By Dean Larson

Photos: Seller, BringaTrailer.com

When you mention the name Bill Devin and his fiberglass bodied sports cars, it’s most often the Chevrolet V8-powered Devin SS, or the air-cooled Porsche/VW Devin D that folks remember. But Devin built another sports car in significant numbers with a Chevrolet powerplant, and it happens to be air-cooled as well. Designed around the Chevrolet Turbo-Air 6 (best known in the Corvair), the Devin C model was one the company’s most successful offerings, as exemplified by this stunning ’62 model for auction on BringaTrailer.com.

Devin didn't build many cars. His most successful model was the Devin D, and only 46 of those were built, which makes 25 Devin Cs a significant amount. The C was largely based on the D, which was designed for Porsche/VW running gear and a Devin-designed ladder frame. The C however, made use of Chevrolet’s new Turbo-Air 6 engine, four-speed transaxle and rear suspension and brakes as found in the Corvair. Otherwise the ladder chassis in the C was much like the D, and also used VW transverse torsion bar suspension up front. Finished Devin Cs came in slightly heavier than the D at 1,400 pounds, but that number was easily offset by the significant power advantage the Turbo-Air 6 enjoyed. Initial power outputs came in under three figures, but the Corvair mill would soon grow into a competent performer by 1965, with 140 hp available in stock form thanks to turbocharged and four-carb Corsa engine configurations.

Devin Enterprises only built 25 Devin Cs, which probably wasn’t enough to realize the car’s potential on a large scale. These cars did however see some small, but storied successes. The well-known Granatelli Brothers raced the first Devin C prototype at Bonneville in 1961 with a Paxton supercharger, besting an unofficial 165 mph. Pete Woods also raced an early Devin C with a supercharger at Pike’s Peak in 1962, finishing with an elapsed time of 16:12. Woods didn’t win his class, which was designed for cars over 2.0 liters, but his 2.3-liter Devin beat every car in the under 2.0 liter class, which were far more comparable to his car. Much like Porsche’s air-cooled racers, the Turbo-Air 6 Devins were known for regularly taking down more powerful V8 cars.

This Devin C was initially constructed as a Porsche/VW Devin D model before it converted to C specification at the factory and sold to its first owner in 1962. The car lived much of its life in Texas and was raced in SCCA and CORSA events though the 1990s and 2000s. It’s currently powered by a 2.7-liter Chevrolet Turbo-Air 6 with Weber 44 carburetors, Stinger Ignition Products distributor and a custom exhaust with log-style manifolds.

The car is presented today in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition with recent refurbishment completed in 2009 and 2016. White numerals and stripes accent the exterior, and the interior features stellar tan and light brown upholstery. This premier example of the Devin C was shown at the Quail in 2017 and comes with a letter of authenticity from Devin Sports Cars. The current high bid sits at $29,000 with one day remaining in the auction.

See it here on BringaTrailer.com.