In 1961, if you liked the looks of the Chevrolet Sport Coupe with its “bubble top” styling, you had your choice of either a Bel Air or the more upscale Impala. But that wasn’t the case in 1962 when Chevy stylists gave just the Impala Sport Coupe a more formal roofline. Fast forward 60 years and the ’62 Bel Air Sport Coupe is a sought-out car in part because not all that many were made. Here is one of them, a project the seller bought several years ago to convert to a 409 V8 but never did. So, it’s available in Hooper, Nebraska, and here on eBay where the bidding has reached $14,400, but the reserve has not been triggered.
So, how rare was the ’62 Bel Air Sport Coupe? Sources indicate there were 323,427 Sport Coupes built in 1962 plus another 99,311 Super Sports. But the bulk of that activity was tied to the Impala as the seller says just 9.775 were Bel Airs (5,950 with a V8 engine plus another 3,825 with an inline-6). If you can find one of these Bel Airs with a numbers-matching 409 V8, you’d have a gold mine on your hands. But alas that’s not what we have here although the seller has been contemplating that since 1990 when he/she acquired the machine.
When new, this Bel Air was painted Nassau Blue (code 914) with a matching interior (code 839). While the body and paint are far from perfect after 60 years, we’re told all the unique bubble top chrome trim is there. Though the floorboards have a few holes, they shouldn’t present any big problems in restoring the car. However, the frame has a few more problems and they are bad enough for the seller to throw in a good frame with the deal.
When it left the factory, this car may have had a 283 V8 with a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission. But the tranny is gone and some V8 (the original?) is just sitting in the engine compartment and will need to be secured before the car moves very far. We don’t see any front seats although the seller says someone put in an Impala interior, and the back seat is pretty well chewed up. The seller has decided that after 32 years, he/she is not going to restore the car and wants to free up some space by passing the Chevy along to someone else. Anyone got a 409 looking for a new home?
How’s that $14k+?
Early ’60s Chevy bubbletops are worth beaucoup bux.
I don’t know where the reserve is, but any bubbletop in this condition is probably worth $15K all day long. Just for the restoration fodder.
I thought it was Beaububbletop bux???
Be still, my heart. This baby looks badass even with the worn paint and torque thrusts Guy says he doesnt have to sell, but still some dialog with the seller might help. Dam sam street or strip this is a beauty.
Cheers
GPC
I have fond memories of the 62 Biscayne 2 door post, 283 powerglide I had when I was 16. It was even the same color as this one. I did my best to fix it up but had no budget. Found an Impala deck lid (with more taillights) in a nearby rural junkyard. The yard owner gave me a gigantic ring of keys and told me if I could get it open I could have it for $25. I tried each one until one of them finally worked. Not long after that I hired a classmate’s brother who was going to a nearby Auto Tech program to rebuild the 283 and put in a 3/4 racing cam. Unfortunately when I got it back it didn’t run any better than before. Later, after selling the car the new owner told me the cam and the crank were a tooth off and after fixing that the thing ran liked a striped-a** ape. The funniest (stupidest) thing I did was with the interior. I found a absolutely perfect front seat, bolted it in and it looked great. What I failed to realize was that a 4 door seat doesn’t allow access to the rear seat unless you ran the seat all the way forward EVERY TIME someone got in the back seat! Steep learning curve? Oh yeah. But I had a LOT of fun. This will make a beautiful hot rod or cruiser no matter what engine goes in it. GLWTA.
Probably one of the most sought after Chevy’s of the ’60’s.
IF that happens to be the original engine and is rebuildable, this Chevy is still a goldmine without a 409. I’ll take the two 8 three all day even with a powerglide. This is a beauty and deserves restoring!
Now Current bid:
US $20,400.00
Reserve not met
I am in the bidding but not at the top.
That’s certainly a period correct 283. Odds are it’s original.
Just like music, certain car styles/designs from the 60s and 70s somehow stayed relevant, even until today. As a kid I might not have even noticed this car. But today, even in this condition, I can see a veiled beauty, waiting to be reborn. And I am not alone.
The air cleaner is not from 1962, probably 1970 or so
E GADDDS!!!! Talk about reoccurring nightmares. Out of high school in the early 80s, cars of this Era flowed through like water under a bridge. One that rolled through was a red version of this. 20 plus northeast years had left its mark. The car had factory ac, power brakes, steering, windows and all kinds of off the wall accessories. Anyone who has ever had the car bug knows the horrors of trying to keep (junk) autos, a never ending war that has only gotten worse. I watched as the Al’jon flattened that car down to bumper height. The only thing it left behind was its 327. I guess that what drives the costs of the remaining specimens but I witnessed hundreds of things that were tossed that would be battled over today.
SOLD:
Ended: Dec 26, 2022 , 8:00PM
Winning bid: US $25,999.00
ALSO Sold a:
1967 Chevrolet Camaro
Ended: Dec 26, 2022 , 8:00PM
Winning bid: US $29,999.00
AND: Sold a:
1966 Chevrolet Nova
Dec 26, 2022 , 8:00PM
Winning bid: US $27,600.00
What would you do with an extra $82,600 less fees?
I did not win the Bel Air so I will keep my membership to BF… :-)