Pick Of The Day: 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air “bubbletop”

In the world of old cars, enthusiasts tend to gravitate towards the higher trim levels — witness the 1955-57 Chevrolet Bel Air and the Impala that later topped it. However, when it comes to 1962 Chevrolets, it seems a certain Bel Air has received greater esteem among collectors. Why the anomaly? We’ll explain why with our Pick of the Day, a 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe. This “Bubbletop” (as it’s affectionately known) is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Sherman, Texas.

When it comes to two-door hardtops among the Low-Priced Three in the 1960s, you could always count on finding one for the respective bread-and-butter trim level (often the top one), but each manufacturer was different as you went stepped down. When it came to Fords, Ford didn’t offer a two-door hardtop below the Galaxie or Galaxie 500 at any time during the decade. Over at Plymouth, a Belvedere two-door hardtop was available from 1960-64, just like the nicer Fury. And Chevrolet? When the decade started, Chevrolet offered both a Bel Air and Impala two-door hardtop (officially “Sport Coupe”), but the brand discontinued the Bel Air hardtop after 1962.

What distinguished Chevrolet from the others is that the 1962 Bel Air Sport Coupe did not share the same roofline as the Impala Sport Coupe. At the time, General Motors began to use a style for its two-door hardtops that looked like it was a convertible with its top up, and the Impala was a recipient of this design. In contrast, the Bel Air Sport Coupe featured a Bubbletop design that had been used for both the 1961 Bel Air and Impala two-door hardtops. Why the different design between the two for ’62? An explanation has yet to happen.

It is this look that has made the 1962 Bel Air Sport Coupe popular with Chevrolet fans, especially cars equipped with the Turbo-Fire 409. Initially a mid-year 1961 offering, the 409 was rated at 360 horsepower with a single four-barrel carburetor in its first year; for 1962, the four-barrel was bumped up to 380 horsepower, and a dual-quad version offered 409 horses. A manual transmission was the only choice in 1962, from a three-on-the-tree to a four-on-the-floor. An automatic wouldn’t be available until 1963 when Chevrolet introduced a 340-horse version.

This mildly modified Roman Red 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe is one of about 11,000 built with both six- and eight-cylinder engines, but it’s one of the few built with the 409 four-barrel V-8. With its sleek roofline, lightweight body, and factory performance pedigree, this is prime Bow Tie for a Chevy guy or gal into early muscle. “Finished in correct 923A Roman Red over a factory 872 red interior, this Bubbletop has been fully restored while maintaining its authentic edge,” says the seller. “The bench seat and floor shifter setup keep it true to its roots, while the radio delete and heater delete reinforce its performance-first mindset. Manual steering and brakes remind you that this machine is all about driver connection, not comfort.” Modifications include 18-inch wheels and several updates under the hood including an aluminum radiator.

Chevy fans have embraced the Bubbletop for decades, so it’s not like this is a recent development. If anything, this is the quintessential 409, and it will cost you $114,999 for that privilege.

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com