1962 Chevrolet Impala Series

The Chevy Impala SS, equipped with the 409 cubic-inch V8 engine, rested comfortably at the top of the musclecar order in 1962, a position that was solidified by Don Nicholson winning the 1961 NHRA Winternationals in the Stock Eliminator class at Pomona, California behind the wheel of a 409-powered Impala SS. The performance credentials were further enhanced by twelve stock car victories that year.

The 409's heritage dates to 1958 with the introduction of the W-series cast-iron engine family, introducing a higher level of performance beyond the popular 265 CID and 283 CID small-block V8s. The first 'W' engine was the 348-CID powerplant that could be equipped with three two-barrel carburetors for a total output of 315 horsepower. The 409 CID was announced on December 17th, 1960, and Chevrolet began offering it in its full-size 1961 Impala Super Sport (SS) model. The Impala's Super Sport option would continue into 1962 with the sports-car assist bar, aluminum side-molding insert, and SS identification. The 409 was equipped with either single or two 4-barrel induction. With the dual Carter AFB 4-barrel carburetors, aluminum intake, and solid lifters, the 409 produced the magic one horsepower per cubic inch.

Although the 409 was essentially a bored-out 348, the two engines shared few interchangeable parts, with the 409 requiring a new crankshaft, larger bearings, shorter connecting rods, and forged aluminum pistons. Chevrolet described the 1962 Impala as 'a rare combination of qualities' with 'a new look of richness.' Each Impala model had its own roofline, including the Sport Coupe with 'exclusive convertible-contoured' hardtop.

The Impala was Chevrolet's top model line in 1962 and was available as a sedan, 4-door hardtop Sport Sedan, 2-door hardtop Sport Coupe, convertible, and a 6- or 9-passenger station wagon. They were well equipped with a long list of standard features, including aluminum front seat end panels, bright metal-backed rearview mirror, built-in door safety panel reflectors, rear seat radio grille, and sport-type steering wheel with Impala center emblem. Other features included an electric clock located in the instrument panel, a parking brake warning light, a glove compartment light, and bright metal valance panels.

All models except the convertible had a simulated rear window vent located below the glass. There was bodyside trim consisting of a full-length upper molding with a color-keyed insert, and stainless steel window reveals. The Impala script badge could be found on the rear fenders.

Nicholson and a 409 Impala SS repeated their Winternationals Stock Eliminator victory in 1962. After the engineers extracted every ounce of power from the 409, they began focusing on making the cars lighter, which meant shaving pounds from every conceivable part. Aluminum body parts helped reduce weight by 120 pounds from the 3,500-pound automobile. Lightening the car's front end helped transfer weight to the rear tires under acceleration, which reduced quarter-mile times.

On June 26th, 1962, Chevrolet released a heavy-duty performance package for professional 409 racers which included lightweight components. Additional upgrades included revised cylinder heads, a high-rise two-piece intake, revised AFB carburetors and air cleaner assembly, a new high-lift solid-lifter camshaft, and an aluminum water pump.

Just 18 examples (as few as 16) of the Impala SS with these aluminum components were built in 1962, partly due to the difficulty of stamping out the aluminum body parts. These upgrades were reserved for the company's most accomplished privateers, including 'Dyno' Don Nicholson, Dave Strickler, Buddy Martin, Dick Harrell and John Zintsmaster.

Third Generation (1961 to 1964)
The 1962 Chevrolet Impala was part of the third generation of styling first introduced the previous year, in 1961. Chevrolet introduced the Impala in 1958 as the top-of-the-line Bel Air 2-door hardtop and convertible. The Impala became a separate series in 1959, adding additional body styles and sharing its bodyshells with lower-end Pontiacs, Buicks, and Oldsmobiles. The 1961 Impala used the GM B platform with a 119-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 209.3 inches. As the styling direction moved away from the 'tailfins' of the 1950s, the tailfins continued to become more subdued, and the overall design language was more 'boxy' than in previous years. The top station wagon body style was no longer known by the 'Nomad' name, and 1961 was the first year of the 'Super Sport' (SS) option.

1962 Styling Updates
Prominent styling changes for the 1962 Impala included a new 'C' pillar design on all body styles except the four-door hardtop. The previous 'overhang' roof style of the sedans was replaced by a wider 'C' pillar with a forward tiling, wraparound rear window.

1962 Engines
1962 was the final year for the 235 cubic-inch Stovebolt inline-6 and the small-block 283 engine with a two-barrel carburetor. Two versions of the 327 cubic-inch V8 (an enlarged version of the 283) produced 250 bhp and 300 bhp. The 348 CID V8 of 1961 was not available in 1962, replaced by the 409 CID V8 with either 380 or 409 bhp.

1962 Transmissions
Both manual and automatic transmissions were offered. The TurboGlide transmission was discontinued, with the PowerGlide now the only automatic transmission.

1963 and Beyond
The styling language introduced in 1961 would continue through 1964 but with continual annual updates. The 1963 bodies continued to feature the straight-line, boxy styling, distinguished from its lower-priced siblings via Impala nameplates on the rear quarter section, stainless steel belt moldings, colored inserts, stainless steel drip caps, front fender accent bars, and full-length lower body moldings. The Stovebolt six was no longer available, replaced by a new 230 cubic-inch 'Turbo-Thrift' 6. The most popular engines were the 283 and 327 CID V8s. The RPO Z11 option - of which fifty examples were produced at the Flint GM plant - included a 427 CID version of the 409 CID with 13.5:1 compression, dual four-barrel carburetor, and produced 430 horsepower at 6,000 RPM.

The Impala Super Sport became its own model for 1964 (instead of an option package), offered solely in two-door body styles. Styling became 'rounder,' the rooflines were unchanged, back-up lights were standard, and updates were made to the rear taillight assembly, with the lights now surrounded by a body-colored panel.

Fourth Generation Impala (1965 to 1970)
The fourth major redesign of the Impala arrived in 1965 and would continue through 1970. The previous 'X' frame was replaced by a full-width perimeter frame, the wheelbase measured 119 inches, and the new wide-stance, rounded styling was well received by the public, resulting in an all-time industry annual sales record of more than 1 million units in the U.S. The 1965–1970 GM B platform is the fourth best-selling automobile platform in history.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017