Rolling SS Project: 1962 Chevrolet Impala

The Super Sport option began in 1961 as a performance upgrade on the Chevy Impala. By 1962, they had broadened the appeal of the option, shifting the focus from performance to style, though big engines could still be ordered. This ’62 Impala SS came with a 327 V8 and Powerglide, but both are gone now. Besides a drivetrain, it will need some body and interior work before you can start cruising on the weekends. The roller can be found in Stanley, New York, and is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $7,250.  This tip is brought to us by Barn Finder Larry D!

When the Super Sport was conceived in 1961, it saw the production of just 453 cars, and a third of those had the potent 409 cubic inch V8. So, it was first intended for Chevy buyers interested in some muscle in their full-size ride. The marketing people thought there would be a bigger audience if the car could instead be had with any engine (which included the inline-6) and put emphasis on the appearance of the car. The idea was a huge success and out of 704,900 Impala’s built for 1962, 99,311 came with the SS option. By 1964, the Impala SS would become a series of its own.

For an extra $156, 1962 Impala buyers got the SS badging and outside trim plus front bucket seats with a special “leather-soft” vinyl covering complemented by aluminum edging. Additionally, the package included a heavy-duty suspension, tachometer, metallic brakes linings, a locking console, and knock-off style wheel covers. The seller’s car was included in the mix, but it appears to have changed colors more than once over the years. The cowl tag indicates that the Chevy was painted red with a white top when new, but the insides of the trunk and engine compartment are wearing light blue. The red is back on the body, but faded and covering the roof as well now, too.

Rust is present with the floorboards being the biggest target with several good-sized holes. There is a little of it in the trunk as well, but the frame is said to be good. The hood is not exempt from corrosion, but the seller is providing a spare hood to correct those issues. The rear quarter panels were replaced some time ago and the seller says they need to be done again to be correct. All the Impala’s SS trim is present, though a couple of other small exterior pieces have been lost along the way.

The upholstery will need to be redone (unless you like red duct tape) and the seats were removed for some of the photography. A new headliner and carpeting will be needed to complete the interior once the floors are fixed. This Impala was equipped with power steering and brakes, but you’re likely going to have to source those items, too, when looking for a new engine and transmission. The vehicle rolls and steers, so it can be winched onto a flatbed trailer.

Styling of the 1962 Chevies was an evolution of the redesign the cars received the year before. Smoother, cleaner, and more “timeless” in appearance than before. The “bubbletop” body style used on the 2-door Impala was shifted to the Bel Air for ’62, replaced by the more formal roofline instead. These are some of the most attractive cars that Chevrolet built in the decade and sales would continue to grow. If you take this one home, it will go without a title. Instead, it has a transferable New York registration which we understand is what the NY DMV used before 1973.