Too Many Doors? 1962 Chevrolet Impala 409 V8
Who can forget the famous 1960s song, 409, by the Beach Boys, which included the lyrics “She’s real fine, my 409”? This song could have been playing on the radio the day this 1962 Impala was built. While the fender lettering supports it, we don’t know if this car was built with a 409 or if it came later. And it has too many doors as some pundits would say. But if this is a real-deal automobile (and they could be ordered this way), it would be one rare machine. Which makes the asking price of $19,750 almost seem low. From Shoreview, Minnesota, this hot family sedan is available here on craigslist. Thanks for the cool tip, Pat L.!
The 409 cubic inch V8 was new in 1961, but only turned up in small numbers. Production grew in 1962 and sources estimate that between 9,000 and 15,000 were cranked out, with a great many of them having the dual-quad carburetor set-up that was rated at 425 hp. So, if you were looking for power in ’62, the 409 was the way to go and could be ordered in any model (Impala, Bel Air, or Biscayne) and any body style. Logic has it that most of them were Impala Sport Coupes, with or without SS trim (which, in their own right, saw nearly 100,000 assemblies with any engine).
A good description of what this Chevy has is provided by the seller. So, start checking boxes. 409/425 V8 with headers. Dual exhaust, Aluminum radiator with electric fans. Ford 9-inch rear end (better than a Chevy 12-bolt?). It also has a TH-350 automatic transmission which would not have been available until later in the decade. Disc brakes have been added to the front and the battery has been relocated to the trunk.
The body and paint on this family sedan look good as does the interior, which has been treated to some gauges to help measure what’s going on under the hood. And, quite likely, new seat covers. The mileage is 88,000 but is it accurate? There’s enough here to suggest this car has been modified, which explains what seems to be a low price for an Impala with a 409. But it does have four doors, which almost always limits the price range these cars will trade in. However, for less than $20,000, you can own a ’62 409 Impala (real or not).
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Comments
I love it. More door equal more fun for your friends to ride along. Just be sure to collect gas money for the 409 just like we did in high school😀
I know this car very well, in fact I painted the dash. The previous owner did some weird stuff, but paid big money to do most of the repairs properly. It was a ground up restoration, Minnesota car it’s entire life. And no, not an original 409 car…
As long as it isn’t an SS, the Impala can be a 4 door. However, it is a nice looking car.
I think it’s safe to say it wasn’t built this way. For one, the 425 HP 409 was introduced for 1963. The top 409 for 1962 was rated at 409 HP. It wasn’t available with Powerglide, but since it currently has a TH350 (a bold choice behind a 409 if it’s stock), the transmission has been swapped, so perhaps the pedals and steering column were swapped as well. Chevy also didn’t put batteries in the trunk.
It’s a screaming deal at under $20K, since there are 409/425 engines on eBay for substantially more. Do with that info what you will, and remember what they say about something that seems too good to be true.
Gee, no kidding? Chrevy didn’t put batteries in the trunk?! It doesn’t claim that it came that way. Batteries in the trunk are for better weight transfer!! duh!!
Hey, thanks for the attitude. I bet you’re a blast at parties!
Nice car for the $. Probably has more into than that.Really have to see it first.Looks like the rear wheel wells and dog legs have bondo but I could be wrong.Even still it’s worth the $.glwts.
Are there any 62s that aren’t 409s or engineless left? In all fairness I had several of these long ago, along with several 348s and honestly, I didn’t think much of them. Hot running gas hogs. Neat to look at but a pain as daily drivers. I had a 59 convertible, 348 3x2s, a 62 with a 409, both were a pain. I don’t miss them. Now over at Cadillac I had a still have a 60 Seville with the 390 3x2s and in 30 plus years never a problem, smooth efficient. It always puzzled me of the differences between them. I’ll pass on this. It’s neat but not for me.I like it and the cousin 4 speed one that was on here a few weeks back but, I think I would be unhappy with it.
All of the 425hp or 409 hp came with 4 speeds, and a turbo 350 would be marganal for a 409, Unless beefed up a bit.
In 62, both the 380 and 409 horse versions of the 409 came standard with a 3 speed column shift, the 4 speed was optional. In 63, the 400 and 425 also both came with 3 speed standard and the 4 speed as an option. For those wanting a 409 with an automatic, a detuned, lower compression 340 horse version was introduced in 63, that came standard with the 3 speed, and was available with the 4 speed and Powerglide as options.
We had a 62 Convert, 283 power glide, red with white top and interior. Had a severe electrical draw. We had to jump it so much we parked it.
We felt more secure of the car starting using our 60 tempest 4cyl wagon. We drove this until 64 when they were both traded in for a Malibu 283 4door. That car ran trouble free until 69 when my dad got a fury III with a 383 and a 69 Formula Firebird 400.
The second ’62 409 4 door Impala in a week here on B.F. – interesting.
First one on EBay was a console manual ended at an even 20K, Reserve Not Met and had a replacement block but claimed to be original other than that.
This one, with no proof of originality and column automatic will probably struggle at the asking price.
I have posted this before, but my uncle was a Chevy Dealer in Sioux Falls. In 1964, he had an Impala 4 dr. HT and an Impala Wagon for demo’s, both having the lower HP 409’s with a powerglide, so it did happen that 4 dr. Chevy’s had the big motors. Doing some searching, it appears that the 425HP motor and a 4-speed was available in any body style – even wagons. I don’t know about 62-63 cars.
That was one of the nice things about full size Chevrolet’s in the 60’s, you could order any engine in any body style or trim level. If you wanted a base 62 Biscayne wagon with a 409/409 4 speed, or a 69 4 door Caprice with a 427/390 and 3 speed, all you had to do was order it. It didn’t have to be a two door or an SS, every engine was available in every full size Chevy. Until 71, in the other Chevy’s like Chevelle’s and Nova’s, if you wanted a big block you had to order an SS. Even after 71, it still had to be an SS to get the 454 in a Chevelle, but the 402 was available in other Chevelles.
There are a few known and documented 4 door 62 Impala and Bel Air 409 4 speed cars.
If I bought this, I’d pull the 409 and save it for another project, then install a nice looking beefed up SBC and drive it to coffee or beer runs.
the coffee shop ideal I like, that 409 would be in something other than a 4 door. but some people like the 4 doors. to each there on, I guess…
Personally I like 4 doors, and I like the 409’s, but I would not have used a turbo 350 with a 409, and I have to wonder if this engine is a real 409/425 or if it has just had the 409/425 carbs, intake, and valve covers put onto a lower output 409 such as one out of a truck.