For Sale: 1962 Chevrolet Corvette
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Charlotte NC June 15, 2014; RK Motors so far this year has featured quite a few second generation Corvettes and while those cars are exceptionally cool, they just can’t match the style and class of 50s era fiberglass. Whether it’s their curvaceous body, or their status as America’s original sports car, C1s are unique among even the Corvette family in terms of historical significance and collector appeal. It’s not that C2s are any less of a car, they just had an entirely different objective which placed performance above all else. And that laser straight focus created a 40 year performance legacy which is almost entirely removed from what the first generation pioneered. However, there is a way to get the great looks of a C1 AND performance that bests a C2 all in one package. You can buy this sweet 1962 pro-tourer which wraps a dual quad 350. a Tremec five-speed, and a modern, track-ready suspension in a show-stopping roadster that is fun to look at and thrilling to drive. If you’re looking to add a little class to the hottest segment in the collector car hobby, this slick Corvette drop top is just the white glove gauntlet you’ve been looking for!
As the solid foundation for a recent frame-up pro-touring build, this slick 1962 Corvette’s smooth body is covered in a glowing coat of red urethane from its quad headlights all the way to its signature quad tail lights. That bright paint, which still looks wet under our RK Motors Charlotte studio lights, is accented by a fresh coat of silver which fills in this Corvette’s signature coves. There is absolutely no evidence this C1’s fiberglass has ever been hit or seen significant repairs. Its panel gaps appear to be at better-than-factory tolerances and its surfaces are as clean as when they pulled into a Chevrolet showroom almost 50 years ago. Today this reborn roadster sits as a timeless classic with a stylish, curvaceous design that ALWAYS seems to draw the eye, even in our sea of brightly colored collector cars.
By 1962 the Corvette had begun its transition from boulevard cruiser to road course champion and its styling started to reflect a new emphasis on power and performance. Much of the weighty chrome of earlier models had been tossed aside and the car’s fiberglass panels were adopting a sculpted aggressive appearance that has since become a hallmark of the brand. Up front, a tailored three-piece grille hangs a satin black insert between chrome trimmed parking lights, an angled bumper which wraps around the car’s front fenders and four pristine headlights that are framed by metal, body-matched bezels. At the top of the car, bright stainless fender spears lead the eye to blemish free glass which is edged by stellar stainless trim, cleared by fresh stainless wipers and capped by a red canvas top. At the sides of the car, body-matched door coves and razor sharp lines combine with textured rocker trim and completely shaved doors to emphasize both the body’s length and purity of form. And out back, four correct, chrome trimmed tail lights perch above two angled, show quality bumpers and a thick chrome tag bracket.
Tilt this C1’s front-hinged fiberglass hood and you’ll see where tradition stops and modern convenience begins. Instead of sticking with the car’s original small block mill, one of the previous owners decided that a dual-quad engine would be an excellent complement to the its good looks, and we can’t help but agree. A perfect fit in the bright red engine bay, the balanced and blueprinted 350 cubic inch Corvette crate engine is almost as fun to look at as it is to drive! Those carburetors, which happen to be 650 cfm Edelbrock Endurashine Performers, sit between a completely chromed intake and a polished, low profile air cleaner that’s equipped with a new, re-usable filter element. At the sides of that chrome intake, fluted aluminum valve covers ride on 202 heads while, at the back of that chrome intake, a traditional points distributor shoots sparks through high-quality MSD Street Fire plug wires. The hot small block fires well thanks to a modern serpentine system which spins one belt around a chrome alternator and a polished AC compressor, breathes well thanks to a slick pair of ceramic coated shorty headers, and idles well thanks to a custom Don McDavitt aluminum radiator equipped with both a giant puller fan and a polished overflow tank. A nice coat of high-temp silver paint covers the clean block from its serpentine brackets to its bellhousing. Show-worthy details, including a Delco yellow cap battery, braided hoses and polished stainless fuel lines, are sprinkled throughout the fully finished engine bay. With only 2,254 miles on its clock, this stout powerplant provides both the civility to cruise effortlessly through eyeball-popping boulevard passes AND the power to tear up the pavement during cheer-inducing drag strip runs.
Throw this roadster onto a lift and you’ll find a traditional, gloss black X-frame sandwiched between clean, satin black floors and modern front and rear suspensions. The Jim Meyer front set up, which is complete with tubular control arms, a thick sway bar and coil over shocks, combines with a modern four-link rear set up, which includes a second sway bar and two more coil over shocks, to allow this early Corvette to perform as well as most modern sports cars. In the middle of those new bones, a Tremec TKO500 five-speed manual utilizes a rebuilt factory rear end to make even the shortest trip feel like the drive of a lifetime. At the front of that new hardware, a manual rack-and-pinion steering system provides an authentic feel with the benefit of a modern turning radius. At the corners of that new equipment, manual disc brakes create steady and reliable stops. Exhaust is handled by an aluminized true dual system which barks through glasspack style mufflers and rear-mounted turn downs. Momentum is gained by 17-inch Billet Specialties wheels which BF Goodrich g-Force T/As around completely polished surfaces. The superbly fabricated drivetrain appears to have seen little street time and absolutely no rainy days since its professional restoration.
Inside the car a sumptuous vinyl interior complements an impressive red dash which houses fantastic looking Auto Meter white-faced gauges, a brushed Corvette insert and fresh chrome accessory knobs. Two smooth vinyl seats feature like-new covers that show no significant wear and tear and fit perfectly inside a stainless trimmed convertible cowl. Between those seats, a retro dash flows to the floorboard in typical Corvette fashion and houses a neatly installed Custom Autosound head unit with iPod/iPhone connectivity below vents in the center section. Top dead center on the transmission tunnel is a simple chrome shifter that’s topped by a white cue ball knob and framed by correct California carpet. At the sides of the seats, correct door panels feature amazing stainless trim, great looking door handles and door lockers and small chrome buttons for optional power windows. Connecting the driver to the road is a correct three-spoke steering wheel that’s complete with a matching red rim and a chrome Corvette horn button. And behind the cockpit, a custom finished trunk hangs vertical red panels between red California carpet and a fresh C1 cross flag emblem.
Included with the sale of this roadster is a 1962 Corvette owner’s manual as well as detailed information about the Tremec install.
Incredibly fun and exceptionally well-built, this awesome C1 pro-tourer will transform your weekend commute into a one-car parade. It combines timeless Corvette design with a modern drivetrain to create a sleek showpiece that’s a blast to drive. If you like looking good and going fast, there simply isn’t a better way to enjoy your Saturday afternoons!
