Some classics are a triumph of style over substance, failing to deliver the performance suggested by their appearance. This 1962 Chevrolet Impala doesn’t fall into that category, with its drivetrain specifications promising muscle car potential. It presents extremely well and is ready to turn heads with its new owner behind the wheel. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Scott for spotting the Impala listed here on Craigslist in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. It could be yours for $42,000, offering somebody plenty of bang for their bucks.
Chevrolet’s Third Generation Impala range graced showroom floors for four model years, with our feature car rolling off the line in 1962. Its history is unclear, leaving potential buyers to discover whether it is an enhanced original or the result of a full-blown custom build. Its exterior presentation is hard to fault, with the Roman Red paint holding an impressive depth of color and shine. There are no close-up images, making it impossible to determine whether there are any minor cosmetic flaws. There is also no word regarding the potential presence of rust, which is probably a good question to pose with any classic of this vintage. However, the overall impression and lack of obvious corrosion augur well for the new owner. The glass and trim are in good condition, while the American Racing Torq Thrust wheels provide the first indication that this Impala may be more than a pretty face.
A new addition for the Impala’s 1962 model year was the optional 409ci V8. Available in two forms, it placed at least 380hp under the driver’s right foot. This is where things become slightly confusing, because the seller doesn’t indicate whether this car left the factory powered by the 409 occupying its engine bay. They confirm that it feeds its power to the 3.08 Posi rear end via a four-speed T-10 manual transmission. Recent additions include a CPP power steering system, a Global West bump steer kit, a Wilwood front disc brake conversion, an upgraded 1¼” sway bar, an American Auto wiring harness, and a new fuel tank and sender unit. The listing suggests that this may represent the tip of the iceberg, although the seller supplies no information regarding how this Impala runs or drives. If the appearance is an accurate guide, there should be no bad news awaiting the new owner.
If I were to mark this Impala harshly, I would consider its interior to be a low point. There is nothing horrendously bad, with the Black and Red leather and cloth seatcovers complementing the exterior paint shade. The matching carpet is in good condition, as is the dash. However, the door trims look out of place when compared to the rest of the upholstered surfaces, providing a slightly disjointed feel. Of course, that is a matter of personal preference, and some readers might consider it perfect. The addition of aftermarket gauges allows the driver to monitor the car’s mechanical health, while the new air conditioning system will be welcome if the buyer lives in a warm location.
Pontiac’s GTO is generally considered the first genuine muscle car, although the 1962 Chevrolet Impala could easily be considered a forerunner to such vehicles. This car’s mechanical combination guarantees neck-snapping performance, although those feeling less enthusiastic could allow the 409ci V8 to provide respectable acceleration in higher gears due to its mountainous torque figure. The only thing that I would potentially change if I became the new owner is the interior to eliminate what feels like a slightly disjointed appearance. Otherwise, I would hit the road for fun, knowing that this Impala could easily hold its own at any “Traffic Light Grand Prix.” Do you agree?
Long legs, this one will be a treat on the highway also.
She’s real fine my 409( oh, someone was bound to say it) yep, this is (almost) the car the Beach Boys sang about. Theirs had the dual quad setup at 409 HP? Come on, how ironic, we all knew that was baloney. The truth was, 409s were slugs, glorified truck motors. Don’t get me wrong, 409s were the best GM had, and some ran well, but fell short compared to Ford and Chrysler, but not for long. The 396/427 changed all that. I agree about the GTO, but this was just a family sedan with a song behind it. Only about 15,000 Impalas had the 409 in ’62, that I believe came out in late ’61. Over 705,000 Impalas were sold in ’62, so the song didn’t do much for sales.
A tribute to the late Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys sure gave us something to sing about. RIP.
Slugs? Not many would agree. The 409 was not the best motor when it came to holding up under RPM, but they were hardly slow. The combustion chamber in-block design allowed them to rev much higher (and subsequently make very good HP), but the bottom end could never be built strong enough to withstand the RPMs.
