1962 Chevrolet Corvette

1962 Corvette engines
The big news for '62 was the introduction of a 327 cubic inch V8 engine. A bored and stroked version of the 283 V8 that had debuted on the 1957 model, the 327 was the most powerful engine offered in a Corvette to that time.

Four ratings of tune were offered, with the entry-level version marked by standard 1.72-inch intake valves and hydraulic lifters, fed by a single Carter four-barrel carburettor, and producing 250 horsepower. Next up the scale was a 300hp version with the same hydraulic cam, but larger intake valves and a bigger Carter carb. The 'RPO 396' option used a 'Duntov' solid lifter cam, revised compression ratio (11.25:1 instead of 10.5:1) and the same larger 1.94-inch valves as the 300hp version, but still carburettor-fed.

The top power option for 1962 came with Rochester fuel injection that produced 360 horsepower. First introduced in 1957, the Rochester system was modified for '62, making it easier to use when cold starting, but was still complex and could be difficult to keep in optimal tune. Rarest of all four engine options, only 13 percent of 1962 Corvettes were equipped with fuel injection.

1962 Corvette transmissions
Standard transmission was the 3-speed manual. The Powerglide automatic, in a lighter all-aluminium case for '62, was available as an option, but only on the 250hp and 300hp engine versions. Also optional was a 4-speed manual, which proved to be the overwhelming choice with buyers (more than 75%), and was the only transmission available for the top two horsepower engines. A positraction rear was available as an option for '62, along with different gear ratios, but the back end was still live, with the 1962 model being the last Corvette to feature a solid axle. All transmission options used a floor shifter.

1962 Corvette mechanical features and options
Hauling up the new higher horsepower engine were the same 11-inch drums that had been around since the Corvette's beginning in 1953. Disc brakes were still three years away in 1962, but better sintered metallic brake linings were available as a low cost option. More expensive was a combined heavy duty brake, steering and suspension package, an option generally chosen by racers, which added external brake finning, ducts and ventilated backing plates, as well as internal 'fans' for cooling.

Wider 5.5-inch wheels were another option, as was a larger fuel tank. This 109lt tank filled the stowage space for the convertible top, which meant choosing this option made the removable hardtop mandatory for wet weather driving. Chosen by only 65 buyers in 1962, 'Big Tank' Corvettes from this period tend to be highly sought after now, as most were raced. As well as circuit racing, Corvettes were campaigned on the dragstrip, in hillclimbs and endurance racing, and even on record-setting runs on the salt flats.

1962 Corvette exterior
The Corvette's signature fibreglass body was largely unchanged for 1962, but the underlying chassis was strengthened around the firewall and front guards, while styling changes reflected the industry-wide move away from excessive chrome trim and decoration. On the Corvette, this was demonstrated in the deletion of the chrome surround for the side coves, which in turn meant the contrasting paint was no longer an option, as there was no trim piece to hide the colour change. A ribbed aluminium sill strip was new, as was a similarly ribbed trim piece for the side cove vents, replacing the three 'spears' on the 1961 models.

While the two-tone colour option was gone, the colour-matched wheels, dropped after 1957, returned for '62. Another reflection of the new decade's tastes was the replacement of the '50s-style wide whitewall tyres with optional narrow white-band tyres. The quad headlight front end remained, but the bright metal grille insert was replaced with black anodised mesh. At the back, the 'ducktail' rear introduced in 1961 (and previewing the styling of the 1963 Sting Ray) was unchanged. Seven exterior colours were available, with a choice of either black or white folding tops, complemented by interior trim choices in black, red or fawn. The optional removable hardtop was generally colour matched to the fibreglass body,

1962 Corvette interior
Inside, the styling was largely carryover from the 1961 model, which itself was almost identical to 1960. The symmetrical concave dash depressions were filled with the instrument cluster on the driver's side and grab rail on the passenger's side. The dash consisted of a large half-moon speedo, with a tachometer below, flanked by oil pressure, fuel, temperature and ampere gauges. The centre console featured a clock, heater/defroster controls (new for '62) and, if fitted, the optional AM radio. A lockable glovebox was located between the seat backs. Power windows and power assist for the convertible top were options, but a notable addition to the standard equipment list for 1962 were lap seat belts.

