This super clean 1968 Corvair Monza hardtop is one of the nastiest sleepers we’ve ever seen. The guy who built this car knew what he was doing and engineered it right, then cloaked it in a low-key color to keep suspicion low. Yes, that’s a 355 cubic inch Chevy V8 tucked in there where the 163-inch flat six used to live, and its tied to an Oldsmobile Toronado transaxle which puts the engine right in the middle of the chassis where it belongs. The result? A very stock-looking Corvair with a very un-stock 400 horsepower. Best of all, this build retains a full back seat and a factory look throughout, meaning that the other guy won’t know what hit him until he spots the little tiny ‘V8’ badge on the tail as it walks away from him. Is it fun? Oh, you’d better believe it!

We have a stack of receipts and invoices on this car about four inches thick, and every detail on the car just screams, “Cost no object!” There are no cut corners here and the engineering is first-rate throughout so the car drives properly. We’re of the opinion here at Harwood Motors that Corvairs represent one of the biggest bangs for the buck in the old car world and I just don’t know how they can remain so affordable for much longer, this car included. I didn’t total up all the receipts, but there’s easily $80,000 in this build and it shows everywhere you look. The super straight bodywork was expertly restored and covered in a color that looks entirely appropriate—not quite Butternut Yellow but brighter than Palomino Ivory. It was specifically chosen for the low-profile look; after all, with 400 horsepower and only 2800 pounds to pull around, there’s no need to advertise with stripes and bright colors. Finish quality is excellent and it shows rather well with just over 2200 miles since it was completed. Panel gaps are on par with other nice Corvairs and the only truly visible modifications are the grille under the front bumper and the dual exhaust pipes out back. I mean, this thing nails the sleeper part of the equation!

Unlike the Crown conversion kits of the ‘60s, which eliminated the back seat and put the engine over your shoulder, this slick Corvair has a full interior that looks almost completely stock. Front buckets and a rear bench preserve an OEM look and reproduction materials help with the convincing illusion. The low-back buckets are standard Corvair pieces, and the dashboard will feel familiar to anyone who has driven a sporty Chevy from the ‘60s. The three spoke wheel frames a full set of Auto Meter analog gauges set into the original instrument panel, a nice upgrade that doesn’t draw a lot of attention. Factory switchgear was retained throughout, from the big chrome knobs for lights and wipers to the ignition switch on the dash. The AM radio is just a faceplate, but I’m pretty sure listening to the radio in this car isn’t going to be your priority. There’s also a custom B&M shifter on the floor which is a far better tool for managing the TH425 3-speed automatic transmission in back. Again, finish quality is excellent and you can tell nobody was phoning it in here—the carpets fit well, the headliner is taut, and all the weather seals were replaced so it seals up pretty well. Obviously the forward-mounted trunk is not quite the same as it was, housing a giant aluminum radiator and beautifully fabricated aluminum duct work, as well as the gas tank and battery, which help give the Corvair decent balance.

Popping the rear deck on this Corvair is always a treat—most guys are not expecting to see that burly Chevy V8 tucked in there. A custom rear subframe mounts it securely to the tub and provides mounting points for the transmission and rear suspension, so you don’t have to worry about overwhelming stock parts. Those gorgeous long-tube headers were built just for this car, then ceramic coated and attached to a pair of stainless mufflers, which, while not exactly quiet, don’t get too boisterous on the road. Yes, people will know something’s afoot when you put your foot on the floor, but there was no need to advertise here. Up top there’s a fresh Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, HEI ignition system, and an aluminum intake manifold, along with a set of chrome valve covers or some flash.The custom-built subframe reinforces the entire rear tub and has provisions for both a transmission cooler with its own fan as well as a dual remote oil filter setup that’s easy to reach so maintenance is still a snap. Adding the satin black paint throughout only helps with the OEM vibe. Check out the welds and you’ll know that the guy who built this car knew exactly what he was doing.

Underneath it still looks like a Corvair, complete with ultra-clean floors and support members that have never seen snow or salt. The front suspension is stock Corvair, now augmented with disc brakes and there’s access to the radiator with two giant electric cooling fans with a thermostat control. Custom 2-inch pipes carry coolant back and forth to the engine, so no worries about ruptured hoses on the road, and as I said, the floors are in excellent condition. The independent rear suspension features custom trailing arms and spindles to handle the half-shafts from the TH425 transaxle, and just dig the custom oil pan that has a cut-out for one of the shafts running right through it. Nice! That transaxle also includes 2.73 gears, so the car just loafs along on the highway and quite honestly, it’s so light that it doesn’t need a lot of gear to get rolling. It’s still wickedly fast but hooks up rather well even with the modest rolling stock. Custom coil springs and performance shocks help get the power down and the whole package fits together so nicely that it’s hard to imagine GM didn’t think of this somewhere along the line. Service access remains excellent and given the hardware, it should be at least as reliable as a stock Corvair, no matter how hard you run it. It’s really slick. American Racing wheels do a great impersonation of a set of vintage Minilites, and wear 205/60/15 performance radials that ride well and keep it reasonably well plastered to the pavement (don’t worry, it’ll get crazy if you want it to).

Extras include an extensive file of build receipts and technical information, details on parts so you can buy spares, build photos, and spare parts and touch-up paint.

This probably isn’t a Corvair for the purist, but then again, it’s sure to appeal to Corvair guys who have always wanted to build a car like this. It’s expertly sorted, easy to drive, surprisingly polished, and yes, shockingly fast. Put a set of sticky tires on it, and I bet it could pull the front wheels off the ground without much trouble. The fact that it looks so docile and unassuming is only icing on the cake, and just about the most delicious way to have fun on the road. Imagine a kid in his Mustang rolling up next to this vintage Corvair, only to have his headlights sucked out the instant the light turns green by this mean little machine. That’s the joy of a sleeper, and we’ve rarely seen it done better than this. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any car in our inventory prior to purchase.