---
title: "Lifted Corvair Wagon Saves a Lexus GX in This Extra-Sketchy Off-Road Recovery"
description: "Few places are more dangerous to drive—or rescue a stuck Lexus GX with an old Corvair—than a steep, sandy mountain trail."
date: "2021-09-17"
modified: "2021-09-17"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/42416/lifted-corvair-wagon-saves-a-lexus-gx-in-this-extra-sketchy-off-road-recovery"
categories:
  - "Chevrolet News"
  - "Lexus News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "GX"
  - "Lexus"
  - "luxury"
  - "suv/crossover"
---

# Lifted Corvair Wagon Saves a Lexus GX in This Extra-Sketchy Off-Road Recovery

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2021/09/recovery-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

If the ground you're on makes it hard to stand up straight, it's probably a place you should think twice about driving. One Lexus GX owner didn't and had to call on off-road recovery specialists for a rescue that was even sketchier than they're used to.

This debacle was documented in a recent YouTube upload by Matt's Off Road Recovery, which received a call reporting that a second-generation Lexus GX had become stranded way high on a mountainous trail. Matt and crew went up for the recovery in their [lifted 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Lakewood wagon](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/40554/that-lifted-chevy-corvair-wagon-built-for-off-road-recoveries-is-finally-finished>) and discovered the Lexus near the summit as reported, its tires aired down.

https://youtube.com/embed/QUnLRuXRboU

It was pretty clear why the Lexus needed help: An extremely steep slope later measured to be 35 degrees (or about a 70 percent grade) combined with [a loose surface](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/39951/it-took-2300-truck-loads-of-dirt-to-transform-bristol-for-nascars-most-hyped-short-oval-race>) to make driving uphill nearly impossible. Matt's Corvair found traction, though, and got uphill of the Lexus to help pull it to a safer spot for a turnaround they saw on a map. That spot indeed turned out to be flatter, but not by much, still coming in at about a 20-degree slope.

Of course, even after turning around, they weren't out of the woods yet. Despite descending cautiously, the dusty trail made the Corvair slide sideways; a dangerous situation that could end in the vehicle digging in, and entering a roll with no obstacles to stop it 'til the bottom. Taking their time, though, meant both vehicles got safely down, presumably leaving the Lexus' owner with a big bill—and a lesson learned.

At least they weren't trying something like this in [a Hyundai Tucson rental](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/30700/watch-the-off-road-rescue-of-a-rental-hyundai-tucson-stuck-on-a-utah-jeep-trail>).

*Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: james@thedrive.com*

## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)