I stand corrected on the details. For 1962, there WAS a 380-hp version available, but the Powerglide was listed in the orginal sales brochure as Not Available. However, Chevy DID have a version of the Powerglide that you could order in the 1963/64 340-hp 409, so perhaps the tranny in this car is from a '63 or '64 409. Chevy reduced the horsepower rating on the low-end 409 from 380 to 340 for 1963. A fact I didn't know and I thought I was pretty up on these details!...BIll H.
@gojoe283 Hey, Bill! I think we all are learning details of these cars that we didn't know before. You point up a particular difficulty..brochures may be amended, books might not be exhaustive, and there's always room for that car that was a "special order" by one of the executives at the plant. Never mind the individual modification an owner may have made! Thanks! :) Jack
Jack, there were at least 3 or 4 versions of the 409. The lowest hp was the 340 horse version and that was the ONLY version that you could get with the Powerglide. It had a single 4-bbl carb and hydraulic lifters. 400, 409, and 425 horsepower versions could only be ordered with a stick shift, probably because they had too much torque for the automatic. Those had solid lifters, dual carburetors and other high-performance goodies...Bill H.
You could get a powerglide with the 409 SS it was also a stronger transmission to withstand the extra horses with the 409 engine as opposed to the 327 powerglide.
Gorgeous machine. I love the 62 Impala SS. Hardtop or convertible. One curious thing though. I thought in 62 the powerglide wasn't available with the 409 and the sales literature also says that. Is this a special order back then, or did chevy start to offer the powerglide late in the model run. The powerglide was pretty sturdy and probably could handle the 409, better then the standard 3 speed could.
@RennyGd I wish I could tell you the answer to that..it's not my car, and perhaps one of my viewers can clear that up. I checked my sources, and a 3 speed manual was standard for the 409, but most opted for the 4 speed close ratio manual. Thanks! :) Jack
@RennyGd I wish I could tell you the answer to that..it's not my car, and perhaps one of my viewers can clear that up. I checked my sources, and a 3 speed manual was standard for the 409, but most opted for the 4 speed close ratio manual. Thanks! :) Jack
Looks like it just came from the showroom very fine shape for a 49 year old car. Too bad the new Impalas don't offer more model choices like hardtops and convertibles.
@monarch1957 Hey, Barry! That's exactly what I thought...the best restoration I can remember! I hadn't thought about it, but I think you're right...a hardtop and convertible might light a little fire under the Impala, which seems to me to be unchanged for years! Thanks! :) Jack
Really beautiful car, Jack, I do love the Impala :D Also, it makes a nice change to see a '62 Impala that is restored to a factory stock finish! So many of these beautiful cars have been completely ruined by those silly rap & hip hop stars who fit them them with that stupid hydraulic suspension set up & silly wheels! .... I really hate that !
@drewerz01 Hey, Mike! I'll have to agree that I don't much care for hydraulics...it seems to me that this model Impala in this condition has so much going for it, that additional mods aren't necessary. Thanks! :) Jack
@cheddyrod Hey, Chester! Yes indeed...perfect...and no doubt the original owner may have been a family man who wanted room to squire his family around...bucket seats and a console would have interfered! Thanks! :) Jack
@jojocats2 Hey, John! Indeed...tailights were a mechanism Chevy used to distinguish one trim level from another..this was definitely top of the line.....BelAir was only two lights on each side. Thanks! :) Jack
Although it's a single-quad, that Impala is still worth a good chunk of change.. Especially since it's a convertible.. I really the like famed bubble-top that GM offered that year.
@Sarcasticscum Hey, Nathan! I'm sure the owner has spent LOTS of money bringing this car up to the level it is. I'm sure it was truly a labor of love. The bubble top is a very handsome car too! Thanks! :) Jack
In any case it's a very nice restoration, looks very professionally done :=)
gojoe283 4 weeks ago
I stand corrected on the details. For 1962, there WAS a 380-hp version available, but the Powerglide was listed in the orginal sales brochure as Not Available. However, Chevy DID have a version of the Powerglide that you could order in the 1963/64 340-hp 409, so perhaps the tranny in this car is from a '63 or '64 409. Chevy reduced the horsepower rating on the low-end 409 from 380 to 340 for 1963. A fact I didn't know and I thought I was pretty up on these details!...BIll H.
gojoe283 4 weeks ago
@gojoe283 Hey, Bill! I think we all are learning details of these cars that we didn't know before. You point up a particular difficulty..brochures may be amended, books might not be exhaustive, and there's always room for that car that was a "special order" by one of the executives at the plant. Never mind the individual modification an owner may have made! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 3 weeks ago
Jack, there were at least 3 or 4 versions of the 409. The lowest hp was the 340 horse version and that was the ONLY version that you could get with the Powerglide. It had a single 4-bbl carb and hydraulic lifters. 400, 409, and 425 horsepower versions could only be ordered with a stick shift, probably because they had too much torque for the automatic. Those had solid lifters, dual carburetors and other high-performance goodies...Bill H.
