C
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John
Fitch’s second car was called the Fitch-Phoenix. It was
based on the Chevrolet Corvair. It had a sensationally beautiful
body built in Italy by Intermeccanica. A roll bar was built into
the top. The rear window would open and close electrically. The
roof panel was removable and stowable in the trunk. With the roof
open, the car had a landau look. Bulges in the front fenders hid
the two spare tires. (Front and rear tires were different sizes).
The rear-mounted Corvair engine was modified to produce more
power than normal. A top speed in excess of 130 mph was claimed.
Only one prototype was built. When it was learned what government
regulations had to be met for safety and emission standards,
Fitch, unfortunately, decided against going any further. The
prototype was actually the Fitch-Phoenix II. A standard
Fitch-Phoenix had been planned, which would have had a stock
Corvair motor. It would not have had front disc brakes and a few
other features found on the Fitch-Phoenix II.
Based around the Corvair engine (which, with his Sprint conversions, John Fitch was supremely familiar), the rear-engined Phoenix had people giving Fitch real money in 1966 as deposits against delivery. But the planned run of 500 cars never happened. The Traffic Safety Act of 1966 was passed within weeks of the first showing of the Phoenix, and uncertainty about how it would be implemented kept Fitch from moving to production. When it was finally clarified—then still quite benign—it was too late. The Corvair's days were numbered and without its engine the Phoenix was finished. -
Two
door convertible: Price
$8700 Weight 2150
ENGINE: Chevrolet Corvair. Six-cylinder. Horizontally opposed. Air-cooled. Overhead valve. Aluminum block. Displacement: 164 cid. Bore and stroke: 3.44 x 2.94 inches. Compression ratio: 9.25:1. Brake horsepower: 170 at 5200 rpm. Four main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: Weber Model 36 DCLD two-barrel.
POWERTRAIN: Four-speed manual transmission.
CHASSIS FEATURES: Wheelbase: 95 inches. Overall length: 174 Inches. Front tread: 55 Inches Rear tread: 57.2 inches. Tire size: 175 x 14 (front), 185 x 14 (rear).
OPTIONS: AM/FM radio ($110). Automatic transmission.
MANUFACTURER: John Fitch & Co.. Falls Village, Ct.