This 1962 Chevrolet Impala is a perfect example of how you could, at one time, mix and match – build the car you want as opposed to being stuck in a narrow channel of conformity as we are today. Claimed to have been a barn find about eight years ago, this four-door sedan is a mix of original and rebuilt. It’s an odd one all right so let’s go over it in detail. Residing in Roscoe, Illinois, this unusually equipped Impala is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $10,300 with the reserve not yet met.
Statistics time:
- Total 1962 Chevrolet production: > 2.0M (number one with number 2 Ford at 1.4M)
- Total 1962 Impala production: 705K
- Total 1962 four-door sedan count (all trims): 433K
- Total 1962 409 equipped Impala count: 15K
Where am I going with this? GM had the tiger by the tail, so much so in ’62, that the U.S. Justice Department considered breaking up the conglomerate by separating Chevrolet from the fold. According to Daniel Stroh in an article that he penned for Hemmings, this idea started out in about 1956 and gained momentum by ’62 with a lawyer at the Justice Department, Eugene Metzger, pushing the idea up through the Justice hierarchy. He ultimately got shot down and GM, in a defensive move, pushed additional internal integration to make any part of the colossus that much harder to separate.
Our subject car is an Impala four-door sedan but Impala was also available as a four-door hardtop, station wagon, and two-door hardtop or convertible. Lower trim levels included the BelAir and Biscayne, both built as four-door sedans and station wagons as well as a two-door sedan. The seller claims that this car is still wearing its original Ermine White finish and its presentation is pretty fair. The seller adds, “VERY SOLID CAR. ORIGINAL RUST FREE FLOOR, ROCKERS, AND TRUNK”. That said, there is some rust that has settled into the lower quarters as well as the leading edge of the hood.
The interior is mostly new with reproduction, correct, seat covers as well as a new headliner and carpet. The door panels are claimed to be original as is the steering column-mounted tachometer. That’s one spindly looking gear shifter and the seller suggests, “ORIGINAL SHIFTER IS A LITTLE SLOPPY ( WERN’T THEY ALL) BUT SHIFTS FINE THROUGH ALL GEARS WITH A LITTLE PRACTICE“.
Continuing with surprises is what lurks under the hood, specifically a 380-gross HP 409 CI V8 engine. The listing mentions that the block is a ’64 edition and not original to this car. Also stated is, “MOTOR HAS NEW PISTONS, RINGS, BEARINGS, SOLID CAMSHAFT, LIFTERS, AND GASKETS” in addition to the rebuilt four-speed manual transmission, differential, and front suspension. Note that the radiator, it’s aluminum and designed to look like an original Harrison brass unit. We’re told that this Chevy drives terrifically!
This one is definitely an anomaly as a four-door, four-speed, 409 CI engine-equipped Impala is an improbable combination. The most unusual pairing, I think, is the four-door sedan with a four-speed manual transmission whereas the others seem more likely. This car’s value is not going to be based on its power, handling, ride, or braking, all things, with the exception of power, that are probably middling at best. No, its value is existential because of how it was outfitted – how many more like this can there be?
A sleeper made for stoplight dragging while the Beach Boys sing about the 409. How do you beat this one? Nice.
…………and of course, minus any photo of a data plate or VIN. Suspicion rears it’s ugly head alright. This might have a `64 edition 409 NOW, but what was it built with at the factory? A cold beer says it wasn’t a 409 or any variety!
Wolf in lamb skin .
Funny.
I’ll bet you a cold beer and raise you one. In high school in ’69, I built up a 1960 Parkwood wagon with a 409, a Borg Warner 4 speed (and lived to tell about it). :)
I bet your absolutely wrong
At the flits Garett muscle car museum in pigeon forge there is a 1969 caprice wagon with all aluminum 425-425 hp 4 speed buckets and console factory with the factory window sticker present so why would you think this is a fake 62
Sorry it’s a 427 at it’s located at Floyd Garett muscle museum sorry for the typo’s
I remember one similar to this on B-J Auctions a long time ago. It may have been a Bel Air. Light beige in color. It was originally ordered by a Texaco field rep. Supposedly back then, one could pick what floated your boat. Full service records included with sale. If I recall it sold for $47k. I was floored!
I saw the Oil field car at the Long Beach High Performance Swap meet over twenty years ago. All the original documentation was there.
If a true factory build would be something.Back in the day when you could order a car the way you wanted.
