This car checks a lot of boxes for people interested in 1960s Chevrolets. It was Chevy’s Golden Anniversary (50 years). It’s an Impala. A Super Sport. Has the RPO 587 409 cubic inch V8. Has a 4-speed manual transmission. And it’s a convertible! What’s not to want? It’s also been in storage for 22 years and will need restoring. But how many of these exact cars could there have been back then, much less have managed to survive nearly 60 years? This one has and is located now in Warwick, Rhode Island and available here on Facebook Marketplace for the robust asking price of $48,500 or best offer. Our thanks to Peter Rettig for sending this tip our way!
By 1962, Chevrolet had been building cars for 50 years. Despite having been totally redesigned just a year earlier, the ‘62s had all-new sheet metal and – other than structural pieces – only the doors carried over from the ‘61s. The largest engine available, the 409 V8 that put out one horsepower per cube with dual 4-barrel carburetors was new for 1962. The flashy Super Sport was in its second year and Chevy would build more than 99,000 of them that model run. Records don’t seem to exist to drill down any further other than about 15,000 of them had a 409 motor. But it was offered with two outputs and determining how many had the RPO 587 with a 4-speed in a convertible body isn’t known.
With its white exterior, including convertible top, and its red interior, the seller’s car must have been a standout when new. This is said to be a one-owner car from Oklahoma and – given the likely rarity of the combination of items this car has – that owner no doubt knew it was something special because it went into storage in 1999 and apparently only recently emerged. That assumption is being made given all the lights for towing that is attached to the vehicle in various photos.
While the pics provided don’t show the complete car, it looks solid, at least on the outside. We don’t see any dents or overt patches of rust and all the chrome looks good. The driver’s side front window is eschewed and the top looks like it might be torn in a couple of places. If you’re into patina, you could probably let the paint go for a while, but the interior is going to need more immediate attention. Unless riding on duct tape is your thing. The carpeting, upholstery, and door panels will need work.
From 1962 to 1999, it appears as though the car only traveled 66,000 miles. But that could also be 166,000. We’re told this SS runs and drives, but the extent of how it performs those functions isn’t mentioned. This car deserves a full restoration and would be quite valuable when it reaches that stage, but the cost of just acquiring the Impala before getting started is not piggy bank change.
Lowrider !
Umm, no…
Blasphemy!!
Donk !
Other than the 64 wheel covers and the 63-64 air cleaner, this looks like a pretty complete car. From what I see it does need a full restoration, and the chances that it doesn’t have any rust issues are pretty slim. The floors in particular are almost always rusted on these cars, especially where the floor braces are. It’s a lot of money for a project car, but then I’ve only ever seen one other legitimate 62 409/409 4 speed SS convertible.
62 Corvettes and full size 62 Chevy’s, especially 409’s, are just about my favorite cars. I’ve had a few of them. My cousin raced a 62 409/380 back in the mid 60’s, which is when I first fell in love with them. There’s just something special about opening the hood of an early Chevy, and seeing those unique “W” motor valve covers.
Is that window eschewed or askew or is the darn thing just crooked. Or is it a reflection from the nearby building. In any event I’m attracted to these cars even though I’m a Toyota/Lexus guy. I’m thinking all those lights plus the CB antenna indicates some use as an escort car for oversized loads on the highway, bet the mileage is 166K. This is a diamond in the rough but you might be upside down after all the needs are addressed. Big Lottery tomorrow night, if I win I’m buying it.
How can you possibly go from a Toyota to a ’62 Chevy 409 SS?????? Unbelievable!
i want the 4 speed carb,
She’s real fine….not
Some people should probably go to sleep before they dream…
I knew Miguelito would be make the lowrider comment, and my response is the same, hanging at high noon. At 50k, I don’t think that anyone would spend that much just to ruin it. Unlike the last 62 Impala we commented on, having a droptop, a 409 and a 4 spd this is as close to a holy grail as they come. It will be interesting to see what it goes for.
There is no faster way to absolutely ruin a car than to make a lowrider out of it. This ’62 deserves a meticulous restoration.
Well Skorzeny, another way might be that “Donk” thing . .
Totally agree! Holy Grail.sort of. ……….Some would want the hardtop. But.finally…a car that I think is worth buying…..for maybe……….25 grand tops. Darn there goes my problem again. I think everything is overpriced But with unlimited resources and cash in hand this would, in my Mark II chicken brain, be worth getting excited about. Really. And I like ’62’s.
he can wish in one hand and see what goes in the other first….the 62 is the best looking of the 61–62 series–and a favorite of all 60=s….
I know we all have our memories and one of mine is seeing almost the exact same car at Wiedenbacher Olds in Decatur Il. Summer of “69. All the same equipment on an SS convertible but by that time it was pretty much a rusted hulk. $400 and you could drive it home. I wish I would have done it and stored it for all these years. But we all have these memories from our past.
i kinda prefer the 64 impala ss 409- 450 4 speed had one wish i hadnt sold it.
Settle down.
Enjoy the car/the dream/the memories.
If you don’t spend the $48 it’s a free ride…
I think Miguelito bumped his head. If it were a run of the mill small block sure but not this beast.
I’m with Miguelito , Tag it , Bag it , and Drag it … Whoo Whoo
Great car!! I’ve never seen the floor shifter mounted on a “box” like that on the floor before!! There is also a lot going on there with the dashboard like exposed wiring, toggle switches and screws mounting god knows what!! It will need restoration of coarse but the cob jobs are certainly enough to keep someone busy or make them pull their hair out!!!
My thoughts exactly!
That box is from the 61 Impala SS I put one in the 61 Impala I had when I cloned it as an SS I think that was the way they came when you got the bench seat buckets had the council
shifter is from a 64 or 65. a different shifter was used in 63 62