now common front-wheel drive/traverse engine package begun with cars like the Austin Mini and made into the automotive standard by Honda, like our Festivas for instance; needn't of been the sluice of choice, humanity's car hungry masses have flown through so readily. An alternative, such as suggested by Volkswagen; with a far lighter weight engine than typical of front wheel drive, aimed at greater user servicing and/or aftermarket alternatives; could've been part of a different, less centralized world automobilia.

Imagine a successful world socialism for instance; with it's own heritage and history of a "People's Car" the Volkswagen began.* Rather than what seems a more limited scenario, of paved roads whose vehicles are adapted to little else; let alone, multi-purpose power plants and other pieces able to be creatively integrated at village levels. Definitely a pedestrian's planet in other words; with cars in a far more limited number, with greater thought and longevity to those designs, I think?

*During 1968 I read a book Small Wonder: The Amazing History of the Volkswagen. One of the more impressive details of that, was that though eventually if not continually stressed out economically; when the war was over the Nazis had kept intact all the funds contributed like Americans pay income taxes Germans had to give their government for what were supposed to be a family VW, once that program was able to provide such a domestic consumption. [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/96397.Small_Wonder

The book never tries to explain this, though does make note of the obvious enough anomaly; when the Nazis were otherwise going to incredible extremes trying to finance themselves, though wouldn't loot the savings devoted to providing the masses with VWs. I think capitalism, or whatever one ends up calling the dominate means of production as this exists; has the onus of always providing a surplus except when not providing anything at all. Not an original thought of mine for sure; though worth the pondering, whenever various "walls" arise in the process...with some sort of reasonably organic goal in mind.

Thus, the Corvair seems allied in imagination to an "alternative" realm, with enough of an actual trend that there've been people in the past several decades poised working at trying to guide the phenomena differently than what has come about. I think "Corvair" like "Festiva" are both made up words; though there's definitely a nautical and serious echo of the "Corvette" to hold in mind. Well, there's also an "Impala" and "Malibu" let alone "Mustang," "Bronco," "Pinto," and "Maverick" so that we needn't be too serious about what people name cars; sort of like making up names for pharmaceutical products, with many Asian brands.

DeLorean thought of front engine/front wheel drive cars as being silly, like fenders in the fifties; who'd advocated as best, mid-engine vehicles. I think the whole trick in a nutshell, is making anywhere between point A and point B; just as meaningful and worthwhile, as both the scene of departure and goal of the journey. Like a fine little wrecking yard I once walked to one day from downtown in Tia Juana after getting off the bus in San Diego, for a little lark on a cross country Greyhound ride.

The fit and capable man who'd had the wrecking yard on top of one of the highest hills in the whole city with a great vista view of the Pacific ocean and all the town and surrounding areas; had a little waist high tortilla factory about six or eight feet long, he was selling freshly made tortillas with, a package of thirteen for twelve cents.

[bobstad]

Sometimes, day to day life leaves out enough potential for reflection; on what an incredible time we live in. When any internal combustion engine vehicle devoted to common use on typical roadways; have still existed within what could still be a single person's long lifespan.

Not too many around still, born prior to 1900 of course; though I think the phenomena of Civil War era survivors for instance, has gotten more attention. Thus, our species capabilities for adaptation; are profoundly challenged, challenging and sometimes amazing. Where of a certainty, is questionable perhaps; will we survive the wheel? Give up, Saturday!