[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Pre-cursor to the 911 Turbo, which was a blatant copy.

True. I find it ironic that the later Corvairs were referred to as a "poor man's Porsche".

The Corvair was essentially designed in the late 1950's with a flat-6 and a turbocharger. Light years ahead of Porsche who at the time had not began (or barely began) to formulate the 911. Granted GM did steal the rear engine air-cooled swing arm rear axle layout from VW/Porsche but was trying to address the underpowered nature of their cars at the time while at the same time making a more roomy vehicle.

Wonder what the automotive landscape would look like today if Nader had come along 5-7 years later and targeted the 911 instead. While Nader did mention VW and Porsche in his book he targeted the Corvair. There has always been speculation that Nader was paid off by the other two of the big three who didn't want to spend the money to develop a rear engine car.

As you all know at great expense to the taxpayers Naders claims about the Corvair were later found by the NHTSA to be largely false.