The 1961 Corvair 95 Rampside. (Chevrolet archives)
Although there had been a number of small pickups prior to the 1960s, the compact car boom that kicked off the decade brought with it a new crop of the so-called “forward control” body style.
Among the offerings was the Corvair 95. With its unitized body structure and rear-mounted engine, the 95 offered a lot of cargo space in a compact maneuverable package.
The Rampside model offered a side gate on the right side of the vehicle. The placement allowed easy access to the low load floor at the front of the bed.
According to the Corvair enthusiast site Corvair.org, Corvair 95s were named for their 95-inch wheelbase. GM referred to the body style as “Light Duty-Forward Control (L.D.F.C.)” vehicles.
Marketed from 1961 to 1965, The line consisted initially of two vans and two pickups:
- Corvan panel delivery, model R-1205
- Greenbrier station wagon, model R-1206
- Loadside pickup, model R-1244
- Rampside pickup, model R-1254
Forward control referred to the positioning of the steering mechanism forward of the front axle and engendered the “Corvair FC” moniker for the line.
Although clever in design, the Corvair 95 never caught on in the showroom, and in the final model year of 1964, only 851 were sold.
