Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Vehicle Selling Solutions
Chevrolet's full-size lineup sales were already skyrocketing in 1962, as the introduction of the Impala in 1958 and the refresh of the Bel Air helped propel the company to the number one spot in the American car sector.
The company shipped more than 700,000 Impalas this year, with the Bel Air selling approximately half that figure. It was another sign that Chevrolet went all-in on the Impala, turning the Bel Air into "just another model" in its lineup.
The strategy worked, as Impala eventually surpassed 1 million sold units in 1965, becoming the first car in the US to reach this milestone after WWII.
With 365,000 units sold in 1962, Bel Air continued to share many parts with the Impala and the rest of the full-size models in Chevrolet's lineup. Despite the obvious styling improvements, the biggest change this year took place in the engine department.
The GM brand dropped the famous 348, a unit that debuted in the late '50s and was offered on all full-size Chevrolets, including the Impala. The 348 was Chevy's top option for many years, so its departure and the introduction of a new 409 were signs of a new beginning for the company. Offering engines with larger displacements made sense from a performance perspective, as the Super Sport, which rapidly became the coolest kid on the block, needed more powerful mills. And the 409 addressed this need, with Chevrolet selling a little over 15,000 full-size models fitted with this engine in 1962.
The 1962 Bel Air posted on eBay by Vehicle Selling Solutions (user vehiclesellingsolutions) is a 2-door hardtop that looks like it survived the apocalypse, coming in a rough shape after spending nearly 40 years in the same place.
The photos suggest this Bel Air was parked in some sort of barn, and despite the seller claiming the vehicle "has been in dry storage since the '80s," they admit it needs everything. The floors, quarters, and fenders have all been wrecked and must be replaced.
The Bel Air also looks like it lost some parts, though others are available separately, including the hood, the bumpers, all trim, and the interior. It's almost complete, but it doesn't mean everything can be used for the restoration.
The engine under the hood is a nice surprise. The Bel Air rolled off the assembly lines with the base V8 for the 1962 model year – a 283 that still turns. It's paired with a manual transmission, but that's everything we know at this point.
The selling price could make many potential buyers walk away, especially considering the vehicle's overall condition. The garage in charge of finding a new owner wants $22,500 for the Bel Air, but the good news is that they also enabled the Make Offer option should someone have another deal in mind.
The strategy worked, as Impala eventually surpassed 1 million sold units in 1965, becoming the first car in the US to reach this milestone after WWII.
With 365,000 units sold in 1962, Bel Air continued to share many parts with the Impala and the rest of the full-size models in Chevrolet's lineup. Despite the obvious styling improvements, the biggest change this year took place in the engine department.
The GM brand dropped the famous 348, a unit that debuted in the late '50s and was offered on all full-size Chevrolets, including the Impala. The 348 was Chevy's top option for many years, so its departure and the introduction of a new 409 were signs of a new beginning for the company. Offering engines with larger displacements made sense from a performance perspective, as the Super Sport, which rapidly became the coolest kid on the block, needed more powerful mills. And the 409 addressed this need, with Chevrolet selling a little over 15,000 full-size models fitted with this engine in 1962.
The 1962 Bel Air posted on eBay by Vehicle Selling Solutions (user vehiclesellingsolutions) is a 2-door hardtop that looks like it survived the apocalypse, coming in a rough shape after spending nearly 40 years in the same place.
The photos suggest this Bel Air was parked in some sort of barn, and despite the seller claiming the vehicle "has been in dry storage since the '80s," they admit it needs everything. The floors, quarters, and fenders have all been wrecked and must be replaced.
The Bel Air also looks like it lost some parts, though others are available separately, including the hood, the bumpers, all trim, and the interior. It's almost complete, but it doesn't mean everything can be used for the restoration.
The engine under the hood is a nice surprise. The Bel Air rolled off the assembly lines with the base V8 for the 1962 model year – a 283 that still turns. It's paired with a manual transmission, but that's everything we know at this point.
The selling price could make many potential buyers walk away, especially considering the vehicle's overall condition. The garage in charge of finding a new owner wants $22,500 for the Bel Air, but the good news is that they also enabled the Make Offer option should someone have another deal in mind.
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