1960 Chevrolet Corvair Futura concept car - photos

[Altair]

1960 Chevrolet Corvair Futura concept car.




Previously:

Chevrolet Corvair cutaway - photo
Corvette camper - photo
1960 Chevrolet Corvair dash baby cradle - photo
Dual-ramp Corvair rampside - photos
1961 Chevrolet Corphibian amphibious vehicle - video

[IntheGroove]

At what speed did it become unsafe...

[BuffaloJohn]

At what speed did it become unsafe...

Parked?

Wasn't it unsafe at any speed?

[Frank S]

Parked?

Wasn't it unsafe at any speed?

As per the ramblings and vengeful actions of Ralph Nader it was. The 63 through 85 corvette had a similar independent with a traverse mounted rear spring suspension, but the engine was up front. the 61- 63 Pontiac Tempest had what we called a rope drive a small diameter drive shaft stretched between the engine and the transaxle also independent rear suspension conventional leaf springs. The Military jeep M151, M151A1& M151a2 had coil spring rear independent suspension, and not to forget the Volkswagens. Just to name a few of the various vehicles who all shared some similarities in their rear suspension. I don't know who came up with the first upper lower control arm or the rear coil over strut suspension which solved once and for all the Delima of rear wheel tucking, but many vehicles today have independent suspension.
Nader's gripe was much deeper than just the Corvair, He started his career long vendetta against certain vehicles and made a name for himself as the self appointed God of safety issues because he was passed over for a promotion at one point in his early years, this was according to an older engineer I once met at the General Motors testing facility in Rochester Ny. back in 1990.

[ductape]

Of the eight chapters in Nader's book, the one about the Corvair is the most frequently mentioned. The 1972 US NHTSA report on it states "The handling and stability performance of the 1960-1963 Corvair does not result in an abnormal potential for loss of control or rollover and it is at least as good as the performance of some contemporary vehicles, both foreign and domestic."
Not a fan of the appeal to authority thing. They came to their own conclusion.
The rear suspension on the earlier models wasn't ideal if one had their foot to the floor going through a slalom to the grocery store, but was probably good enough for normal driving. It was identified and changed to a better design before the book was published.

[mansworld]

They had to match the style of the era: Hippie, drugs, no blacks or dogs allowed, and suicidal designs.

[tedg53]

Sorry, I didn’t realize they want you to buy the video, I did a search and it popped up.
I saw the episode when it aired.

[tedg53]

The Futura was restored on Chasing Classic Crs with Wayne Carini.