1961 Chevrolet Corvair Lakewood 700 Custom
Chevrolet’s answer to imported European economy cars positioned a horizontally opposed, air-cooled flat-six engine beneath the rear cargo floor rather than under the hood.
The Lakewood designation applied exclusively to Corvair station wagons produced for the 1961 model year, with the 700 series representing the upscale variant featuring color-keyed rubber floor covering and enhanced exterior trim compared to the base 500 model.
Production totaled 20,451 examples of the 700 wagon during 1961, accounting for roughly 64 percent of all Corvair station wagons built. The rear-engine configuration created 68 cubic feet of combined storage space split between the main passenger area and front trunk compartment.
Riding on a 108-inch wheelbase, the wagon shared its unibody construction with Corvair sedans.
Standard power came from a 145 cubic inch air-cooled six rated at 80 horsepower, though this customized example features a later 164 cubic inch unit upgraded to 110 horsepower specifications. The crankshaft rotated counterclockwise (opposite conventional engines) to accommodate standard transmission gearing in the rear-mounted layout.
Additional modifications on this build include electronic ignition, dual exhaust, upgraded suspension components incorporating a factory anti-roll bar, and interior trim blending elements from multiple Corvair model years.
Production of the Lakewood name ended after 1961, though Corvair wagons continued briefly into 1962 before being discontinued entirely in favor of the new Monza Convertible.
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