1961 Lakewood Wagon

Although Keith has not owned this car for a long time, it needs to be included here because it's the only one we know of. The last information on the car  was that it was for sale in a consignment/museum in St. Louis MO in 1998.

Keith had always wanted to build a V8 Vair, so after a drive in one he began a plan. It so happened he had started a restoration on a Lakewood Wagon but owning a wagon and a V8 was not feasible. Idea! Combine  the two and solve the problem. Putting a V8 in the rear of an early model is not new but a Lakewood Wagon was, and so it was that "Jessica" was born.

The car is painted a 1993 Chevy blue. Other than the paint accents and wheels, the body is stock. The classic fake grille bars in front hide the cut out for the radiator cooling air.

The car was on the cover of the second special issue of the CORSA Communiqué featuring water cooled Corvairs, Vol. 15, number 12, December 1993.

The interior uses 1987 Cutlass wagon seats, tilt steering column, a CD player and an overhead console from a 1990 Dodge Daytona. The Spyder instrument panel has a full set of Autometer gauges.

the engine is a 283 cubic inch small block Chevy with reverse rotation Crower cam and twin Carter AFB four barrel carbs on an Edelbrock manifold and dual exhaust. The engine mounts are custom made from 2" X 3" rectangular tubing. The ring gear is a 3:55 with a four spider modification.

The transaxle is made up of a Kennedy bell housing adapter with a 1963 differential case and a 1965 four speed transmission. A Chevy six cylinder flywheel was drilled to accept the Corvair clutch and pressure plate.

With the added weight of the iron V8 behind the rear axle a set of 1988 T- Bird springs were added to keep the ride level.

Cooling is by a front mounted Chevelle big block radiator in the trunk and 1 5/8" copper pipes transport the coolant to and from the engine. The coolant temperature runs at 190 degrees.