Collectible at Any Speed: Soaking Up the Miami Corvair Collection Craze

With a focus on celebrating the legacy of the Chevrolet Corvair in this On The Move, hosts Matt Avery and John Kraman set the stage with a brief rundown of the model’s history, which ran from 1960 through 1969. John goes into the various versions while Matt highlights what may be the hottest of them all: the ultra-rare Yenko Stinger. Matt gives the inside scoop on how a crafty Pennsylvania dealer, Don Yenko, ordered 125 COPO Corvairs and turned them into buzzing track machines. Moving on to a major Mecum news announcement, Matt and John Kraman share how the upcoming Orlando Summer Special is expanding to include an additional day to accommodate the continually growing list of consignments. More than 1,000 vehicles are expected to cross the auction block throughout the four days, July 28-31. Then it’s on to recent race news, including highlights from SRX race No. 4, before a discussion of the rumors surrounding the likely return of Ram’s Dakota pickup truck. The big question on the guys’ minds is the size, and each ponders how large or small the hauler might be when it arrives sometime in the next couple of years. Wrapping up, John has detected some changing terminology in the ever-changing world of electric vehicles and discusses the latest on what he’s heard. Cruising along, Matt and John shift focus back to Corvair conversation and crank things up with a chat with passionate collector and enthusiast Reuben Ezekiel. Reuben is the owner and man responsible for assembling the Miami Corvair Collection, a group of nearly 15 Corvairs—the largest ever present at a Mecum event—headed to the upcoming Orlando Summer Special. His group includes everything from sport coupes and sedans, to panel vans, station wagons and even a rampside truck. Reuben shares the origins of his Corvair love, which all began with a fond connection with his dad, who drove one in New York City. He then fills Matt and John in on his search over the past couple of years, during which he’s hit the ground hard, scouring the country for Corvairs of all kinds to add to his vast and ever-growing collection. Wrapping up, Matt and John call up Mike Hall, president of the Corvair Society of America (CORSA), one of the largest clubs to focus on the model. Mike was also instrumental in the establishment and running of the Corvair Museum in Glenarm, Illinois. He gives insight into the club and how they foster a sense of learning and technical support. Finally, the guys ask for his perspective on how the Corvair continues to connect with crowds of all kinds and ages.