gojoe283 4 weeks ago
@gojoe283 Hey, Bill! Thanks for the rundown on the 409...an awesome engine! :) Jack
raconter1 4 weeks ago
@RonsBestofHollywood Hey, Ron! Thanks for your contribution...that should finally settle the question of the automatic and the 1962 409! :) Jack
raconter1 5 months ago
You could get a powerglide with the 409 SS it was also a stronger transmission to withstand the extra horses with the 409 engine as opposed to the 327 powerglide.
empoweringparents 5 months ago
@empoweringparents Hey, Daryl! Thanks for clearing that up...I appreciate! :) Jack
raconter1 5 months ago
@raconter1 No Problem, I think the biggest difference was the hardened input shaft.
empoweringparents 5 months ago
@raconter1 No Problem, I think the biggest difference was the hardened input shaft. I'm a early 60's chevy nut.
empoweringparents 5 months ago
@empoweringparents I appreciate the information! :) Jack
raconter1 5 months ago
Gorgeous machine. I love the 62 Impala SS. Hardtop or convertible. One curious thing though. I thought in 62 the powerglide wasn't available with the 409 and the sales literature also says that. Is this a special order back then, or did chevy start to offer the powerglide late in the model run. The powerglide was pretty sturdy and probably could handle the 409, better then the standard 3 speed could.
RennyGd 5 months ago
@RennyGd I wish I could tell you the answer to that..it's not my car, and perhaps one of my viewers can clear that up. I checked my sources, and a 3 speed manual was standard for the 409, but most opted for the 4 speed close ratio manual. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 5 months ago
@RennyGd I wish I could tell you the answer to that..it's not my car, and perhaps one of my viewers can clear that up. I checked my sources, and a 3 speed manual was standard for the 409, but most opted for the 4 speed close ratio manual. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 5 months ago
@raconter1 Check empoweringparents response. He mentions that a stronger version of the Powerglide was available with the 409. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 5 months ago
Looks like it just came from the showroom very fine shape for a 49 year old car. Too bad the new Impalas don't offer more model choices like hardtops and convertibles.
monarch1957 11 months ago
@monarch1957 Hey, Barry! That's exactly what I thought...the best restoration I can remember! I hadn't thought about it, but I think you're right...a hardtop and convertible might light a little fire under the Impala, which seems to me to be unchanged for years! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 11 months ago
Really beautiful car, Jack, I do love the Impala :D Also, it makes a nice change to see a '62 Impala that is restored to a factory stock finish! So many of these beautiful cars have been completely ruined by those silly rap & hip hop stars who fit them them with that stupid hydraulic suspension set up & silly wheels! .... I really hate that !
drewerz01 11 months ago
@drewerz01 I agree.....those cars were not meant to have that stupid low rider hydraulic stuff on them.
XboobtubeX 11 months ago
@drewerz01 Hey, Mike! I'll have to agree that I don't much care for hydraulics...it seems to me that this model Impala in this condition has so much going for it, that additional mods aren't necessary. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 11 months ago
Perfect, actually it looks show room perfect. Interesting that it has bucket seats but a column shift.
cheddyrod 11 months ago
@cheddyrod Hey, Chester! Yes indeed...perfect...and no doubt the original owner may have been a family man who wanted room to squire his family around...bucket seats and a console would have interfered! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 11 months ago
Very nice Impala, Jack! I especially like the tail light design.
jojocats2 11 months ago
@jojocats2 Hey, John! Indeed...tailights were a mechanism Chevy used to distinguish one trim level from another..this was definitely top of the line.....BelAir was only two lights on each side. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 11 months ago
Although the 1962 was never my favourite of the full-sized Chevys, this one is a good looking car.
Seattlecarnut 11 months ago
@Seattlecarnut Hey, Jason! I think this is one of the best 62 Chevy's I have ever seen...perfection in every aspect. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 11 months ago
@raconter1 Indeed. I think so.
Seattlecarnut 11 months ago
Although it's a single-quad, that Impala is still worth a good chunk of change.. Especially since it's a convertible.. I really the like famed bubble-top that GM offered that year.
Sarcasticscum 11 months ago
@Sarcasticscum Hey, Nathan! I'm sure the owner has spent LOTS of money bringing this car up to the level it is. I'm sure it was truly a labor of love. The bubble top is a very handsome car too! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 11 months ago