That’s how it used to be in the stone age? Had a friend in the sixties who would order his mother a new Chevy every couple of years nothing really special, but it was built the way he wanted it. He had a good relationship with one salesman at a small suburban dealer and dealt with him. THIS ALL GONE NOW.
Cars that I have ordered from the factory exactly like I wanted them:
1981 Camaro
2008 Mini Cooper S
2022 Bronco
So, yes, it is still possible to do this.
PRA4SNW, regarding the 2022 Bronco,not if you do NOT want(to pay way extra) for any of these today! –>
factory radio!(optional even on ’69-’76 t/a!!), a/c(not needed in mostly cool climates-i already pulled out my home window a/c unit & my friend in the mountains doesnt even own one), p/w, 4 doors(ALL american cars tiny to huge prior to ’76 were available as a 2 door – many with & without frameless glass & as convertibles !!), exposed wipers(hidden ones were an option on ’70s camaros), touch screen controls, HVAC controls with troublesome MOTORIZED blend doors, etc.
& if one DOES want:–> decent protective bumpers & a choice of these: raised white letter tires, at least 50 separate distinct options!, choice of 20!! exterior colors (google 1972 chevy color pallet) & at least 5 interior FULL colors.
Joe,
You would be surprised how custom you can make your Bronco, same with the Mini. Of course, you can’t get a stripper anymore (no A/C, radio, etc), but you can buy a very base model without a big touch screen, manual transmission, choice of 10 exterior colors, basic wheel / tire package. And, you can also option it up as high as your wallet will take.
The point that the original poster made was that you can no longer do this anymore.
BTW: 2 doors are still available – my Bronco is one. And you know why they no longer sell 2 doors? Because no one buys them any more. I’ve seen maybe 5 other 2 door Broncos out in the wild.
I miss those days too! In 1970 I ordered a 1970 Mach 1 Mustang-Grabber Blue, White Interior, 351 Cleveland engine with a 3 speed manual trans, 325 open end rear, Shaker Scoop and Sport Slats, Fun times!
I’m weary of the obsession with overpowered cars. They are not reality. If you are interested in genuine classic cars you’d report on vintage cars with six cylinders.
Saw an article yesterday about a 59 Plymouth Savoy with a first generation slant six. Actually interesting story. Not the usual claptrap about horsepower.
Uh, Barn Finds does plenty of write-ups on six cylinder classics. I’ve read quite a few the past several months. But, let’s face it, what moves the needle with many people is horsepower, torque and displacement, in no particular order. That being said, BF is not averse to writing about smaller sized motors, foreign and even some oddballs here and there. I think there’s something for everybody if you browse daily. Ymmv.
. . . and, there are so few six cylinder engines STILL in the cars they came in, there aren’t that many for sale to be put on here.
Rare. Yes, but I know of a 62 four door Impala in western PA with 409 425 hp three speed manual on column. True story. A man wanted rhe most powerful engine he could order. Wife said ok, but can’t be a 4 speed on floor. It was ordered and shipped to a PA dealer. Last I heard, collector Don Fezell owned it and has had it many years buying it from an estate sale.
Yeah, everbody Wants A Car that soundS more like a sewing mavhine and takes an hour to get up to freeway speed…BORING!!!
What great unit. I would love to have it parked between my fully loaded 64 Impala convertible and my 64 Electra 225 4 door hardtop with factory twin fours. It would be neat to pair this 62 up against my 225 and see what a 409 4 speed 4 door would pull against a fully loaded 64 Electra 225 with the 425 with twin fours and the 400 th. I think it would be a cool grudge match.
Will Fox, there is a pic of the trim tag.
I’m no expert on 62 tags, but the only body-related option listed on this tag is EZI which means tinted glass. My understanding is that if the car came with the power seat there would be a code on the ACC line for that, and if it came with a 4 speed then there would be an L or a 2L on the ACC line.
Add to that the fact that they provide no pics of the “before” condition of the driveline before its resto, and I’m not buying the story …
Regardless of matching numbers, love the final outcome. What a riot this would be to cruise. Nobody would expect that ideal 3.36 ratio is attached to a 4sp stick shift. Long, loose throws, no problemo.
If John Milner or Bob Falfa was driving this, would anyone here say “what a waste of machinery”?
In the 1960s, i don’t think you could get ANY USA made 4 door car with bucket seats – unless “you knew someone”, or were a company exec, or the assembly worker(s) made a boo boo.
