Same Family Since New: 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS
What a difference a year can make! Chevrolet introduced the Super Sport as a performance car in 1961 and sold a few hundred copies. They shifted gears in 1962 and made it more of a styling statement with any Chevy engine. And guess what? They sold nearly 100,000 copies! This 1962 edition has a rebuilt 327 cubic inch V8 and has been in the same family since it was new. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this solid example of 1960s GM engineering is available here on eBay where the current bid is $25,100 (no reserve in play).
When Chevy rolled out the Super Sport (aka SS) in mid-1961, your engine choices were a 348 V8 and the new “She’s So Fine, My 409” big block. Less than 500 examples were built, by design or accident. For 1962, the Impala SS (hardtop and convertible) had loads of Super Sport trim pieces to set it apart from the regular Impala, specifically bucket seats vs. a bench. You could get yours with a lowly inline-6 if you wanted, but the seller’s grandfather decided to go with the new-for-’62 327. This car once had plenty of company with sales north of 99,000 units.
This Impala has been a member of the seller’s family for 62 years. We assume that Grandpa has passed on and that’s why the car is for sale, but that’s just speculation. The 327 was rebuilt in 2011 as the automobile may have been approaching 80,000 miles at the time. A 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission is along for the ride, column-shifted as opposed to a console-mounted handle. More recent repairs include a rebuild of the carburetor and new fuel lines.
We’re told the green paint is original, but the seller also says that some rust was repaired a dozen years ago. So did some of the paint have to be touched up at the time (the driver’s side front fender is a shade different than that of the door)? The vinyl upholstery might also be from the factory, and everything looks nice and tidy except for at least one door panel. If you like the looks of the ’62 Chevies, this Impala SS may be as close to an almost original survivor as you might find.
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Comments
A gem. Kudos to the family and the soon to be new owner. Mom & Dad had one, light yellow with a 327 that I backed into a 4-lane highway while Mom was inside a store. Being 11 at the time Mom really shouldn’t have left my brother and I in the car. (rolling eyes emoji here).
Fond memories of our neighbors 62’ Impala in black. I was just a kid but already a car nut. The other neighbor had a 62’ Buick Lesabre in black. 60 years ago amazing I remember like yesterday
My father had blue 62 Chevy wagon with a 283.he had it back in 1968 around this time.Bel air .he even pulled a double axel trailer with it with no problems.loved it but long gone.
This is borderline crazy. This car is an exact example of my very first car. Same color, same drive train, everything. I loved that car. Unfortunately, not enough to keep me from totaling it after only 3 weeks! To this day I have my mother to thank for refusing to cosign for my first choice, a 63 409/425 4 speed. If that 327/250 PG almost killed me, a 409 would have almost surely would have! 1966 brings back many memories, both good and bad.
If I bought this car, I’d retrofit it with a TH350 transmission or even a 7R400 if possible, dump the two-speed slush box. Nice car otherwise.
Had new 63 Impala 283 and Powerglide.Put 100,000 miles on it.Got 20 mpg. on trips.I would go after this car if I was younger.
Terry. A PG is 100 times more reliable than a TH 350. I have owned three 60s Chevys with PG. Never a problem. 200,000 miles on two of them. Bodies rotted. Drive train still good. Had TH 350 in a an Olds. 75,000 miles total junk. And it was given trans oil changes every 20,000 miles by me with all GM parts. Nice car here, but memories of high-school 1973 replacing those Atlas red heater hoses. 64 is my favorite year, but 62 is a close second. Sold my 65 Impala for $500 in 2000. Had 200,000 plus miles 283 PG.
Don’t you mean a 700R4 transmission.
Yes 700R4, can’t change it once posted. Too many transmission names lol
My best friend had one in black.. 350/200 4R. Sold it for him just before he passed away in 2007. I bought his 56 Chevy project. Wish I could have afforded both.
After 62 years it’s tlme to change the coil springs,the left side is lower than the right side!
My 62 SS was a 409 car, dropped a 327/4 speed in it & it did not drop down at all, also had 4 coil over Shocks & 9 Passenger Station Wagon Springs in back.15″ American wheels with fat tires. Car sits high & is Stout. Does not have an engine right now.
One of the nicest all original 62 you will find. My brother has one identical except it was white with red interior. Drove it to my senior prom
Too bad grandpa didn’t check the box for AC. The powerglide trans was one of the best automatic transmissions that GM ever made. A front disc brake conversion would make a big difference on this car as well.
Beautiful car I might upgrade a couple of things but if it’s truly an original one owner vehicle. Leave it stock because this a remarkable find IMO
A shame as well as he didnt check the “LASER STRAIGHT” box either. That plus an amatuer Rustoleo touch up under the hood.
I’ve got the almost identical car out in the yard, except bench seat. I hope to get it out and drive it this summer. We had a sweet bright red one 25 years ago but sold it when we moved.
Powerglide? If it was 3 or 4 speed with the 327 it would be reqally desirable IMO.
