While there is no feeling quite like walking into your garage to admire a pristine classic that is your pride and joy, finding that space occupied by a tidy driver-quality car could be more attractive. The showroom-fresh example will undoubtedly draw crowds, but the second scenario means the owner can wheel it out for a spot of relaxed classic motoring, safe in the knowledge that an errant stone will not mar its perfection. That is the experience this 1962 Corvette offers. Because while its presentation is hard to fault, it can be considered a classic designed to be driven and enjoyed. The seller has listed the Corvette here on eBay in Fort Worth, Texas. Bidding has raced past the reserve to sit at $52,000.
The seller is this Corvette’s second owner, and they are candid about its condition. They admit it received a previous repaint using lacquer in its original shade of Ermine White. It retains a healthy shine, although close investigation reveals a few nicks and marks preventing it from achieving perfection. The fiberglass is in good condition, and while there is no soft-top, the ‘Vette features a factory hardtop. The floors and frame wear what looks to be a reasonably fresh undercoat, but there’s no evidence of structural rust or previous accident repairs. The spinner wheel covers and narrow whitewall tires compliment the exterior, the trim is very acceptable for a driver-grade vehicle, and there are no signs of glass issues.
For purists, you will probably be disappointed to learn this Corvette is no longer numbers-matching. It is unclear which version of the company’s 327ci V8 originally called this engine bay home, but it is long gone. Its spot is occupied by a 350ci Crate Motor that sends 300hp to the road via a four-speed manual transmission. That is the same output as produced by the RPO 583 version of the 327, and with the 350 offering no weight penalty over its predecessor, the performance figures should be close. That means the buyer can expect a ¼ mile ET of 14.6 seconds and a top speed of 129mph. For those seeking a turnkey classic, this one delivers. The seller uses it for weekend cruising, saying it runs and drives perfectly.
If you think this Corvette’s exterior is tidy, you will probably consider its interior condition even better. The Black upholstered surfaces look spotless, with no wear, stretching, or other problems. The carpet appears new, and there are no problems with the dash or wheel. Even if a close inspection reveals flaws that aren’t visible in the supplied photos, the new owner could slip behind the wheel for a trip to a Cars & Coffe without feeling embarrassed by the interior presentation. The seller fitted a new, but period-correct, Wonderbar radio and matching speakers for tunes on the move.
The bidding on this 1962 Corvette probably places it beyond the reach of most enthusiasts, but some will give it serious consideration. Since it carries some mechanical modifications, it probably won’t command the same price it might if it were numbers-matching. I believe the bidding will likely grind to a halt at around $60,000, although the sometimes unpredictable nature of the classic market could see it climb slightly higher. Do you agree, or do you see another figure in mind for this Corvette?
Beautiful car!
Needs a luggage rack.
Having owned two gently used Corvettes and seen them gradually progress from cherished objets d’art into comfortable daily drivers I can appreciate the concept of just being able to drive. Rain, snow, and road salt still make me cringe but a little quality time with cleaners and wax is a very satisfying endeavor. A fresh SBC is no detriment to the driving experience. With the motor being the most significant wear part on a car it’s comforting to know that parts and even whole units will always be readily available. After all, aren’t there about 40 gazillion SBCs out there?
The C1 Corvette is one of the seminal cars of my automotive consciousness, along with the 1950 Nash Ambassador my dad had and the 1957 Thunderbird. The next door neighbor’s uncle had a red on red 1958 Corvette complete with all the shiny bits you could ever want. They had to add an extra shift at the chromium mines for GM in 1958. Every time that car showed up I had to go over and gawk at it.
The rear-end styling of the ’58-’60 Corvettes ranks as one of the most tasteful and elegant of all time When the ’61s came out with the flattened rear it seemed visually jarring. Time has been good to this feature, however, and it provided a smoother transition to the mid-year version.
The price of anything is whatever someone else is willing to pay for it. In this day and age the difference between $52K and $60K is probably not that great. I’d guess a case can be made that there’d be $60,000 worth of enjoyment here. Compared to the cost of a C7 convertible (my next target) it’d be a tough decision.
If there was a picture of the tach, and the tach was original, one could tell which engine it originally had.
But it is a nice looking car.
Click on the red highlighted hyperlink in the text to the ebay ad…plenty of photo’s.
didn’t the tach operate off of the distributor which was interchangable with any small block?
Beautiful car that can be driven and taken to local shows if numbers matching is an issue. Next to the 57’s the 62 has always been a favorite of mine and the color white fits the 62 perfectly.
I had a friend who bought a new one and 3 months later was stolen and stripped, insurance paid off and he never bought another. Maybe he didn’t like it but I sure did.
The Tach is redlined @ 6500, so it could have been 340 horse or 360 horse if it originally was a Fuelie. What year did the tach drive change from off the back of the generator to the distributor,,,,,,,,,, maybe ’62 because the back of the generator has no fitting or cable and the distributor looks like aftermarket with no visible tach cable hooked up ????? A very nice looking Corvette in any event that I’d love to own.
If it was F.I. wouldn’t it be 375HP?
drive this one to the Ball, funerals, etc… the fiat – the rest of the time?