With 14,351 units produced, 1962 was the Corvette's biggest year up to that point, despite a selling price over US$4,000 for the first time. The production increase was largely the work of newly-installed Chevrolet division boss, Semon Knudsen, who boosted promotion for the Corvette, then added a second shift at Corvette's St.Louis assembly plant to meet demand.

The 1962 Corvette today
Despite this success when new, the release of the all-new 'Sting Ray' Corvette for 1963 put the '62 Corvette in the shade, and arguably still does so today. As far as desirability goes, 1962 don't seem to be high on the shopping list for buyers of first generation Corvettes. Enthusiasts tend to favour the retro look of the late 1950s models, leaving the 'transitional' Corvettes from 1961 and '62 somewhat unloved. That works in the favour of potential buyers, though, as the '62, in particular, still offers bags of power and plenty of style at a lower price. If you're happy doing without the two-tone paint and extra chrome of earlier models, the 1962 Corvette can be an enjoyable and eye-catching car, with plenty of power, thanks to the 327 engine.

In Australia, '62 Corvettes are a rare sight, with most enthusiasts of first generation models following US trends in choosing examples from earlier years. The top-rated fuel-injected 327 V8 is the most desirable package, but priced accordingly. For the extra grunt it delivers, the fuel injection system can be finicky, and generally requires specialist attention to keep it working to its best.

That aside, the 'last of the first generation' Corvettes are generally easy to maintain and service and, of course, the fibreglass body means there's no body rust. Road tests of the period described the '62 Corvette's handling as assured, with understeer when pushed close to its limits.

No first gen Corvette is cheap, and the '62 is no exception. Most restored, well-presented examples command over $50,000, with the fuel injected model, and those with the desirable big tank and brake options closer to $100K, or more.

SPECIFICATIONS: 1962 Chevrolet Corvette (with 360hp 327 V8 engine)

Engine: 327ci (5.3-litre) OHV V8
Bore/Stroke: 4.0-inch x 3.25-inch
Compression: 11.25:1
Power/torque: 360hp @ 6000rpm / 352lb/ft @ 4000rpm
Fuel system: Rochester Ramjet fuel injection
Cooling system: Liquid
Exhaust: Dual
Electrics: 12 Volt
Transmision: 4-speed manual, full synchro (Powerglide automatic only available on lower horsepower versions)
Front Suspension: Independent - coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers and stabiliser bar
Rear Suspension: Semi-elliptic leaf spring - hydraulic shock absorbers and stabiliser bar
Steering: Recirculating ball
Front brakes: 11-inch drum
Rear brakes: 11-inch drum
Wheels: 15-inch Fr/Rr
Tyres: 6.70 x 15 Fr/Rr
Wheelbase: 102-inch (2590mm)
Length: 177.2-inch (4500mm)
Width: 72.8-inch (1849mm)
Height: 52.1-inch (1323mm) w/hardtop fitted
Weight: 2,925 lb (1327kg) - approx
0-100 kph: 6 seconds - approx
Top Speed: 215 kph - approx (some sources estimate 240kph)

TRIVIA

1962 model Corvettes have proven surprisingly popular as a basis for 'restomod' upgrades. One such conversion was 'C1RS' created by Roadster Shop in Illinois. Matching a carbon-fibre body in the style of a '62 Corvette, with a modern, custom-built tube chassis, bespoke aluminium trim and custom wheels, C1RS was powered by a new 618hp 427ci LS7 Chevrolet V8. Crowned 'Street Machine of the Year' (US) in 2009, C1RS was auctioned in 2013, selling for US$396,000 (AU$380,800 approx).

The 1962 Corvette would be the last model with exposed headlights for more than four decades, as well as the last Corvette with an opening boot for 36 years. Exposed headlights returned with the 2005 'C6' generation, while the boot returned (on a convertible) for the second year of the 'C5' generation in 1998.

If you couldn't afford a Corvette in 1962, you could at least afford to listen to one! To promote the 1962 Corvette, Chevrolet released a vinyl LP that contained a recording of the car's exhaust note on one side, and comments from Chevrolet engineer, and godfather of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov, on the other.