The legendary actor Jack Nicholson once posed the question, “What if this is as good as it gets?” That could be the case with this 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS. The current owner recently treated the car to a complete rotisserie restoration, and it presents superbly. Sealing the deal is a drivetrain combination that is potent enough to get your heart racing. It is a classic that he’s ready to be driven and enjoy, and the owner has listed it for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Santa Paula, California, and the seller has set a price of $85,000. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for referring this classic to us.
This Impala makes a striking visual impression. The owner chose to refinish it in its original Satin Silver, and it is almost impossible to find any flaws or faults. The paint holds a beautiful shine, which is complemented by faultless chrome and trim. The panels are as straight as an arrow, while the glass appears to be perfect. When considering a classic of this age, the question of rust will always rear its ugly head. However, for potential buyers, this is not a consideration. The panels look spotlessly clean, and as you will see, the underside is equally impressive. If this SS has spent most of its life in California, it is possible that the owner had very few rust issues to address as part of the restoration process.
If this Impala exterior is impressive, its underside offers us more of the same. There is plenty of visual evidence of the owner’s effort as part of this restoration process. The frame is immaculate, while the same is true of the floors. The drivetrain looks like it was freshly slotted into this classic on the production line, with no evidence of oil leaks or other nasty problems. It almost seems a shame that the general public will never see the underside of this classic because it is super impressive for a vehicle of this age.
When I look at modern offerings from most manufacturers, the thing that always strikes me is how conservative their color palettes tend to be. You would struggle to walk into a dealership today and find an interior trimmed in the brilliant red that we see in this Impala. Today, it seems that potential buyers can have any color they like, as long as it is a shade of grey. This interior makes a striking impact, and its overall condition further emphasizes this. The vinyl upholstery shows no signs of any wear or physical damage, while the dash is perfect. There is no fading or wear on the carpet, and apart from a column-mounted Sun tach, it appears to be original and unmolested. The shifter sticks out of the factory console, while the original owner also specified this car with an AM radio. It would not be stretching the truth to claim that this interior is in as-new condition.
The 1962 model year marked the introduction of the 409ci V8 engine to the Impala range. Chevrolet offered this motor in two versions, and this car features the more potent of the pair. Equipped with a Dual-Quad carburetor setup, this brute should punch out 409hp. Bolted to the back of this V8 is a four-speed manual transmission that sends all of that power to a Posi rear end. If the buyer pointed this SS at a quarter mile, the journey would be over in 14.9 seconds. For a car tipping the scale at 3,790 lbs, that figure looks pretty impressive. The owner doesn’t specify whether this classic is numbers-matching, but the impression that he provides suggests that it is. He also doesn’t indicate how well this Impala runs or drives, but its recent restoration history would suggest that it should perform both tasks pretty well. For an enthusiast looking for a turnkey classic with power to spare, this looks like it could be a hot ticket.
At $85,000, this 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS could never be classed as a cheap classic. However, its next owner will not need to spend a dime on the vehicle beyond the initial purchase price. It has only been on the market for around a day, so it will be interesting to see how quickly it sells. Is this a classic that you might be tempted to pursue further? If so, I could hardly blame you.
The column mounted Sun tach was factory installed on all 61 and 62 409’s, and I believe was optional with manual trans 327’s. A real GM Sun tach can be identified by having a red line on the tach face. The tach in this car isn’t mounted in the stock location though. Chevrolet mounted the tachs at about 7-8 o’clock on the column, not at 10-11, making it hard to see, but keeping it from blocking the temp gauge and wiper switch.
It’s a beautiful car, and Sateen Silver over red is a stunning color combination. I can’t find much to fault on this 62. Being a fan of 62’s, especially 409’s, it’s probably a good thing for my marriage, that it’s 3000 miles away from me!
The work done on this car can only be described as a miracle resurrection. Even among the sea of modern silver cars, this Impala would stand out like the Christmas star.
I don’t even speak “bow tie”, but this is sweet! I do have a soft spot for `62’s, and I can’t fault this one bit. I’d prefer pastel seafoam green but I wouldn’t turn my nose up on this at all. Gorgeous!
That is beautiful. I agree the silver over red is a stunning combo. Always like the lines of the 62 over the other years
and the hits just keep on coming…
“Snooze and you lose”
Grab it quick kiddies, it ain’t gonna last long.
When these were new, I was just a year out of High School, so they were way out of my price range. However, all the guys that were 5 to 10 years older seemed to have one. I thought they were giving them away. Looking back, it was interesting guys, in that age group with a job could afford one. That is until most of us including me, took a little extended vacation to South East Asia.
This is definitely a beautiful car!
You’d probably save thousands purchasing this one over a BJ auction.
Friend has the same exact car but a Bel-air.
Stunning…
Absolutely beautiful. Why waste $85,000 plus on a new POS Corvette when you can have this?
Small correction; the 409 came in late 61 models. Friend w bubble top had one w 385 hp version if memory serves.
@ Bob Minnis…’61 ’09s were single Carter AFB cars w/360 horsepower. Of the 142 built, the late Dan Gurney road-raced one in jolly old England.
Bob 62 409’s were 380 HP with a single 4bbl 409 HP with dual quads 61 409’s were 360 HP with single 4bbl no dual quad option in 61
I stand corrected as the early engines w single four barrel was 360hp. But man, what a car!
Wow, what a car! It would be a blast to take another couple out with us on date -night, but I’d be afraid to park it anywhere. The ‘62 convertible parked next to it in photo 15 is pretty sweet too.
Truly magnificent.
The one ‘negative’ about 62 409 cars is that PS and PB were NA on them. Same w/406 and 427 Fords during those years. Not enough engine vacuum for the booster is what I always had heard. Perhaps the high revving was also too much for the PS belts as AC was also NA.
Great looking car, would love to have one just like it. One question tho, what is all that bracketry behind the transmission? is it part of a parking brake? I know 2 questions