Crazy Custom Corvair Off Road Wagon Saves Toyota Tacoma

Yes, you can buy a 4WD Chevrolet Corvair wagon.

You might expect a humorous quip about Chevrolet Corvair safety record, given the headline and off-road nature. This isn’t your typical Corvair. In fact, it was not a Corvair before. It became a lifted monster. Chevy’s famous rear-engined car was briefly offered as a station wagon. What you see is a 1961 Corvair lakewood. It used to be.

It’s now a wild off-roader, riding on a custom frame with V8 horsepower. The Corvair’s original rear mounted flat-six has been replaced by a 5.3-liter Chevrolet LS motor that is neatly mounted under the large lakewood’s bulk. The custom-built frame supports the engine with Dana axles front- and rear. It is supported by 38-inch tires, which will soon be 40-inch. This Corvair is equipped with the big engine in the front, as well as a robust suspension system. It doesn’t suffer from the sudden lift-throttle understeer that was so prevalent in early Corvairs.

This clip is from Matt’s Off Road Recovery YouTube. The group is based in southern Utah and handles towing and recovery in areas that standard tow trucks are afraid to go. This Chevy was designed to be an off-road recovery vehicle. The video shows its first rescue. Although technically the wild wagon isn’t finished yet, notice the absence of windows. However, the Corvair saved a Toyota Tacoma TR. The pickup was left in mud all the way to the axles after it became too dry near the Utah/Arizona border.

This clip, which is a textbook example of a successful recovery, is refreshing in a sea of off-road videos. The Corvair was able to perform its initial mission well despite the need for two vehicles. We are eager to see what the future holds for this unique machine.