Actually the guys over at Ford offered Galaxie XLs in 4 door hardtop form with bucket seats and floorshift
I have only seen it in the 63 64 cars long ago when they frequently passed through the wrecking yard.
My dad had a blue ’64 Galaxie XL 4dr HT with bucket seats and console floor shift … why it needed fold down front seats I don’t know …
To tell if it was originally a 409, I believe is impossible from the vin tag as it only designates 6 or 8 for engine with no difference for the V8 cars. The fuel line is run different on the engine bay part of the chassis on Type W engines and is the same back to 59. It has the correct fan shroud but that is likely reproduced. Years back I scrapped many Even a 63 SS with a 409 with a 3 on the tree. The console was exactly like the floorshift cars only smooth with no shifter. An absolute option less 64 Belair wagon with a 409 with a power glide, in fact I never junked any duel fours cars but quite a few 340 4bbl versions
Another that comes to mind was a dark green, turquoise colored 64 Impala sedan like this 62 with a 409, power glide, manual brakes, steering, clear glass but the car had cruise control. You could get anything you wanted in or on a car back then, in fact GM use to boast that no two cars were the same and that is a very true statement for their cars from the 50s all the way into the 70s. Six cylinder cars with ac and power windows. Biscayne’s with autronic eyes. You get a really good perspective of cars when you run the final stop. Is this one originally a 409 4 speed…well to me I cannot see anyone doing this to this car after the 70s for the simple fact that the driveline was worth more than that car in the last two or so decades. I have a 62 hardtop I bought at 17 with a bad small block and went down to the local junkyard and bought a 409/340 out of a 63 SS convertible for next to nothing. I sold that engine from that car and put a 396 4 speed in it which it still has. 409s started getting pricey by the early 90s so if this car wasn’t an 409 when it left wherever it was assembled it likely got the swap in the late 60s or 70s when these were floating through every junk/scrap facility. Remember also by the mid 70s an old gas hog like this was persona non grata. These cars survived because the folks that bought them new liked them and didn’t have to drive alot so fuel wasn’t a concern, it beat a car payment even then to many people. Original or not, it is freakin’ cool to me. It right there with that 62 big Dodge sedan with the twin four cross ram that past across here sometime back.
Agreed, it’s true that at least into the early 80’s at GM you could build a car off the a la carte menu. My old man spec’d an ‘81 LeSabre in grey, with a blue vinyl interior, V8, power door locks but crank windows. (He was an iconoclast…) The following year he ordered my mother a Century Limited, red/red, 4 doors, power locks, still crank windows, and to his everlasting dismay I was in the office at the time and he didn’t say anything when I added the sport suspension. He hated they way that thing rode until he traded it in, while I found every excuse to use it.
I sold GM cars in the early-to-mid ’80s – Pontiac, Cadillac, GMC … it was a more like a “combo plate” menu against the what you could order off the a-la-carte menu in the ’60s … like the car above, you could check the boxes you wanted – and you got it … in the ’80s, you could get “that” engine but only with “that” tranny … you could get another combo but it might delete a certain option that you wanted … trucks were more flexible because of the different work required of them … and forget about the Toyota cars we also sold – they were all imported and you got what it came with – period
I have to tell you that I ordered a new 1987 Toyota Celica GT and got precisely what I wanted.
JO
Jim mentioned he ordered a new 1987 Celica GT with precisely what he ordered … there was no “Reply” there so I’m replying here … yes, you probably did, but in 1987 the Celica had two engine choices and two tranny choices … either fwd or 4wd … ST (basically a strippee) or GT (most options) … you couldn’t get ST with power options or the radio upgrade … you were limited to what those two models offered with options/standard equipment to that specific model unless you opted for the turbo … you only got “exactly” what you ordered because you ordered the GT designation which that series had – turbo or non-turbo… Toyota back then had very few “options” from which to choose – floor mats and the ubiquitious CPP (consumer protection plan – which was a great point of contention with most buyers) … you got what you wanted because you chose the options which were offered with that model and couldn’t change that particular package … selling Toyota back in the ’70s/’80s was really great because they were on allocation, came with what they came with, and usually sold over list before they got to the dealer, which was a big commission for the salesman … I made more on a Corolla than a Coupe de Ville …
Not exactly. I bought the car for my wife and she wanted a black exterior, a sunroof, optional aluminum wheels, a five-speed manual transaxle, a cassette player and A/C – fairly specific stuff and that’s what we got.
