In 1962, the Chevrolet Bel Air and Impala Sport Coupes had different rooflines. The year before, they were both “bubble tops” with a lot of glass. But in ’62, the Impala gained a formal roofline that instantly set it apart from the mid-tier Bel Air. The seller’s Impala is a running yard find, though it doesn’t look as though it has moved recently. This example is in Griffin, Georgia, and is available here on craigslist for $7,500 (thanks for the tip, Bruce M).
The Chevy Impala emerged in 1958 as a high-end coupe and convertible version of the Bel Air. In 1959, the nameplate was promoted to full series status, taking the automaker’s top spot. All of Chevy’s cars were remade in 1961 (losing the “batwings”), so the styling in 1962 was an evolution of the path Chevy had started down. Though the Impala was “top dog,” it still had a six-cylinder engine as standard. The seller’s car was treated to the next step up, a 283 cubic inch V8, said to be original.
Mechanically, a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission joins the 283, a common pairing (the 327 was also available that year in its first outing). The car has more than 100,000 miles as the odometer has turned over. The seller says the motor runs, but there’s no indication it will move around on its own.
We’re told the body is solid and it’s covered mostly in grey primer. While the seller says there is no rust, some may be trying to pop out in a few places, and there is some surface corrosion. You can bring your own trailer or work a deal with the seller to provide for delivery, but we wonder how far and for how much.
I always thought this design looked too much like a convertible uptop for its own good, not only the bubbletop but the crisper roofline of the 4 door hardtops and the post sedans’ wraparound rear windows looked better.
$5000 too much…..you’ll be way under water with this one!!!!
My only memory of the 1962 is that of a friend in Chicago who had succumbed to the “zero down no payments for 60 days” pitch of Z Frank on WGN tv. Needless to say after about nine months, he was moving the car every two hours to “hide” it from the repo hook. Beautiful car, though, in tuxedo(?) black with red guts. My recall says that Zollie and Nickey had the Chevrolet market cornered in ChicagoLand in the early ’60’s. We had invested in a friends Rambler store and whenever we went to corporate meetings or dealer drive events we would check on C.H. Johnson. He was my first interaction with a high functioning alcoholic, but I also understood why he was universally well liked. Blue Star and Warshosky were also must see’s of my childhood, along with a ride on the El to Wrigley for a Cub’s game to see Ernie Banks. Dad would give me $5 and it would pay for transportation, a hot dog and a Coke and sometimes even a matinee at the Uptown on the way home. I still have a home run hit by Hank when the Milwaukee Braves would visit. I’m guessing this car will not get in the area code of the asking.
David- I also am a Chicago native although a transplant to FL for the last ~40 yrs. In the early 70’s I drove down to Warshosky to get accessories for my ’68 Opel Kadette L. After being shaken down by a street thug I decided that mail-order was my new best friend.
BTW, regarding the alternator in the engine pic…. I believe the ’62 Impalas still had generators, as my family owned a ’62 Impala Wagon since new. Maybe an upgrade along the way…or maybe it was a change-over year for the charging systems. Someone in California will buy this an make a hopper out of it!
David Peterson, Thanks for the Chicago memories. Although I moved out of the city to the southern suburbs when I was 4. I still had family in the city and made many trips to Warshosky for my 1955 Chev convert top and related parts. When younger I would go with Dad on a Saturday to Nicky (can’t make my computer make a backwards “K”) to buy parts for the 1958 Corvette that we were restoring. Made many trips to Wrigley for Cubs games and met Ernie at a neighbors back yard picnic when I was 6. Good times growing up there. But glad I’m in Nevada now.
I had one of these “formal roof” ’62 Impalas. It was a 235 6cyl with a 3 on the tree. Car was in excellent shape but quickly turned around to buy my ’55 Bel Aire convert.
Jim in FL,
You are correct about the alternator. 1962 was the last year for generator!
And yes, I defected to Nevada 42 years ago. I enjoyed growing up in the Chicago area (originally 111th and Wentworth, then Chicago Heights and then Crete for 3rd grade to high school graduation) but very glad to be in Nevada now!