Hey are you from Richmond indiana 🤔
A very nice ’62 Impala SS and a original owner car is icing on the cake. It is unfortunate that Grandpa didn’t have the foresight to order it with bucket seats, console and a 4 speed though.
Powerglide transmissions were tough as nails, used at the drag strips.
I always waited for a shift into 3rd gear though.
My high school sweetheart had a ’62 in light blue. I helped him convert it from a 3 on the tree to a 4 on the floor. He had the engine bored out to a 301. It was a very sweet ride.
Diane, you are a gem! I taught my daughters how to change their oil and helped restore their Mtangs. As a father of 3 girls, I’d want to know my girl’s Beau and his intentions before I’d want her crawling around under his car…. Wink Wink….. “Oh Father”, I think would be the anticipated response at my house. Again, Thank you for being a doll! Steve
Well, grandpa did order the bucket seats but not the console shifter. It’s a column shifter. And again, no AC. Grandpa may have been a little tight, in 1962.
Chevrolet didn’t come out with the console shifter until 1963!
Indeed, 1962 Impala SSs didn’t come with console AT shifters. Not until 63, but grandpa still didn’t check the box for AC in 1962, that would have made this one more valuable today.
not many people in 1962 would have ordered AC in a Chevy sister bought new 1963 327 4 speed money was not tight and a ac wasn’t even though of no one I knew in 1962 had a car with ac
Of course it has a/c gang. Grandpa would say…”you want air conditioning….roll your widow down”. These and cars around this era made you know how to drive and handle a car…stuck throttles and brake fade and all. lol
I had a 62 Impala in white /red interior, my dad bought it for me right out of high school. Only problem it had an inline 6 cylinder engine and he wouldn’t let me have a V8, but i went with it.
When l was 16 l bought a 62 impala convertible winter car for 50.00 drove it all winter and then gave it away to a girl. , same color green with a white top and interior. That car ran great wish l had it today
Shoulda, coulda, woulda kept that car. The things we regret as we get older.
Sweet Pea! That’s why we gotta make a list and get after it! Forty years ago, my retired carpenter Daddy tuned up my ’64 Triumph Spitfire, made it run better than the last 3 mechanics could. Being the generous, appreciative son, I took him for a ride with the top down…. He looked at me and said, “I didn’t do this enuf…..” So, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead whilst we can still wiggle, a little. No regrets, sweet pea, no regrets…. Take Care. Steve
Here’s some irony….I read this to my husband while he’s watching a Civil War special on the discovery channel. They were talking about “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.” What are the odds. Another funny thing, one of my dad’s good friends used to call me Sweet Pea.
Would it be Wrong to put a LS engine in my SS 409 Car. For a Correct Engine it will maybe cost me $15,000+. Or put a BBC in it, have some of those? Last 2 engines were rowdy 327’s.
I seem to be missing something as there appears to be some sort of a private personnel conservation going on that has virtually nothing to do with a 62 Chevrolet.
If you were referring to my recent comments, I have a 1962 Impala SS 409 car Missing the motor & just wanted a little Feedback on what to do with it?
If you are referring to my comments about a 62, I was replying to a member. I am not a member and did not realize I could not reply. Sorry for any inconvenience.
You needn’t take it personally. It’s just always been my understanding that any responses to an article about a certain vehicle would be germaine to the subject in question. It would appear that my assumption was incorrect.
Diane, most of us here are fine with your comments. Especially fine since you didn’t insult anyone, question their integrity or their party affiliations. However, if you are going for reactions, next time just casually suggest replacing the Chevrolet motor with a Ford or even an AMC motor. then watch the responses.
You folks have fun. I believe that if I have the desire to have any future conversations regarding hot rods, I will limit those conversations to old dudes like me that still remember the passion certain people have for the automobile. I am way to old to be socially correct.
1962 is my favourite Chevrolet — final year of the 1961-1962 body shell. I drove a 1946 Ford at the time, and my parents had a 1961 Chevy. My school-teacher sister drive a pink 1959 Studebaker Lark. My little brother bought a 1954 Mercury wagon for $25.00. Had I been able to order one of these ’62s, I wonder if they would have allowed the SS trim outside, with a BENCH front seat, a 283 engine and Power glide? I’m not a “hot performance” kind of guy: I like 4-door family-sedans, bench seats, air-conditioning, and the shifter on the steering-column. But I loved the SS trim in 1962!
To anybody, in Texas it Is a Necessity to have AC, my 62 SS 327 Impala was Cool. When I look at cars for sale I check for ÀC Drag cars excluded. Did not worry about it for my Pro Street 68 Camaro. Am restoring old cars, I hear Vintage Air might be Good. Have not checked prices vs stock?
Racer Dave, Classic Auto Air out of Texas are a great company for either original AC or they have an updating division. They can rebuild many original parts like dryers or compressors
Heck Dodson, thanks for the Info.