1962 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

If there's one car that will always be a timeless collectable, it's an early Corvette like this 1962 roadster. A nice combination of original and restored parts with a fantastic color combination and some rare factory options, this is a fantastic Corvette that's built to cruise and would fit into any major Corvette collection.

1962 is the year to own, as it was the final year of the C1 solid-axle cars and defines the late-50s, early 60s Corvette look. This car, painted in Tuxedo Black, its original color, perfectly captures the archetypal Corvette, and delivers with a high-quality paint job that was finished two years ago. Combining the quad headlight look up front and the upcoming Sting Ray's dramatically pointed rear end with four taillights, it's one of the most perfect designs to ever come out of GM's studios. Thanks to a bare-fiberglass repaint, it remains in outstanding condition, with none of the expected stress marks or cracks, suggesting high-quality workmanship and an expert's hand in the process, and the paint has a bright shine that's the right way to present a black car. There was plenty of trim on the Corvette in 1962 and it appears that most of it is original, with bright chrome and polished stainless that still glitters like jewelry.

The beautiful red cockpit also presents quite well, particularly considering that it's almost entirely original. The twin bucket seats wear their original seat covers with narrow pleats and seatbacks that flow into the bodywork. A 3-spoke steering wheel might look right in a Lemans racer, and it frames a set of very presentable unrestored instruments, including a factory tachometer in the center and an auxiliary temperature gauge under the dash. Bright panels on the doors make a dramatic statement that perfectly captures the era, and details like the simple door latch handle recall that it was not to long before this that the Corvette was a very basic roadster in the classic idiom. You will note that this car is loaded with what in 1962 passed as luxury options: power windows, a PowerGlide 2-speed automatic transmission, and a very rare power convertible top, which is one of only 350 built. The original Wonderbar AM radio is still in the dash, although it and the clock are not operational, which is typical. The carpets were replaced a few years ago and all the weather-stripping was replaced when the car was painted. The black convertible top is in good shape, and while the power unit isn't currently working, the top folds just find and you probably won't miss it. There's also a nicely finished trunk with the original red rubber mat.

The engine is the original, numbers-matching 327 cubic inch V8, which, when topped by a 4-barrel carburetor, makes for one of the most reliable and potent powerplants of the era. It remains largely stock, but the snarl and cackle suggests improvements are unnecessary and it runs extremely well. It was correctly detailed at some point with bright Chevy Orange paint, finned aluminum valve covers, a chrome air cleaner, and the original generator still makes the electricity. The aforementioned PowerGlide automatic transmission is a rather rare option, and there's also a PosiTraction unit in the rear end, suggesting the guy who bought this one new wanted it loaded. The chassis shows signs of use, of course, but everything is in top condition and ready to enjoy, including 15-inch bias-ply whitewalls on the original wheels with spinner hubcaps.

Great colors, strong engine, lots of options, and a strong pedigree make this a fantastic opportunity to own a late C1 Corvette. Don't hesitate, call us today!