Chevrolet · 1961–1965

Chevrolet Greenbrier

The Chevrolet Corvair 95 is a subseries of the Chevrolet Corvair line produced from 1961 until 1965. It is the general term applied to the van and pickup truck variants of the rear-engined Corvair, named for their shortened 95 in (2,413 mm) wheelbase. It was Chevrolet’s first attempt at a van as well as their first and only van-based pickup truck in North America.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Chevrolet Van

All Chevrolet Greenbrier data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Overview

Chevrolet introduced the Corvair lineup for the 1960 model year as the first of a series of generations of passenger compact cars. Chevrolet introduced a more utilitarian style of vehicle the following year under the model designation "Corvair 95". In appearance and design, the cars were similar to the competing Volkswagen Transporter, which was essentially a bus-like adaptation of the Volkswagen Beetle that moved the driver over the front wheels, known as forward control or cab-over. The air-cooled horizontally opposed Chevrolet Turbo-Air 6 engine was located in the rear of the vehicle under a slightly raised cargo floor. It was similar in principle to the 4-cylinder engine of the Volkswagen, but unusual for most contemporary cars. The 145 cu in (2,375 cc) engine developed 80 hp (60 kW) at 4,400 rpm. Engine size was increased to 164 cu in (2,683 cc) for the 1964 model year, raising output to 95 hp (71 kW). Unlike the Corvair cars, the Corvair Greenbrier had a 95 in (2,413 mm) wheelbase, thus known as "95s." They came standard with a three-speed manual transmission. Optional was a two-speed Corvair Powerglide automatic transmission that was different from the usual Powerglide). Chevrolet eventually made available a four-speed manual transmission. Two different bodies were available in the 95 series: the van and the truck. The base version was the panel van (Corvan) with no side or rear windows. The van was named Greenbrier and was available with trim and paint options similar to the passenger car versions of the Corvair. The Greenbrier version usually had windows all around and six doors, However, an option offered a total of eight doors that included rear center opening double doors on both sides of the vehicle. The Greenbrier seated nine people with the available thi

Discontinuation

General Motors stopped producing the Rampside and panel van versions of the Corvair in 1964, and the Greenbrier was the only remaining Corvair 95 for 1965. The Greenbrier was retained mainly for fleet orders, with 1,528 being built for its final year. Following the updated version of the standard Corvair, Chevrolet would abandon rear-engined vans in favor of conventional forward-control, front mounted, water-cooled engines with the Chevy Van/Sportvan for 1964. The truck variant would be ultimately be replaced in the lineup by the Chevrolet El Camino. Although the Corvair 95s were unsuccessful in the marketplace, passenger vans continued to evolve through full-sized vans. The similarly sized 7–8 passenger minivan would become a booming vehicle segment by the 1980s as an alternative to station wagons. The Greenbrier name was used again as a model name for mid-trim level Chevelle conventional station wagon from 1969 until 1972.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Chevrolet Corvair 95
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
aka: Corvan, Greenbrier, Corvair Rampside, Corvair Loadside
Production: 1961–1965
Platform: Z-body
Related: Chevrolet Corvair
Layout: RR layout
Body style: 6-door van, 8-door van, 2-door pickup truck, 2-door 'Rampside' pickup truck
Wheelbase: 95 in
Length: Van: 179.7 in, Pickup:, 179.75 in
Width: 70 in
Height: Van:68.5 in, Pickup: 70.8 in
Engine: 2.4 L Turbo-Air 6 H6, 2.7 L Turbo-Air H6
Transmission: 2-speed Corvair Powerglide automatic, 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual
Successor: Van: Chevrolet Van, Pickup: Chevrolet El Camino (second generation)