1961 Chevrolet Corvair Lakewood 700 Custom

If you fancy adding a car to your lineup that looks like it has been lifted straight from a Pixar movie, the guys at RM Sotheby’s have got just the thing for you in the shape of this 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Lakewood 700 Custom that is going under the hammer in their August Monterrey auction. This beautifully restored example with tasteful improvements throughout has a guide price of between $40-50k and that is a bit of a steal for such an eye-catching and iconic piece of automobile memorabilia as this.

The 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Lakewood 700 Custom from RM Sotheby’s was featured in the May 2019 Issue of Hemmings Classic Car which just goes to show the high regard in which this vintage machine is held. It has a decidedly eye-catching colourway of yellow and tan and it is powered by an upgraded 110-hp 164 cu. in. flat-six engine that ensures it won’t let you down on the open road during a family, Pixar-esque road trip. We’re loving the old school cool vibes that this car positively exudes and we’re sure there will be plenty of classic car aficionados making a bid come August 13th.

60’s Vibes Aplenty

There is a distinct swinging 60’s style to the 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Lakewood 700 Custom from RM Sotheby’s which is, in fact, the concept of Corvair enthusiast Don Magas. Through his knowledge of over 50 years of Corvair experience, Margas set out to build an improved wagon with understated enhancements throughout and, in doing so, strived to create the best Corvair model on the market. Mr Magas started out with a 1961 Lakewood station wagon he found listed online for sale in California and the car had sat in the desert for nearly two decades before he purchased the car, and shipped it back to his home state of Pennsylvania.

The enhancements on this 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Lakewood 700 Custom were carried out by Arone Restorations to an exceptional standard. First up, the floors were replaced, bodywork fixed, and the stainless trim pieces were restored to their former glories. The Corvair was painted a shade similar to a yellow offered in the 60’s in which it rolled off the production line. The multi-step process included the use of U-Tech epoxy primer, Sikkens Autobase Plus, and two coats of Auto Clear. Once the paint application was completed, the vehicle was wet sanded, compounded, and polished using 3M products.

The interior of this majestic looking machine is finished off in tan Naugahyde and boasts an array of muted style changes. Magas carefully picked the perfect components to get the desired aesthetic and atmosphere, adding 1961 Monza door panel trim, seat bottom tufting that takes its inspiration from the 1966 Corvair, backrest tufting directly influenced by the 1963 models, as well as 1964 armrests. The carpet is a Daytona-style weave and the instruments are Auto-Meter electronic units that have been recessed into a custom built panel. A few of the other interior features of this breathtaking machine include a dash clock and push-button radio. After a touch of old school coolness for your classic car collection? Look no further.