Description
Chevrolet Corvair Monza Coupé (1965) – VHRS preparation, ex-Erwin Derichs An authentic piece of historic racing machinery with exceptional provenance Calling all enthusiasts of historic competition and pure driving lines. We present this rare Chevrolet Corvair Monza Coupé from December 1965 (1966 model year), bearing serial number SS669002. Far from the US standards of its era, this air-cooled rear-engined Corvair offers an arrangement and on-track feel close to that of a competition Porsche 911—everything refined by big names in motorsport. The advisor’s note “This Chevrolet Corvair is a truly impressive automobile. Presented in perfect working order, the start-up and the soundtrack of its Turbo Flat-6 are an absolute delight for any mechanical enthusiast. It’s an exclusive car, sure to draw all eyes at gatherings—yet it’s also formidable and immediately ready to tackle historic rallies, track days, or regularity events. A rare opportunity to acquire a genuine drivers’ car.”
Vehicle details
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Corvair Monza Coupé (Type R109)
Year: 1965 (1966 model year)
Mileage: 56, 000 km
Fuel: Petrol
Gearbox: 4-speed manual
Exterior colour: White, finished in the official Derichs Rennwagen livery
Registration: French historic registration document (ER-008-WL)
History and maintenance
The story of this example is quite simply remarkable. Sold new in Switzerland in 1965, it was acquired in 2001 by Erwin Derichs, the well-known German Formula 3 single-seater driver-builder. He spent several years configuring the car for his own use, running it hard on circuits from 2004 to 2009. In 2017, the car was bought back from Erwin Derichs’ daughter by Bernard Sarazin, a trained mechanic, who undertook a full rebuild and reliability overhaul of the mechanicals just ahead of its sale in 2023. The current owner acquired the car in 2023 with the intention of taking part in historic rallies.
The car is a regular at service parks and has featured on the podiums of several well-known events:
- Rallye Bordeaux Aquitaine Classique
- Rallye VHRS du Médoc
- Rallye de la Fougère
- Rallye Régional du Printemps de Bords
Recent work
The engine and turbo have been completely rebuilt by the previous owner (Bernard Sarazin). The moving assembly has been carefully balanced and strengthened with forged pistons, a racing camshaft, a high-flow oil pump, and a new clutch with a lightened flywheel. The limited-slip differential has also been serviced, including replacement of the differential gears. A comprehensive set of invoices accompanies the car to attest to the thoroughness of its maintenance.
Technical specifications
Engine: 2. 4L Flat-6 block (6 horizontally-opposed cylinders), air-cooled
Forced induction: Turbocharger rebuilt and balanced, Weber carburettor induction mounted on a bespoke, custom-made manifold base
Exhaust system: Custom optimised exhaust line
Power: 237 hp on the dyno before the rebuild (higher today) for 364 Nm of torque
Weight: Under 1, 100 kg thanks to targeted weight reduction
Chassis: Body stripped, fully welded, stiffened and strengthened for competition
Road holding: Revised suspension and running gear with bespoke aluminium uprated bearing carriers, short springs and adjustable Koni dampers
Braking: High-performance setup with large ventilated discs—AP Racing—plus an adjustable brake bias splitter from inside the cabin and aviation-grade brake lines
Tyres: Avon high-performance tyres (215/ 55 R13 front and 245/ 50 R13 rear)
Equipment and presentation
Exterior and bodywork:
- Genuine Compomotive race wheels in magnesium
- Side windows and rear screen replaced with ultra-light Makrolon
- Optimised cooling vents for the rear engine
Interior and cockpit:
- Three-spoke racing steering wheel in tanned leather
- Aluminium competition dashboard with complete on-board instrumentation (central rev counter, turbo pressure gauges, oil pressure and temperature)
- OMP bucket seats for superb support
- Full roll cage and safety harnesses
Following its initial track preparation by Derichs, it then received “civilising” work to make it fully usable on open road: installation of a heating system, windscreen washer, a working fuel gauge, door locks, and the fitting of interior carpet.
Additional items included in the sale:
- Removable LED additional headlight bar (to be fitted to the front)
- A set of 4 additional wheels
- A selection of various spare parts
Documentation
- French historic registration document
- National Technical Passport (PTH)...
