1962 Chevrolet Impala Abandoned With a Seized Engine Is a Gem We'll All Miss

The American carmaker presented the Impala as a concept in 1956. Still, thanks to the early feedback, the company accelerated the work on the production model and brought the car to the market in 1958.

Impala debuted as the top-of-the-line Bel Air version, as Chevrolet wanted to ensure a smooth launch for what later became its superstar. The immense success recorded by the car overnight was living proof General Motors had to do something quickly to turn this new nameplate into a money-making machine.

Impala became a stand-alone series a year later. Still, despite embracing a separate path from the Bel Air, eventually turning it into a second-class citizen of Chevy's lineup, the two continued to share most engines and parts.

Every new year brought further additions and refinements to the Impala lineup, and the 1962 release made no exception.

Chevrolet redesigned the grille but kept the quad-headlight design. The most notable change this year was the introduction of the convertible-style roof, which made the Impala look like it always had a convertible top (despite having it only on convertible models).

The Impala posted on eBay by the folks over at Backyard Classics (username backyardclassicstrf on the auction site) is a great way to admire the 1962 Impala in all its glory. Unfortunately, its shape pushes the car closer to a rust bucket condition rather than a restorable model, almost turning it into a relic you won't see around for too long.

The body looks rough, typically indicating the car has been parked for decades. The body rust confirms this assumption – abandoned Impalas are very common, but based on the rough body, it's probably safe to say the car has been sleeping under the clear sky. Restoring this Impala would involve serious bodywork, mainly because the rust has already gotten through in some parts. The paint is likely original, and while I typically enjoy a great patina on a classic car, I doubt this Impala can survive without extensive metal works.

The undersides aren't exposed in these photos, but they're probably wrecked. The rust usually invades the floors and the trunk, and, considering it has already drilled holes in the body, I can't expect any good news on this front. The sellers claim the "body and floors are pretty rusty," but on the other hand, they couldn't open the trunk, likely as it's locked. The keys are missing.

While the body and the interior are wrecked, let's see what happens under the hood.

The 1962 Impala launched with major changes versus its predecessor. The base unit was the same as in 1961, so you could still order the car with a 235 six-cylinder and a 283 two-barrel developing 170 horsepower. Chevrolet dropped the four-barrel 283 and introduced an all-new 327, which later became a common choice on the Impala.

The 327 was available with 250 and 300 horsepower – both used four-barrel carburetors, but the more powerful version sported a Carter unit with larger valves and redesigned exhaust manifolds.

The GM brand also dropped the famous 348 that's been around for so many years. The big-block unit offered on the 1962 Impala was the 409, this time with two power options. The single four-barrel carburetor configuration produced 380 horsepower, while the upgraded dual four-barrel unit was rated at 409 horsepower.

This abandoned Impala comes with a V8, but unfortunately, it has nothing but bad news under the hood. The engine is already seized, the sellers say, as the car has been sitting for too long. Saving the engine might be possible, but a good mechanic must inspect it before committing to a purchase to determine the chances of getting this V8 up and running.

The garage in charge of finding new owners for this Impala explains the car should serve as a donor, but as an Impala fan, I'm super-sad to see another 1962 model going dark. Cars like these are harder to find, especially with the original engine and transmission, but the rust and the mechanical issues turned this hardtop into a wreck.

Based on the photos, it's hard to tell how much of this Impala can be used on another project, but the taillights are all there, the dashboard looks good, and the tags are still in place. You're not getting the seats, the door panels, and everything else missing in the photos.

An Impala in such a terrifying condition can't sell for cheap, so if you want to buy this 1962 hardtop to save another Chevrolet, you can do this for the price of a premium laptop. The garage will let the Impala go for $2,350. If you want to see it in person, the car is currently parked in Minnesota, and you'll need a trailer to take it home.