Chevrolet sold a lot of Corvairs in 1960 and 1961. But not every buyer was ready to go in for a car with its air-cooled engine in the rear. So, they introduced the Chevy II in 1962 with its water-cooled engine in front, just like the rest of the lineup (and all of the competition, including the Ford Falcon and excluding the VW Beetle). The seller offers a running, first-year Chevy II that looks like your basic 2-door sedan. It may have been off the road for a while and a lot of the sheet metal has rust in one spot or another. For restoration or parts, this Chevy is available in Ogden, Utah, and here on craigslist for $4,500 (offers accepted). Thanks to “Zappenduster” for giving us this tip!
Nearly 327,000 Chevy IIs were sold in 1962, and more than 92% of them came with the 194 cubic inch I-6 (the seller says it’s a 235 motor, so could that be a replacement engine?). The other 8% opted for the tiny I-4 which most considered to not be up to the job. Three series of trim were offered, 100, 300, and 400 (why did they skip 200?). It wouldn’t be until 1969 that the Nova nameplate would replace the Chevy II moniker altogether.
Considering that the exterior photos of this Chevy II are shown on a trailer, we assume the seller found this car elsewhere. Though it runs, that may be due to a new fuel pump and gas tank. The odometer is broken, so don’t know how much of the USA that folks saw in this Chevrolet (remember the Dinah Shore ads?). Besides the six-banger, this II has a “3-on-the-tree manual transmission, so this car looks about as basic as they came.
The interior (or what’s left of it) is red and the exterior black. We see white or grey primer in the trunk. The floorboards have holes in them and the trunk floor is not exempt either. But once you patch all of that you’ll have to move on to the fenders and quarter panels. Some fixing has been done pertaining to how the car rolls and stops (new tires and a master cylinder). The seller says he/she can provide delivery though we don’t how many miles would be involved before a fee is added to the sale price of the vehicle.
Does the trailer come w it ?
If they throw those straps in Stan with the trailer I think we have a winner of a deal here.
And the tow vehicle.
…and the garden hose.
No radio? Pass.
🤣
Between the fact that nature has gone a long way at reclaiming this car, and it’s not that desirable as a collector, and also considering the asking price, it’s an easy pass.
They are actually pretty desirable for a hot rod/resto mod build. Price on this one is about 1,500 too high but I expect the seller will get close to his ask as these just don’t show up often. If it was within 500 miles of me, I would make an offer as my first car in 1973 was a 62 hard top Nova Deluxe. It was of course turned into a hot rod with a 396 wedged in. Not easy, but my neighbor was a long time hot rodder/drag racer who was a big help.
Love that mouse house interior. Lots of generations made this bad boy their cozy home. My uncle had ’62, with the 4 cylinder. Bought it from Ma Bell, in that pea soup green. About as strippo as this one.
A good upholstery shop can fix the seats and other bits I don’t know if the floor pans are available after market or if you would have to cut the old ones out and use them for a template to new ones, I would shop on Copart and IAAI to see if I can find a insurance total for parts but I think this could be a fun car to get back on the road.
Shop.???? do it yourself or quit..
15 years ago ..quoted “900” just to put store bought replacement cover on..
Foam..pad..all extra..3 month time frame
Screw that noise
Perhaps some people just aren’t as talented as you, or have the resources to pay someone else to do the work that they want to have performed.
At 71, I still like to play with cars, but my days of laying on a creeper, getting a face full of dirt, are over. I just can’t do it anymore. There are others on BF who may feel similarly.
They make good sleeper cars, with a nice, say 327, 365 hp v-8, and a Muncie 4 speed, close ratio, 2:20 Low gear. That 327 should have a Duntov 097 cam in it, for starters.
This car is screaming for a 283, bucket seats, four-on-the-floor and Cragers.
Man I love this car, restore , restore, restore !
Ah , my very first car. Mine was a 300 with the 194 six and 3 in the tree.
The shift linkage would lock up and you’d have to go under the car to free it up.
First love though, great memories.
If I had unlimited funds I’d grab it and bring the past back to life , just as it was.
“The shift linkage would lock up and you’d have to go under the car to free it up.”
As I recall, a fairly common problem with GM column linkages when they became worn..
Amazing that GM never figured out how to make a good 3 on the tree linkage. My sister’s first car was a ‘54 Belair 4 door. The shift linkage on it literally broke repeatedly. I had a ‘77 Chevy C10 with a 250 a 3 speed. It hung up regularly. Fortunately, my wife learned how to line everything up again and continue on her way without assistance.
The bigger 6 in this car would be a 230. ‘62 was the last year for the venerable 235, but it was in trucks and full size cars only.
That certainly is a reasonable starting point. As stated above, for 3K purchase leaves plenty of $$ left to make this a nice little screamer. This body style is the lightest of the series and make excellent drag cars.
Could be a really cool street sweeper but I don’t agree that the price is reasonable. 2K would be about the ceiling I would think. I am really partial to early Chevy II’s as one of my very first cars was a ’64 Nova 400 with a factory 283 and an M-20 4 speed. This could easily be turned into a 60s style street racer and if I wasn’t way past my car building days, I would love to take it on.
This car certainly has potential. Since it’s a runner I would be inclined towards keeping it stock. This is a good project for the person who has metal repair skills. I could also see the desire to build a vehicle like Steve said. I don’t think this will take long to find a new home. The seller says that they are open to offers. And I’m pretty sure they are not going to ship this for free. They say that shipping is available. Two different things I believe. Anyway GLWTS.
$450 for what looks like it was pulled from a junkyard. Nostalgia seems to be blinding some of the comments here. In 1964 my highschool auto shop teacher had one of these cars. Back then I felt sorry for him not being able to afford a full size car. But now I think he had a really cool looking car.
A body welded up solid on a tube frame with a straight axle, and of course, a blown and injected 502? Youd be onto something! Unfortunately not this one as a restoration candidate.
Gramma mustve been a midget… dig those pedal extenders!
You learn something new everyday.
I’ve always like the chevy 2 body and my first thoughts are also along the lines of what Steve & Carbob mentioned, a small v-8, 4 spd & mags. Of course that would mean required drivetrain and suspension upgrades …
But what’s new for me is that these were unibody with a front suspension that is almost the exact replica of a ford falcon!
Not always considered the best of designs, especially when stuffing v-8’s under the hoods of these compacts!
Finally, a bit optimistic the asking price in my book. Maybe $1,500. would be fair?
If someone is going to put anything more than about 300 horse’s in one of these then sub-frame connectors are just about mandatory. Once you have them correctly installed the sky is pretty much the limit on horsepower and torque.
Yes, the would be part of drivetrain & suspension upgrades.
My grandfather had one similar to that just in white. I was born in 65. Drove me around the neighborhood each time I cried that car made me stop crying. Good memories
Perfect gasser fodder.