Real SS? 1962 Chevrolet Impala 327 4-Speed
The seller of this 1962 Chevrolet Impala here on eBay does a good job describing many aspects of his car, but there are a few things that seem unclear, with one important detail being whether or not this one is a true factory SS. Some of the seller’s dialogue is a little hard to follow and comprehend, such as when he writes, “I do not know if this car is an original SS or not selling it as SS just a plain Jane Impala. I could be wrong”. Regardless of pedigree, this seems like one cool Chevy as it sits, and others seem to think so too as 32 bids have pushed the price up to $26,766 so far with the reserve not yet reached. Plan on making your way up to Bozeman, Montana to check out the Impala in person or pick it up.
There’s some information on the Car Gurus website about at least one way to tell if your ’62 is a Super Sport, and that has to do with the interior trim code. If there’s a bench seat, it’s not an SS, and this one clearly has buckets, but we don’t get any information regarding any trim coding. Another statement in the listing that’s hard to follow reads, “The interior at one point seems to have been replaced. I do not believe that it is not original, but it looks very nice and doesn’t need anything”. The seller also thinks the 4-Speed console may be the factory piece, but indicates the center console between the seats is a reproduction. This appears to be one of those cases where it’s more productive to focus on the now rather than the past, and presently the car looks really good on the inside if you ask me.
Fortunately, most other information about the Impala seems pretty straightforward. The car recently emerged from a barn where it had been stored since 1996, and all of the metal is said to be original to the car plus it’s in good shape overall, with the only reported rust being one small bubble on the passenger side door along with a couple of dings. The paint is reported to be 30+ years old and shows some scratches and touch-ups, but as unforgiving as a black finish is I think it looks totally acceptable for a driver, although the owner realizes if you want the outside perfect it’s going to need some attention. A set of factory wheels would be a nice addition, but those Keystones don’t look bad on there either.
Near the end of the listing the seller states he doesn’t believe the numbers are matching, but the car does have a ’62 date 327 under the hood. It’s running well, but there are a couple of oil leaks for the next owner to contend with. The M22 4-Speed is said to shift properly as it should, and there’s also been some recent brake work performed. We get to see some photos from the undercarriage, and from what I can tell it looks nice and solid down below. SS or not, this seems like a fine 1962 Impala, and as long as the next driver isn’t seeking perfection it will probably be a fun weekend cruiser. What are your thoughts on this one?
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Comments
Only thing that would make it better is an ‘09.
Or get rid of the Keystone wheels..
Why would you do that!!?? First thigyoudid afterbuying a car like this was to buy some nice wheels and bigger tires, sometimes before yougotit home. LEAVE THOSE KEYSTONES ALONE!!!
Exactly get rid of the keystones.. Had two 62 both 327 one with a stick the other a 2 speed glide. Wish had them now. But I like my 70 big block chevelle I’m dying with this one.
You mean 409!
That’s what I said. We used to refer to them as an ’09.
“I do not know if this car is an original SS or not selling it as SS just a plain Jane Impala. I could be wrong”
I agree it is a nice car either way, but all it takes is looking at the body trim tag. He has had the hood up to take the pictures. A picture of that tag would go a long way. But I guess there would be questions then if the engine numbers matched. And on and on… LOL
There’s not a lot of numbers to match on a 62 B body.
What’s with the scattersheild
It looks like a Lakewood. It beats losing your foot if the clutch comes apart.
I hate to see red heater hoses,I always think it was a hurry up job just to get it done.Elmer fetch me that there piece of hose so we can get er done!
Hahahaha lol
Hahahaha lol
62 would of came with a Borg warner T10,m20-21 Muncie didn’t come out until 63, and definitely not a m22 that came out much later
They didn’t put body numbers on 62s except Corvettes. If the date cast on the block is earlier than the manufacture date of the car and the pad stamp is correct that’s about all you can go by. The data plate will be found attached to the left front door hinge post. The VIN is the tattletail. A true SS 2 dr. hardtop with V8 will have VIN starting with 21847.
Plastic fuel filter next to that manifold feeding an after market edeldoper no doubt. Those things ring the “CHINA” bell all day long. Has an alternator too for the non perfectionist LOL… Those happened in 1963
Also looks like an incorrect grab bar on the dash. Mine was plain on both ends with matching blue ribbed rubber on the grab part.
As I have said before…man there are still a bunch of these around. I bought a black over red one on 1984, a 327 auto with a cracked block. I bought a 409 from the local junkyard and stuck that in it. mine is definitely a plain Jane non SS. mine, it did get a set of buckets and that little console, and by 1988 it had a 396 with a 4 speed, which it still remains with. I haven’t driven it except to move it, ship it in 30 years. Mine originally was built at the St. Louis plant. The car had the hang on ac, power steering, brakes, windows, and the light dimmer. The way the prices on these are going, it may be time to clean it up and let it go.
Finally got the ebay ad to open. Said it was deleted earlier. Hmmm. That EXTERNAL regulator alternator is a amatuerish job at best. That shouldve been a 1 wire Delcotron swap. At least the ram horn manifold mount was used, although the later passenger side intake bracket mount is way superior. Damn the points anyway. What brake work was done? At the least, it shouldve been a dual piston master cylinder for safety sake. If its a year correct small block, then some one swapped a spin on filter adapter instead of the cannister. The bell housing probably was used since the builder was too tired to take a trip to a junk yard. Its not needed looking at that lo-pro small block IMHO. All in all, not too bad, just a little overpriced I think. Also, the shifter console came with bench seat 4 speeds. The honest console kit is the box, the shifter cover and an extension to under the heater for a true SS. That grab bar gets me though. Ive had a few 62s, a 64 and a 67 (all Impala SS’s) and that bar is incorrect. Sorry.
Sorry but your wrong about the shifter console coming with bench seat cars. I worked at a Chevy assembly plant in ’62 as a shipping clerk and I ordered an Impala hardtop with a 300 hp 327, 4 speed, and positraction. Mine came like all bench seat 4 speed cars with just the rubber boot around the shifter. All 4 speed cars came with a tach mounted on the left side of the steering column and it’s not there on this car so it probably wasn’t a 4 speed originally.
I like it just the way it is. Whatever it is.
I believe that this car is a true Super Sport. I own a ’62 Super Sport that I bought in 1966 and it has the same grab bar, center console, and floor shifter plate inside, plus every piece of side trim, and the three pieces of trunk trim, have the “turned insert” in them. There are also two SS badges on the rear quarter panels that replace the Impala emblem. That would be a lot of parts to change just to “FAKE” a Super Sport. Every piece of Super Sport trim is correct for this car to be a true SS, if the VIN begins with 21847.
Add shows vin. 21847.
car.jpg my ’62 began life as a straight impala, 283 with a cast powerglide. it is now running a 1963 340 hp 409 with a offenhauser 2×4 setup and a super T-10 4-speed. I kept the factory bench seat. it has all original repo interior. I could care less what people say. I have owned this car for 39 years. it is just the way I like it….