Sunday, June 19, 2016
Useful Rampside: 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Pickup
We don’t know much about this 1961 Corvair Rampside pickup, but we do know a few important things: it is rust-free, it runs, and it’s for sale here on eBay. It’s located in Wilmington, California, which along with it’s previous history on a hay farm in Nevada probably accounts for the lack of rust.
This picture shows off the unusual bed on these rampsides. While the side entry may be fabulous for some particular purposes (for example, this would be great for a landscaper to unload a mower from), the raised rear of the bed floor that covers the flat six engine reduces the utility somewhat.
There’s still some useful depth to the bed, though, and I think it would be a worthwhile challenge to figure out how to best utilize it. The German sticker on the back bumper is interesting, if only that the only similar vehicle would be the bus-based pickup offered by Volkswagen. The paint job is described as “amateur” and based on the masking, or lack of it, I’d agree, but at least it’s kept the truck from rusting as most have by now.
You can see some differences in the paint color on the side here, and possibly some un-repaired dents in the upper side panel. I really like the color scheme and the painted wheels, although all the ones I was able to find online with this style of center cap were stainless steel or chrome. I think the painted ones are appropriate, though, and I’m not an originality freak.
The very plain interior would be appropriate for an unassuming truck like this. Like the paint, it’s not original but perfectly adequate for what I’d want to use this truck for. The rubber matting would mean I could hose it out when it got muddy. I really like this truck and hope it goes to an enthusiast who will use it. Would you leave it “as-is” or refurbish it to a higher standard?
Source: barnfinds.com
