The seller of this 1962 Chevrolet Corvette claims that it is a Californian barn find that needs a new owner to return it to its best. It appears to be a numbers-matching classic that is structurally sound and essentially complete. It isn’t clear how many years it has been off the road, but it seems that it has been an extended period. If you would like to be the person to return this iconic American sports car to its former glory, you will find it located in La Habra, California, and listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set a sale price of $37,450. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this classic for us.
The story behind this Corvette is unclear, but it appears that it has been sitting for many years. It wears Ermine White paint, although this has seen better days. Given the potential value locked away in this classic, the buyer will probably choose to strip away all of the existing paint so that they have a sound base to work from as part of the restoration. The fiberglass generally looks pretty good, with only a few minor flaws and cracks that will require attention. The Corvette comes with bows for a soft-top, plus a factory hardtop. It appears that it has spent its life in California, which should be good news for potential buyers. A sound frame is a vital consideration in any Corvette, and while the owner doesn’t provide specific details, the supplied photos tend to paint a positive picture. Surface corrosion is present, but this doesn’t appear to be severe. It would take an in-person inspection to confirm the car’s structural integrity, but the signs are encouraging. It seems that most of the external trim is present, and its condition looks pretty reasonable. The car rolls on a set of aftermarket wheels, but the owner includes an original set in the sale.
The owner says that this Corvette is numbers-matching and features a 327ci V8 and a four-speed manual transmission. It isn’t clear which version of the 327 we’re looking at, but the buyer will have at least 250hp at their disposal. If that’s the case, this classic should storm the ¼ mile in 15.3 seconds. A few aftermarket components are evident in the engine bay, including a set of headers. It seems that this car may not have run since the former owner placed it into storage, so the buyer may have some work to do before they can coax it back to life. From a positive standpoint, the seller indicates that the motor turns freely. Once an inspection has been completed, the buyer may find it easy to coax this V8 back to life.
The interior of this classic could best be described as a work in progress. Apart from seats and a wheel, it appears to be missing quite a few pieces. The owner says that he has a set of door trims, but it isn’t clear whether all of the dash components are present. This is another aspect of the car that will require total restoration, and the trim kit will leave no change from $2,000. However, it should look stunning once the work is complete. The owner includes a significant pile of parts with the sale, including a set of cylinder heads, a wiring harness, and sundry other components. It is to be hoped that these include all of the dash components and gauges. If not, replacing those parts will add significantly to the cost of this restoration.
The 1962 model year was the most successful to date for the production of Chevrolet’s Corvette. The company produced 14,531 examples, which was impressive considering the buying public knew that a new model was on the horizon. At $37,450, this Corvette is not a cheap project. However, once fully restored, it is a car that should easily command a value of over $70,000. If the new owner can achieve perfection, that figure could push towards $90,000. The vehicle has been listed for a while now, so it’ll be interesting to see if a buyer can be found.
This looks like someone has done rear fender flares somewhere along the way. Not a Corvette guy but this seems like he’s asking a lot for a car that will need a lot of time and money.
I would say that without seeing and knowing the condition of the “Parts” and the evident fender flairs, this is a $15-20k Vette. You will easily have an additional $20k in paint and bodywork to make it look original, not to mention interior costing you $5-10k, depending on what you choose. Seller has high hopes, I wish him/her well.
And that also assumes that you don’t have to crack that 327 to rebuild it so it produces some respectable horsepower. This is just another guy that thinks with a little fluff and paint he’s got a $40,000 Vette. He’s been spending too much time watching Mecum auctions.
Good Lord. Lose the wheels.
I would hope/assume those were just put on there to roll it around. Plenty of times I’ve put horrible wheels on a car temporarily. No one in their right mind would think these were really acceptable on a ’62 (or any year) Corvette.
A lot of people (including myself) consider the ’62 the cream of the C1 crop. It’s a pity about those rear fenders. I suspect that’s why the car hasn’t sold already.
I love 62’s the most. My dad restored one in the early 90’s. 300hp version of the 327/4 speed. This car is going to take 30-40k and you can buy an all original one in nice shape for he wants us restoration. This is only for restomod folks or someone that do everything themselves.
Headlight rims are wrong. 62 had body colored ones.