Yes but it was the go to power plant for GM heavy trucks
Howard knows a lot about big rigs. Everything else, well, he’s always ready to expound.
I grew up in Carlsbad, NM, the same town where Dickie Harrell lived. I lived a few blocks away from him. He made a 409 run like a scalded dog on steroids.
My buddy bought a new ’62 Impala SS coupe, 409/409/4spd and cleaned up at the drag strip every Sunday. I wouldn’t call it a slug. It didn’t wind to 7,000 RPM but when driven properly it was badazz.
$42,000 Canadian is $30,800 US so if this car is as good as it looks that’s pretty cheap these days. 62 is my favorite year Impala and I agree the interior is the only thing I’d change.
Like you, my favorite model year for Chevrolet is 1962. Oddly enough, though I’m not a Ford man, my favorite model year for Fords is also 1962.
Beautiful car, the red on the seats, fan shroud is abit too much, something I’d change.
@ Howard A….
You’re WAY off the mark on your negative summation of the 409’s legacy! (https://carguychronicles.com/chevy-409-big-block-legend/)
Cool, thanks Utesman! A lot of big names had 409s.. Gurney, Nicholson, Proffitt and Strickler as well. I had no idea. Interestingly they even quoted Brian Wilson and Gary Usher at the bottom of the article saying they “absolutely got it right: Nothing can catch her, nothing can touch my 409, 409!”. :-)
Uhp, uhp, not negative, just the facts. The 348 was an outstanding motor, and for trucks, I bet quite a step up from the inline 6s drivers were used to. I would equate that to struggling along with a 238 Detroit( the inline 6) getting past by the big Cat motor( the 348) of today. I’m not dissing the 409, but Hollywood made it a lot more famous than it was, I don’t recall ANY in Beer City, and as motorhead kid in the 60s, we would have noticed that. There was a small window for the 409, IDK, say ’61-’62, it dominated race tracks, but not for long. The Ford 406( 1962) and the 427(’63) and Chrysler 426 (wedge) spelled doom for the poor 409, that never really asked for any of this. It was its trucking heritage and refusal to blow up is what racers liked. The “Rat” motors in ’65 , and the hemi ban, changed everything, and Chevy was once again on top.
Looks like we lost the avatars,,,sunspots,,again?
Sure are a good amount of desirable vehicles from Canada on BF today. Thanks.
if it goes below 45 let me know
Looks like a 348, I don’t see the oil dipstick on the passenger side.
In high school a friend’s father bought a brand new ’62 Bel Air with a dual quad 409 and four speed. He occasionally let Junior bring it to school (!) and I got a ride one day. That thing would push you back in your seat in first and slide halfway into the next lane when he slammed second. It was the quickest car I was ever in, until the next year when a friend in college had a 260 Cobra. “That’s a whole nother thing.”
Personally, I prefer the bubble top on a ’62 Chebby.
Giddyup Giddyup 409 “All you need are spurs”
An old high school friend had that on his 1962 409 bored in 1976. Was a fun car, heavy car with trans issues. We got really good at changing them out or changing clutch packs. They were good parts for the day but mostly all you had was stock part option until hand me down race billet, counter weighted, or twin disc came on scene. And cluster gear, second gear failures, breaking ears, u joints, was a fun time.
When finally a guy opened up a driveshaft outfit locally we had so many options for upgrading shafts that was out of the equation. Driveshafts Unlimited was doing it for us small time guys and dirt tracks. Was doing great work for our pocket prices. Really great sportsmen. Still in biz today and still have them cut and weld for me.
Man I really miss the old days, wish I could do it again.
Ok, so you can’t compare the 348-409 to something that came later, like the 396-427, the 428-429, or the 426-440. It’s like comparing the moon landing to the Space Shuttle. The W motors were wicked for their time. Watch some of the drag videos on YouTube on the early 60″s drags, and research the numbers, they were awesome!!!