Oh, and it didn’t sell over list. We bought it in January of ’87 and got a nice deal and a fair trade.
JO
You can just imagine the shock on grandmas face when gramps rolled in the drive with this. I can hear it now in her kvetching voice, “that’s the last time you go alone to buy a car”. His reply, “hey, I got you the 4 door( $2841) and the radio( $58.61) and you wanted a V8, and since the Slushglide wasn’t available on the 409 in ’62( a whopping $321.65 for the 380hp, for a dollar more, he could have went with the dual quad 409 hp,,,yeah, 409 hp, right) had to go with the manual( GM called the 4 speed the “OD” manual) another $107.60 over the 3 on the tree, still $100 less than the powerglide.( $199.00) ’62 had 4 new V8s that year, 327, 2 and 4 barrel, and the 409, 4 and 2-4 barrel. He figured grammy grams would never know. Tell you what, it must have been a treat “borrowing ” gramps car to go down to the, um, library. Gramps was no fool, or he wouldn’t have ordered it this way.
Reason I went off on such a bender, is my grandfather bought a new ’61 Impala 4 door, very similar to this after his Packard was totaled. While it was the more sedate 283, powerglide, grandma went with my grandfather. He was a risky type, some say I take after him, and who knows what he would have come home with.
THIS,,my friends, was America in the early ’60s. A Chevy Impala with a 409 and a 4 speed. Obviously, grampa was a Beach Boys fan. Nice find.
Since some may doubt my references after that “Hotshot” post, I got the info from here.
http://www.348-409.com/1962factpage.html
Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall…torque is how far you penetrate the wall.
I don’t believe I have ever seen a 4 door Impala (with a Bel Air post roof) with a 409 and a four on the floor. I bet it’s the only one still left out there!
I too am suspicious about this being a factory 409 car. Maybe/Maybe not. Cool sleeper in any case.
As for the ‘59 slant six comment, the leaning tower of power debuted in ‘61, to my knowledge.
As for bucket seats in 4 doors in the ‘60s, I’ve seen ‘64 Galaxie 500 XL 4 door hardtops with buckets and console. My Mom’s daily driver in the early ‘70s was a ‘68 Custom 4 door sedan with non-tilting buckets. No console/column shift. (Former City of Seattle police car)
I love these 62 Impalas, I will never forget the ride I took with a buddy of mine up Sprinkles Creek, a narrow 2-lane in the town I grew up in. His was a 62 SS, 327 4-speed, triple black.. suffice it to say it was one of the most hair-raising rides I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing, at one point we actually caught a little air going over a one lane bridge, at a few ticks over 100mph, with Kelvin at the tiller looking like he was negotiating a racetrack filled with competitors.. whooowee what a ride! I’d love to put this old girl in my stable, I’d even trade my Harley for it, and I wouldn’t part with ol’ Red for 3 times the current bid on this sweet ride! Somebody’s gonna get a real gem with this one!
I was a high school junior in the fall of 1965. One day as I was bagging groceries on a Saturday at our local grocery store, a man I knew pulled up in a new 1966 Chevy Impala. As I was putting his groceries into the car I noticed a factory 4 speed with a bench seat and only 250+ miles on the odometer. I looked at the left front fender and it had 283 emblem on it. I asked the guy if it indeed had a 283 and he confirmed it was with a 2bbl carb. I asked him how he got such a combo and he told me he ordered it that way from our local Chevy dealer. Said that’s what he wanted!!
I love cars like this, it’s like dad had to get the practical 4dr to have room for the kids and mom but managed to get the powerhouse hot rod in the same package. An old school friends mom used to get the cars with the biggest engine I remember her saying ya gotta have power to pass…
I remember a late sixties Ford stripper four-door (Rubber floor mats, poverty hub caps, skinny blackwalls, power nothing, etc.) Car was BRIGHT RED with a 428 and DRUM BRAKES. I asked how they got it and for lack of a better term at the time. . .it was COMPUTER ORDERED!!!! That is how the factories boasted of no two cars being the same!!
It probably went like “stink”, but wouldn’t STOP!
Shine runner. Looks like a family sedan, goes like stink.
If the underside is clean, this car would be a good buy. The rust doesn’t look bad.
The buyer will get a car that’s unique, and fast!