If spotless originality is less important to you than slipping behind the wheel of a tidy driver, this 1962 Corvette is worth a close look. It presents well but isn’t perfect. The interior is impressive, and the upgraded small-block under the hood endows it with performance previously reserved for the ultra-expensive Fuelie models. The seller has listed the ‘Vette here on eBay in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. They set their BIN at $69,900 with the option to make an offer.
After what could best be described as a faltering start, the Corvette hit its straps in showrooms as the 1950s progressed. The 1962 model year was the last for the C1 version, and with 14,531 cars driving off the lot, it beat its previous sales record by an impressive 25%. People genuinely liked Chevrolet’s sports car, and this trend would continue to the present day. Our feature ’62 wears Roman Red paint, although it is unclear whether it is the car’s original shade. The seller is candid in their assessment, confirming that the fifty-year-old paint has accumulated chips and imperfections. However, the no-hit fiberglass panels are in good order, and the underside shots confirm an absence of rust. The hardtop is in good condition, as is the soft-top. The trim condition is in keeping with a survivor-grade classic, with the wider steelies and dog dish hubcaps adding a sense of purpose.
If this Corvette’s exterior is tidy, the interior ramps things up a notch. Trimmed in Black, there is little deserving criticism. Purists might not agree with the owner’s decision to add a modern stereo, but they can console themselves with the news that the original radio is included. The upholstered surfaces and carpet are free from wear and damage, as is the wheel. The clock is converted to a quartz movement, but the remaining original gauges have been rebuilt, tested, and work perfectly. One interesting feature is the functional factory power windows. With only 698 buyers ticking that box on their Order Form, it is a fairly rare option.
The most powerful engine a buyer could select to power their ’62 Corvette was the 327ci “Fuelie” that generated 360hp and 352 ft/lbs of torque. However, it also added a whopping $484.20 to the car’s sticker price, making it easy to understand why it was only selected by approximately 13% of buyers. It is unclear which engine originally called this Corvette home, but that is largely academic. The engine bay houses a 350ci V8 that started life in a 1970 Camaro Z28. Its power and torque figures should be comparable to the Fuelie, and with its ponies fed to a Posi rear end via a four-speed transmission, this should be a genuinely fast classic. The engine benefits from a Petronix ignition, rebuilt cylinder heads, and a Holley Street Brawler 4-barrel carburetor. The four-speed is freshly rebuilt, and many other mechanical components are refreshed. The result is a turnkey classic that the new owner can enjoy immediately.
The 1962 model year marked the end of the line for the C1 Corvette. That the badge survived despite a shaky start is something for which many enthusiasts feel gratitude. I mean, can you imagine the automotive landscape without the Corvette? Whatever the future holds for the vehicle manufacturing industry, whether it be electric, hybrid, or fuel cell technology, the Corvette is virtually guaranteed to maintain its position as America’s iconic sports car for many decades to come. However, if driving purity free from the interference of the microchip and computer is more your cup of tea, that is the opportunity available to the next owner of this 1962 ‘Vette.
Nice car but why the hiked rear end?
Period Air Shocks ??? I hope not.
Yes that looks a bit awkward I think
Extra leaf spring added??
My mother called it “Broady”, You either lowered the front or raised the rear. A period trend in hot rods. It was mostly just for the look. This one has a very correct look for the period. Love the dog dish set up on the rims. If my mother were still alive, she would be all over it. Nice flash, without the over the top bling.
Would look so much better without those body colored wheels.
Even Silver would be a great improvement.
Agreed. Even on a tight budget, polished trim rings might make a huge difference.
There was a Big Brake option that included larger brakes with air cooling fins, scoops to get the air to the brakes, perhaps a larger gas tank and wheels the same color as the body with Dog Dish hubcaps. This is probably not a big brake car, but that’s the look the owner is going for. I actually like it and was going to do that to my 62. But I just put on American Racing Torque Thrusts. they’re now made in China, so I could afford them.
A set of American Wheel Torque Thrusts is the solution.
Americans improve the look on any car IMO. Best looking wheel ever made, again IMO!
Another way to go on this car would be to paint the wheels black and lose the hubcaps.
A third way. Plain old chrome steelies.
Any of these choices would give this car the hotrod look that it should have. Oh, and drop the tail down a bit.
