Tough to Crack Car Puzzle #203

1958 Chevrolet Corvair prototype, disguised with Holden badges, steering wheel and hub caps.

In 1957, Ed Cole, the Head of Chevrolet, to keep his new rear engine car as a secret decided to disguise the project as a development for Holden. He even used Holden stationery and, components carried Holden parts numbers. The styling was done in the international styling studio at GM headquarters, not in the Chevrolet studio.

Still Holden badged when first tested at GM's Arizona track in 1958. A lengthened Vauxhall Victor with Corvair engine stuffed in the boot, was used as a second test mule.
http://www.corvairforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5644

This is a 1958 Chevrolet Corvair Prototype GM Concept car. This prototype originated in GM’s design studios, designed by Ned Nickles along with Carl Renner. Their goal was a car with a unique horizontal belt/character line, feeling of horizontality, accentuated by a very flat front trunk and rear hood. Additionally, they wanted a smaller, rear engine, air cooled car to compete with the European makes. The car in this photo was an engineering prototype that had a completely different body than the Corvair that was ultimately produced. This car was badged as a Holden (Australian GM) to throw off the curious competition. The photo was probably taken at the GM proving grounds in Michigan. A second test mule was badged as a Vauxhall.

This is a 1958 Holden Corvair Prototype, or rather a Chevrolet Corvair prototype disguised as a Holden. To keep the project as a secret, even within GM, General Manager Ed Cole used letterheads and forms with Holden logos on all paperwork, and components developed for the project carried Holden parts numbers. Even the styling of the Corvair was done in the international styling studio at GM headquarters, not in the Chevrolet studio.
The prototype was equipped with Holden trim, steering wheel and hub caps. Only two cars were made like this.
Other Corvair prototypes were disguised as Vauxhalls.

Best regards
Verner Johnsen
Emil Reesens Kvarter 15
9700 Broenderslev Denmark

Links:
https://www.imcdb.org/v001123306.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthiscar/comments/8lwslt/i_know_most_old_cars_but_not_this_one/
https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/a-rear-engined-holden-27194

This rear engined car is a Chevrolet Corvair prototype that was disguised as a Holden. In 1957 Ed Cole, the general manager of Chevrolet, needed to keep the new Corvair a secret and his covert plan succeeded. With Holden badges and hubcaps, and even Holden part numbers for components. The media, competition and even most of the General Motors staff were fooled into thinking it was a new development for the Australian branch of GM.
The production Corvair was an innovative (and notorious) vehicle for GM with its unique styling, flat six cylinder air cooled engine and fully independent suspension.

Sources:

https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/a-rear-engined-holden-27194
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvair