Classic Chevrolet Corvair was trapped by trees for 46 years but once freed a unique surprise was found in the trunk
- This abandoned car had been trapped by overgrown trees for 46 years
- However, the classic Chevrolet Corvair had a surprise in its trunk
- It earned a reputation as ‘one of the most dangerous cars of all time’
Published on Nov 25, 2024 at 6:47 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Nov 26, 2024 at 12:07 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
It’s shocking enough to discover an abandoned car that has been trapped by overgrown trees for 46 years – but, this classic Chevrolet Corvair had a surprise hidden within its trunk.
It was recovered by a team using cutting and winching machinery.
Despite being damaged and partially buried – considering where it’s been for almost five decades it’s remarkably intact.
Once they popped the truck, however, there was an even bigger surprise in store that was the reason it earned a reputation as ‘one of the most dangerous cars of all time’.
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The abandoned classic Chevrolet Corvair
The Chevrolet Corvair had been reclaimed by nature since it was abandoned 46 years ago – much like this one found in the middle of the jungle in Panama.
The trees that had overgrown it were preventing it from being recovered, similar to these 4,000 muscle cars discovered in a forest.
That’s until the team from WD Detailing brought in machinery to finally cut and winch it to freedom.
Despite being described as ‘stinky and crusty’, they discovered it was in remarkably good condition.
The interior was minimalistic, with rusted floor pans and unusual design quirks – but it was also in reasonably great shape.
However, when they popped the trunk they got the biggest surprise of all.
The surprise in the trunk
While not as humorous as the find in this Chevy Caprice’s trunk for unsuccessful buyers – it’s every bit as noteworthy.
When the trunk of the Chevrolet Corvair was popped, a rear-mounted flat-six engine was discovered.
This European-inspired rear-engine design was one thing that contributed to the muscle car’s supposed ‘dangerous’ handling.
The design was discontinued after Ralph Nader’s book Unsafe at Any Speed was published.
It criticized GM for prioritizing profit over safety, which subsequently led to significant advancements in car safety standards and regulations.
Questionable engine placement aside, the team thoroughly cleaned and restored the car’s exterior and interior of rust, mold, and grime leaving it shining again.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