They do look good, but early 15” Torque Thrust rims had straight spikes, new Torque Thrusts have a D-shaped spoke. If you want something more accurate to what was available then try ET wheels or Vintage Wheel Works V40’s, they have a straight spoke. They are more expensive, but are noticeably different.
Steve R
I like it! Yeah, it’s not perfect, but is close enough for me.
Love the design. Fifties greaser in the front, sixties rocker in the rear..
Shocks and wheels – these are not deal breakers for anyone with any common sense. So much potential here for a fantastic driver.
This might be a very nice Honduras Maroon (not Roman Red) Corvette. I don’t fault it for the hot rod modifications. However, a few things about it do bother me.
The seller, a consignment dealer, gives a glowing description of this car. He says that everything is there, but he doesn’t show the VIN tag, jacking tools, spare, front bumperettes, soft top, or any replaced original parts that might come with it. He also doesn’t show the engine stamp pad to prove that it began life as a real LT-1.
The ad says this car’s body has never been damaged. Maybe that’s true, but the hood and passenger door gaps are really poor. If the car actually hasn’t been hit, those panels can probably be adjusted to fit properly. But if it has been hit…
The rear springs have probably been re-arched improperly. That’s a relatively easy fix compared to poor panel fit I mentioned.
All in all, this MAY be a fun car in good shape. I’d personally inspect it to make sure before buying, though.
I had a red ’61, 283, 2-4bbl, four speed … bought it in 1974 for $1,200 … loved driving that car … traded it on a ’55 TBird the day Nixon resigned … nothing like hearing two fours opening up under acceleration and being thrown back in the seat !!
Ignition is PerTronix not Petronix…
Those tiny little hubcaps. What happened to full sized wheel covers that came standard on this? Stolen? The full-sized Corvette wheel covers look much better.
Someone earlier suggested that this might be an attempt to mimic the appearance of a ‘big brake’ optioned car which had dog dish hubcaps instead of the standard wheel covers.
Steve R, I think American still makes the straight spoke as well as the D.
Pretty sure the original straight spoke style is called Torque Thrust, while the curved style is called Torque Thrust D.
Thinking the straight spoke style is not exactly like the original, but very close.
I’ve also heard the Halibrand straight spoke wheel looks pretty nice. Saw one picture, and they are very close to looking like the original TT.
Phil, the straight spoke wheels are not on American Racings website, every Torque Thrust currently on the site has a D shape spoke.
I have a set of vintage straight spoke 15 x 6 1/2”s in my loft waiting for the right car to come along. They might not be exactly the same as an early to mid-60’s Torque Thrust, but they are a lot closer that anything they sell today. The D’s are popular because they give a “vintage” look and they a cheap, real vintage speed equipment is often expensive, but is worth the money and effort to find it someone wants to pull off that look.
Steve R
Hey Steve. I thought they (American) had the TTO, which is the original straight spoke style and the TTD which is the curved. I know the TTO is not exactly like the original. I think they made some changes on the lug nut style and the center cap.
I’m definitely not an expert on this. I’m sure that there are other changes as well that you might be aware of. I do know that they have made both styles disc brake friendly now, so there is that change as well, because the originals didn’t work with some disc brake setups. Now that I think of it, I have a 70 Boss 302 with factory front disc’s, that has a vintage set of Torque Thrusts that have been on the car for most of its life. I bought the car in ’80 and they were on it then. So I guess the originals will fit some disc setups. Anyway, I’m ramblin on here. I appreciate any input on these wheels that you may have.
Phil, you are right, there are some differences between old and newer Torque Thrusts, old wheels used lug nuts with a shank while “modern” wheels now use acorn style lug nuts. All of the early 15” rims I’ve run across had straight spoke, while 14” rims I’ve had from that era had D shaped spoke. I’m no expert on vintage wheels, but there are certain wheels I’ve been buying at swapmeets and wrecking yards for years and that’s what I’ve come across. One thing that’s certain, there were a lot of copies for most popular wheels, some better quality than others.
Steve R
It’s a cool looking car but the most fun you’ll get out of it is in a straight line. They pretty much drive like a truck and you’ll have trouble out running anything on any kind of a road course. Except of course another American “sports car”, possibly.
I’ve always figured solid-axle Corvettes were hot-rodded 1953 Chevies. Lord knows that what was underneath.
This is my favorite C1 Corvette:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4uVQ9TDQIo