The debut of the production Chevy CorvairThe definition of a compact car, of course, needn't be such a specific one. It's not a strict weight class like in boxing, but rather an ideal. For Chevrolet in 1960, that ideal was for a car that didn't break the bank but still outdid the Volkswagen Beetle. To this end, it intended to offer more space while still remaining relatively compact. This was reflected in the specs of the first-generation Corvair.The original 700 series 1960 Corvair offered 80 horsepower and 125 ft-lb of torque and was equipped with the Chevy Turbo-Air Six 140 engine. Things moved very quickly after that. In 1962, the Spyder Corvair was introduced, capable of outputting 150 horsepower with its turbocharger (an arena Chevrolet hadn't ventured into with such a vehicle before). By the second generation of the Corvair, which arrived in 1965, the family had changed considerably and grown a lot in size and power. This Corvair was more stylish and less angular, with the headlamps being a particular focal point.Chevy also introduced variations like the Corvair Corsa and Corvair Monza. The latter was a more versatile model that came in a range of configurations, while the former was the pinnacle of the performance Corvair. It could hit 115 mph and up to 180 horsepower in its most formidable trim.