Oilbrnr wrote:
Back in the '80's when I was in high school/college, I was heavily into Corvairs. Had a '65 Corsa Turbo coupe that won several regional show competitions and one national convention for my class.
However, I came across one gentleman in Lake Montezuma, AZ (SE of Sedona) that had a nice '66 Corsa convertible that I was interested in buying, and he also had a nice Ultravan. Can't remember the year of it, but it was in very nice condition and he and his wife used it often. I know it had a PowerGlide transmission, and I'm pretty sure it had the 102hp engine in it, though it could have been a 110. None the less that was GROSS hp not SAE net! So we're talking mid 80's at best. Sea level.
While I didn't get to drive and/or ride in it, I can remember how amazed I was, and probably still am that it was enough to move that big eggshell on flat land, let alone going up a serious grade, say Phx to Flagstaff in the summer. Yet, they supposedly do pretty good! Just pushing that frontal area through the air... and with a 2-in-the-glue transmission! Bet there were a few GM engineers that got a chuckle out of those things.
None the less, I really don't remember too much about the interior, as both my Dad and I were more interested in the mechanical aspect of it, but it was nicely done. (we always had Airstreams when I was growing up)
Nice to see that they still have a loyal following.
UltraKen wrote:Does this mean the Ebay unit has had the trans changed? Its listed as having a 4 speed.
All were Power/Glide 2sp automatic transmissions
UltraKen wrote:Oilbrnr wrote:
Back in the '80's when I was in high school/college, I was heavily into Corvairs. Had a '65 Corsa Turbo coupe that won several regional show competitions and one national convention for my class.
However, I came across one gentleman in Lake Montezuma, AZ (SE of Sedona) that had a nice '66 Corsa convertible that I was interested in buying, and he also had a nice Ultravan. Can't remember the year of it, but it was in very nice condition and he and his wife used it often. I know it had a PowerGlide transmission, and I'm pretty sure it had the 102hp engine in it, though it could have been a 110. None the less that was GROSS hp not SAE net! So we're talking mid 80's at best. Sea level.
While I didn't get to drive and/or ride in it, I can remember how amazed I was, and probably still am that it was enough to move that big eggshell on flat land, let alone going up a serious grade, say Phx to Flagstaff in the summer. Yet, they supposedly do pretty good! Just pushing that frontal area through the air... and with a 2-in-the-glue transmission! Bet there were a few GM engineers that got a chuckle out of those things.
None the less, I really don't remember too much about the interior, as both my Dad and I were more interested in the mechanical aspect of it, but it was nicely done. (we always had Airstreams when I was growing up)
Nice to see that they still have a loyal following.
First, no Ultra from the factory had a 102hp engine except the prototype unit. All production units were either 110 or 140 hp (mostly 110s) until 1969/70 when the Corvette small block V-8s were used in about 50 coaches. All were Power/Glide 2sp automatic transmissions.
I climbed a 10% grade from a standstill coming out of Laurel State Park in Pennsylvania. The grade was at least a mile long and I reached about 28mph in a coach that weighed 5700 lbs.
More info in my webpage, Ultra Van Linki
Ultra Vans are not for shy people. You usually couldn't get out of a gas station in less than 30 minutes because of all the people asking questions. We generally traveled with a 150 lb Newfoundland in ours.
Oilbrnr wrote:
Back in the '80's when I was in high school/college, I was heavily into Corvairs. Had a '65 Corsa Turbo coupe that won several regional show competitions and one national convention for my class.
However, I came across one gentleman in Lake Montezuma, AZ (SE of Sedona) that had a nice '66 Corsa convertible that I was interested in buying, and he also had a nice Ultravan. Can't remember the year of it, but it was in very nice condition and he and his wife used it often. I know it had a PowerGlide transmission, and I'm pretty sure it had the 102hp engine in it, though it could have been a 110. None the less that was GROSS hp not SAE net! So we're talking mid 80's at best. Sea level.
While I didn't get to drive and/or ride in it, I can remember how amazed I was, and probably still am that it was enough to move that big eggshell on flat land, let alone going up a serious grade, say Phx to Flagstaff in the summer. Yet, they supposedly do pretty good! Just pushing that frontal area through the air... and with a 2-in-the-glue transmission! Bet there were a few GM engineers that got a chuckle out of those things.
None the less, I really don't remember too much about the interior, as both my Dad and I were more interested in the mechanical aspect of it, but it was nicely done. (we always had Airstreams when I was growing up)
Nice to see that they still have a loyal following.
UltravanOwners wrote:Is that why it just passed you?
...It is a V8 Ultravan...
ronday wrote:
Thanks Ultravan Owners. Those are the ones I saw, parked in front of my favorite store. Ron Day
