BF Auction: 1962 Chevrolet Corvette

Seller: Serge O rlov (Contact)
Location: Elberta, Alabama
Mileage: 00000 Shown
Chassis #: 20867S101651
Title Status: Clean
Engine: 327cui V8 340hp
Transmission: 4-Speed Manual

Some projects need a tune-up and a long weekend. This one needs a plan, some hard work, and probably a few favors from friends. However, underneath the loose panels and decades of dust is a genuine final-year C1 Corvette, complete with a four-speed manual transmission and a removable hardtop. The seller bought this 1962 Chevrolet Corvette as a project in 2001 but never found the time to start the restoration. It is located in Elberta, Alabama, and is being offered here as a Barn Finds Auction with a reserve.

The VIN identifies the car as a 1962 Corvette built in St. Louis, with the serial sequence placing it 1,651 cars into a production run of 14,531. The seller acquired it through eBay from Corvette Mike in California and has stored it as a future project ever since. Twenty-five years later, it is still waiting for someone to put it back together.

As the photos show, this is a substantial restoration, not a quick recommissioning. The fiberglass body wears aged gray primer, and prior repairs and unfinished seams are visible in several areas. The rear fender sections, trunk shell, and trunk lid are detached but included. A removable fiberglass hardtop is also present, but no convertible-top assembly is included. The collection of loose parts includes bumpers, grille and body brightwork, headlight assemblies, an AM Wonderbar radio, and various pieces of trim and hardware. Prospective bidders should carefully review the full photo gallery and confirm that the parts needed for their intended build are present.

A 327-cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 and four-speed manual transmission are installed, but the seller has not attempted to turn or start the engine, and neither component has been verified as original to the car. The engine carries block casting number 3782870 and an H141 casting date, while the aluminum intake is numbered 3795397. Those features prompted the belief that this could be a 340-horsepower combination, but the photographed engine pad appears to read F0817SA. Published 1962 Corvette identification information lists RE as the suffix for a 340-horsepower engine with a manual transmission, while Chevrolet passenger-car references associate SA with a 327/250-horsepower engine, Powerglide, and air conditioning. The Carter AFB tag reads 3721SB, and the distributor appears to be numbered 1110895; those also differ from the published original equipment for a 340-horsepower 1962 Corvette. For that reason, consider this engine an unverified 327 unless a qualified Corvette specialist determines otherwise.

The chassis and suspension remain assembled, but their condition will need close inspection. Surface corrosion and long-term grime are visible underneath, and the car currently rolls on weathered 15-inch Cragar-style wheels with old, mismatched tires. With a fiberglass body, the frame and its mounting points deserve at least as much scrutiny as the exterior panels. The four-speed’s casting numbers, assembly stamp, and operation are also unknown.

Inside, the seats are present, but nearly everything will require restoration. Some instrumentation remains in the dash, while other gauges, the radio, wiring, bulbs, and small components have been removed or left loose. The steering wheel, heater controls, clock, and shifter are visible, but the buyer should assume that the entire cabin will need to be rebuilt. The upside is that the car is already far enough apart to make a color change or a thoughtfully upgraded restomod much easier to justify.

The included California paperwork is marked “Title Only” and was signed over in 2002. The seller states that Alabama does not require a title for a vehicle of this age and will provide a bill of sale. Registration requirements vary widely, so bidders should confirm their state will accept the available paperwork before bidding.

A finished 1962 Corvette is one of the most recognizable American sports cars ever built, but getting this one there will require real commitment. Its hardtop, four-speed, early production sequence, and included parts give the next owner a useful foundation, while the drivetrain questions and disassembled condition leave the door open for either a factory-style restoration or a personalized build. Would you return this final-year C1 to its original specifications, or use the imperfect starting point to create the Corvette Chevrolet never did?