During the 1950s, apart from the Corvette, Chevrolet used a single, generously sized chassis in three trim levels (base, intermediate, top) and various body styles, including 2- and 4-door sedans, and station wagons. Models were distinguished by exterior brightwork and standard amenities.

Chevrolet expanded its portfolio for the 1960 model year with a compact car named the Corvair. Introduced in the fall of 1959, it remains the only American-designed, mass-produced passenger car with an air-cooled, rear-mounted engine. It was 30.8 inches shorter (at 180 inches) than Chevy's other 1960 models, and its wheelbase was nearly a foot shorter at 108 inches. Its unibody chassis used a fully independent suspension system with coil springs all around with a swing axle at the rear. The styling of the Z-body Corvair was equally unconventional, devoid of tail fins or chrome grilles that were popular at the time. The rear-mounted six-cylinder Turbo-Air 6 engine, built using many aluminum components and an aluminum block, had overhead valves, a 140 cubic-inch (2.3 liter) displacement size, and delivered 80 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. A three-speed manual transmission was standard, and an automatic was optional.

Like its larger siblings, the Corvair was offered in three trim levels initially consisting of the base level 'Standard Series 500,' the intermediate 'Deluxe Series 700,' and the sporty 'Monza Series 900.' Body styles included a four-door sedan and two-door Club Coupe on the Standard and Deluxe. The Monza, offered solely as a club coupe, was introduced in February 1960 at the Chicago Auto Show and came with stainless steel rocker sill moldings, special wheel covers, chrome simulated rear deck air vents, bucket seats, and a folding rear seat.

Reception
The Chevrolet Corvair was a drastic departure from traditional American-built automobiles, with a unique and daring design, mechanical configuration, and specification. Designed as a response to the Volkswagen Beetle and to compete with the traditional and economical Ford Falcon and Plymouth Valiant, the unconventional Corvair was too much too soon, with the Falcon outselling it by a wide margin. Approximately 250,000 examples of the 1960 Corvair were built compared to over 435,600 examples of the Falcon. Nonetheless, Chevrolet kept the Corvair as part of its model lineup through the 1960s, ending in 1969. They did, however, quickly introduce a more traditional compact car in 1962 named the Chevy II (Nova). Unlike the Corvair, the Chevy II avoided any revolutionary features and was strictly a back-to-the-basic compact car.

The 1965 Chevrolet Corvair
The 1965 Chevy Corvair was built in three series - the 'base' Corvair 500 Series 101, the 'intermediate / mid-price' Corvair Monza Series 105, and the 'top line' Corvair Corsa Series 107. This was a significant year for the Corvair as it received its second (and final) major styling update, which would continue to the end of production in 1969.