1962 Chevrolet Impala

1962 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe  Remember the good old days when cars came straight from the factory with actual style? You know, back when the highways of America were lined with sweeping rooflines and oh so much chrome? Not like today where almost every automobile just looks like a glorified bar of soap. There really was something special about car design in the 1950s and '60s that we just don't see today. Take, for instance, a 1961 Chevy Impala-a Bubbletop as it's affectionately known. From a side view. it is just perfect: a thin, sweeping A-pillar followed by no B-pillar whatsoever, then an equally lean C-pillar that blends in with that iconic rounded rear glass. And that's just describing the roofline; we'll leave the rest to your imagination.   For consignment, a transformation by a previous owner from an Impala 2 door sport coupe to a Chevrolet Bel Air that is a bubble top showing 24,554 non verifiable miles. It sports a 409ci V8,  is fed by dual 4-carburetors Edelbrock carbs, and a 4 speed manual Muncie transmission. Add on a snappy paint job using burgundy, some Cragar wheels, updated dash and super clean interior and highway 101 here I come! Wayfarers on kids... Exterior In 1962 the bubble top, (referring to the thin B pillar and large rear rounded glass, along with the curved front glass), which gives the appearance of the futuristic all glass tops which one would see on prototype cars in the futuristic vision of 1962. There was a bubble top available only on the Bel Air in 1962, but not the Impala. So this one now has it and is badged Bel Air! The car retains its original Impala exterior look and styling. Rust free panels with well minded gaps are bathed in nicely applied burgundy, and it's looking sharp and shiny. A few scratches remain throughout, but are mostly unremarkable. With its styling of the dual tail lights which reside on the rear panel that sports a lazy V shaped trunk line edge that forms almost a spoiler-esque rear on either side rear quarter that takes advantage of stainless trim. This dives downward toward the wheel well and then makes its way forward on a stainless inserted trim spear. A mini version of shades of the '57 Bel Air and their rear quarter trimmings, but a lot smaller. Window surrounds are very nicely preserved and upfront an egg crate grille with dual flanking headlights and central Chevrolet cloisonné badge frame from the front edge of the hood downward. Cragar provides the wheels which are wrapped in 225/70R15's in front, and larger 275/60R15's on back all from the 20th week of 2014. Interior A swing of the doors reveals light tan stitched uppers for the door panels, and a darker light brown leather for the lowers delineated by a thin chrome strip. Here the actuator, armrest and window cranks reside. A front split back bench seat welcomes me and it sports lighter brown bolsters with some wide tuck and roll tan inserts. The back rear bench presents the same only in full bench form. For the dash, it retains its original horizontal speedo but some extras have been added on top of a panel just below this speedo. These include oil pressure, fuel gauge and water temp. Also a column mounted tachometer is to the driver's left. This dash also has plenty of mid century modern styled knobs, pulls, and some snappy temp sliders next to the ignition. Futuristic styling is a large overhang for the dash top over the AM radio, and a nifty 60's badge on the glovebox. Some AC has been added as well and it is sporting a rally steering wheel fronting the dash. Nice tan carpeting floods the floors, and above a tight tan headliner lines the inside of the now bubbletop. Drivetrain Under the hood is a GM orange/red painted block in 409ci configuration. It has snazzy aluminum ribbed valve coverings and the entire center intake area is covered with dual 4 barrel carburetors courtesy Edelbrock. MSD ignition fires the mill, and on the back is a Muncie M20 4-speed manual trans