Ultra-low-mileage Chevrolet Corvair Monza heads to the auction block

We've never really paused to appreciate the subtle good looks of the Chevrolet Corvair, especially the end-of-the-line 1969 Corvair Monza coupe. But this particular car, which will be sold at the upcoming Mecum Houston auction on April 11, will make you stop and take stock. Even if you're Ralph Nader, you can't help but be impressed by its extreme originality: It has just 15 miles on the odometer.

According to the auction house, it was delivered new to Dunlop Chevrolet of Macon, Ga., and held in their inventory until 1980. Must be something about Chevy dealers and car-hoarding -- except that this company coddled the Corvair before it did a stint on display at the now-closed Central Texas Museum of Automotive History.

The car is, consequently, in excellent original shape. The glacier blue paint seems to have retained its shine; the engine bay isn't exactly spotless, but stickers on the air filter are still intact. Its interior -- very sporty, very blue and very vinyl -- is in great shape. We assume the Uniroyal Laredo tires are original. Unless they dry-rotted and were replaced at some point, why wouldn't they be?

Mecum Auctions
The blue vinyl interior of this 1969 Corvair is simple and sporty -- almost European.

We're clueless as to how much this car will sell for when its turn on the block arrives. You'd be insane to spend more than more than $25,000 on a show-ready Corvair Monza, but this specimen is about as low-mileage as you could hope to find and it's all-original. In a market that goes nuts for barn finds, survivors and other automotive time capsules, it doesn't get any better than this.

We do know that it sold for $32,000 back in 2012 when the Central Texas Museum of Automotive History shut down. That already puts it in a league of its own where Corvairs are concerned, and car values have risen more or less across the board since then. $45,000 wouldn't be shocking. Not a bad return on the car's $2,822.05 original sticker price (just check the original sticker, which comes with the car), if you ask us.

Of course, this raises an interesting point -- if you're the lucky buyer, do you keep it preserved in your collection with a double-digit odometer reading, or use it as your daily driver and be the only one on your block with a brand-new Corvair? Sadly, the former option is the more likely one. But if you end up buying this thing and decide to put some miles on it, please know that: 1.) we're jealous; and 2.) we'd love to talk with you about it.

You have a few weeks to get your finances together and book a flight to Houston for the auction. Head to Mecum's website for more information.

Mecum Auctions
When it sells at auction in April, this low-mileage Corvair Monza has a good chance of becoming the most expensive Corvair ever sold.

By Graham Kozak