Chevrolet introduced the Super Sport on the Impala in 1961 as a performance model. The following year, the car became more of an image package available with any Chevy engine (and sales exploded). But official copies of the SS were limited to 2-door Sport Coupes and convertibles. While the seller says there were a few SS 4-door hardtops (Sport Sedans), could this 1962 edition be a regular Impala with SS badges added? Located in Portland, Oregon, and needing some body work, this numbers-matching Chevy is available here on craigslist for $18,000. Thanks for the interesting tip, T.J.!
We’re told there were a few 4-door SS Impalas in 1962, but we haven’t found anything substantiative about that online. Perhaps you could special-order an SS Sport Sedan, or maybe you could also apply SS badging. The requisite SS wheel covers go with the car, but it has a bench seat rather than SS buckets with a console. The seller says this is an original car, including the powertrain, paint, and interior. But there is rust in the front fenders and a small ding in the right front corner where the car may have had a small parking lot mishap.
This car has 123,000 miles (at least as the odometer is broken), as you might expect from a 64-year-old automobile. The engine is a 327 cubic inch V8 (first year offered), paired with a Powerglide automatic transmission. The car is fitted with stabilizer bars in the front (SS?), and power steering and brakes (not necessarily SS). We’re told that a call to the seller can result in a complete history of the car, including its SS heritage.
Old school Cragar wheels are on the Chevy, which we assume will come with the sale, along with the original stock steel wheels and spinner hub caps. The seller is in the market for a Chevelle from any year and in any condition, so perhaps a trade can be worked out if you have one to part with. Right now, this is a good running driver that you will need to work on over time to improve. Does anyone know about there being a 1962 Impala SS 4-door?
These “SS” 4drs. aren’t completely unheard of. I spotted one years ago at a show that I could tell was original and it too had the bench seat rather than buckets/console. Other than badges there is nothing about these that’s model-specific—regular Impala trim, interior etc. so they were legit but rare. Now……if it had the dual-quad 409, then………….?
A man I used to work with said his mother had a 4-door SS (bought new), that it had no other badging, just SS. He couldn’t remember what year it was, just that it had a 396 and a 4-speed. Also, the back seat wasn’t really a seat, it was cardboard. I’ve run this story by some people who probably know far more than I do, and they all doubted it was a true story. What do you think?
Anyone who actually believes Chevrolet would actually produce a “Super Sport” 4-door is deluding themselves. Let me assure you, my copy of Ron Kowalke’s “Standard Catalog of Chevrolet” will dash your illusion.
I, myself also personally added “SS” emblems to my 62 Impala also, but it didn’t make my car a Super Sport. At least it was a 2-door convertible. SMH
The ’62 has such beautiful, crisp lines! If I had space, I’d rock this in a heartbeat…GLWA
In theory, the 1961 SS was available as a sport sedan, and one was even illustrated in the 1961 SS brochure. However, I’ve never heard anyone claim that 1962 SS sport sedans were built.
This is a beautiful car. Too bad not a picture with the windows down to show off that pillar-less 4 door canopy. These impalas rocked the fender skirts well too.
Well,there were 10 legit 1964 4-door 442’s made..so anything is possible :D
6 were 4dr sedans the other 4 were station wagons!
Most Impala SSs had the engine turned metal on the spears and cove trim. And on interior trim. This one doesn’t. Probably re badged, the trim package should be indicated on the Vin in engine bay. Four doors are fine as long as they’re Hardtops.
without factory paperwork there is no way to prove its real. in 65 yrs i have never seen 1. i truly doubt chevy made 1.
If this can be mads, how about a 62 bubble top impala ss 409/427 4 speed in red/red?
From what I understand, the trim tag on the cowl designating a bench seat would mean it is not a SS. The SS had bucket seats, a console and a grab handle on the passenger side dash.
No way, that is a true SS. LOL.
The VIN code in engine bay will answer all questions about what it really is. It looks like a 4 door Hartop Impala with SS badges added. At least be honest about what you’re selling, most guys on Barnfinds aren’t that stupid. But in all fairness it’s a Craigslist ad.
Without the engine-turned fill-trim, this ain’t no SS! But in 1962, I would have loved to have special-ordered a 4-door Chevy Impala hardtop with the bench seats and a 283 with an automatic, but with the custom SS trim, complete with the engine-turning (for looks alone, if Chevy would have built one for me like that). Note: I hate bucket-seats or anything “performance”! Just a simple family sedan for me, but with all of the luxury “toys” — the top-line long-distance A.M. radio, those twin-antennas on the rear fenders, the fanciest trim-levels inside and out!
Not an SS ~ and the SS package did not include front & rear stabilizer bars as stated in his description. This is a 4 dr. hardtop with SS badges added. Too much rust for this price.
There absolutely, 100% was never a 4 door SS 62 Impala produced by Chevrolet. If you think that you saw one, it was a fake. You couldn’t even spring for extra money to special order one.
This car is simply a ’62 Impala 4 door hardtop that is pretty plain Jane and is not in my opinion worth what he is asking.
My dad had a ’62 SS and his next car was a ’65 SS. Im no expert but after looking at the Craig’s list ad you can see the back seat and i do believe all SS Impalas had a rear speaker that broke up the top part of the back seat.
This ad is not even close to accurate. First of all, as several have stated here, Chevrolet did not make an SS four door. Secondly, a power seat, front/rear sway bars, power steering and power brakes were not part of the SS package. And this car does not have either power steering or power brakes anyway – even though the ad states that it does!! The Impala SS badging on the trunk is not in the correct place, and as others have mentioned, the SS trim is nowhere to be found on the car. Also, it appears to have had several panels resprayed at different times in its life. This is just an Impala four door hardtop trying to be passed off as something that it’s not.
I cannot say for sure but I do know that chevrolet made a few four door nova ss models and in Canada Acadians could be had as a two or a four door ss and in Brazil all Chevrolet ss cars were four door so you never know it could be an import
It also doesn’t have the swirls on the side trim. If the seller has documentation, he should make that available. Not just second-hand or third-hand stories. I would want to see the documentation when it was new. It appears to me the only thing that makes it an SS are the badges. It doesn’t have any of the other SS trim. Back in the 60’s, you could order a car a lot of different ways. So, who knows?
In addition, as was mentioned before, the SS package is a trim package, not a performance package. Evidently, the seller doesn’t know that or that his car doesn’t have power steering or power brakes. There are no matching numbers on a 62. They can only be date coded.
Engine stampings and casting numbers generally tell you if it goes to a car, truck or Corvette. And can indicate transmission and fuel injection (Corvette)
My father was a Chevrolet rep out of the local zone office back then. GM would not sell you a 4-dr SS period. It was exclusive to 2-dr coupe/convertible only. Apparently some dealers made their own version and got reprimanded by GM for doing so. Same applied to wagons. The car is in my area and the guy is out of his ever loving mind on the price. If the engine is indeed original it would only have a 2bbl carb. Front sway bar was standard on the ss.The description of Marisa Tomei in My cousin Vinny was 1000% accurate. Front sway bar was standard on the ss
I believe 61 was the only year you were able to get a ss in any of the 4 door models and I have paper work on that. I believe on 62 that offer on 4 doors ss were no more on 4 doors as I believe
That is correct. In ’61, the SS option was available on any model.of the Impala except the Nomad station wagon. They were also fairly rare as only 453 were built.
Yes thanks for confirming with me. So many people don’t know that 61 was the only year for that