1962 Chevrolet Bel Air Series

The Bel Air was Chevrolet's line-leading full-size passenger car offering from its introduction in 1950. U.S. production ended in 1975 but continued in Canada through the 1981 model year. From 1950 through 1952, the Bel Air represented Chevrolet's two-door hardtop body styles, and in 1953 it became the top-of-the-line Chevy offered as a two- and four-door sedan, convertible, and sport coupe.

In 1961, Chevrolet introduced all-new styling for the Bel Air, its fifth major restyling since 1950. It continued to rest on a 119-inch wheelbase but its length became slightly shorter at 209.3 inches. The base engine - and all engine options - remained similar to the previous year, beginning with the 235.5 CID Six with 135 horsepower. Chevrolet offered two other full-size models, with the Biscaye being the most affordable and body style that included a two- and four-door sedan, Utility Sedan, and a 6- and 9-passenger Brookwood Station Wagon. The Bel Air was the mid-priced full-size Chevy, and the Impala was the top-of-the-line model. It had the most standard features and brightwork, with body styles that included a hardtop sport coupe, hardtop sport sedan, convertible, sedan, and a 6- and 9-passenger station wagon.

Styling revisions were performed under the direction of design chief Bill Mitchell. The design was cleaner, shaving approximately 1.5-inches from the body, with the hardtop body style having a swept-back rear design, the two-door sedan had a wrap-around rear window and squared-off roof styling, and the four-door Sport Hardtop had a different roofline than the four-door sedan. The four-door Sport Hardtop was no longer part of the Bel Air series.

The length of the 1962 Bel Air grew by 0.3-inches, now measuring 209.6-inches. The four-door Sport Hardtop was removed from the Bel Air line, and standard engines remained the same as the previous year. Standard equipment included a heater and defroster, dual sun visors, crank-operated ventipanes, direction signals, front door armrests, ashtray, coat hooks, color-keyed vinyl-coated rubber floor coverings, parallel action windshield wipers, and foam seats. Other features included a foam-backed luggage compartment mat, a specific steering wheel hub, and color-keyed carpeting. For the first time in several years, full carpeting was part of the standard equipment list. The Bel Air script could be found on the rear fenders. In the back were four taillights, arranged two on each side.

Body styles included a 2- and 4-door sedan, hardtop sport coupe, and a station wagon (with seating for either 6 or 9 passengers). This was the final year for the Bel Air Sport Coupe.

On December 17th, 1960, the new RPO 580 409 engine was introduced alongside the new Super Sport appearance option. In January of 1961, production of the SS package and 409 motor followed, with several of the early 409s intended for NASCAR teams. Drag racers had to wait until after the Daytona 500 was run before they received the new engine. Among Chevrolet's top drag racers of the time included Dave Strickler, Bill Jenkins, and Dyno Don Nicholson. The 409 was so successful and legendary that even the Beach Boys wrote a hit song about it in 1962.

The subtle crossed flags 409 badges on the front fenders warned everyone that it was Chevrolet's meanest machine for 1962. The double taillight lenses in the back reminded them it was a Bel Air. Chevrolet would build two million vehicles for 1962, and of those 1.4 million were full-size models. Bel Airs retained the 'bubble top' roofs of the 1961 models while the Impala coupes had new sculpted roof styling simulating a convertible roof.

Period advertisements stated 'Rich new styling with a jet-smooth ride!' The 409 was the final development of Chevrolet's 348-CID V-8 and would be offered through the 1964 model year.

The 327 cubic-inch V8 was a new addition to the engine lineup, available with either 250 or 300 horsepower, depending on the configuration. The 409 CID V8 produced 380 horsepower or 409 hp with the dual four-barrel carburetor setup (one horsepower per cubic inch).

Chevrolet produced approximately 365,500 examples of the Bel Air in 1962, not including station wagons. The total Chevrolet station wagon production for 1962 (including the Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala) was approximately 187,600 units.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2019