Jstockton

My brother in law is seriously considering the purchase of a 1962 Vette - he has already put money down, We will be driving to NE to look at it on Sat. to see if it checks out, I have had C3's, C4's and now a C5, but I don't have any experience with any C1's. He has had several C3's as well.

I know the C5 forums are incredible when it comes to help and I was wondering if you guys could look at the link below and see if you see anything about this car that might raise a flag. Maybe even someone in or around NE has seen the car.

Any help would be appreciated..

obviously the Tach seems weird anyone heard of this??


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=260037806881

dfolse62

He must be seriously considering it since I suppose he had the winning bid.

Jstockton

He didnt actually win the auction, He called later and the other guy must have backed out, So he is next in line.

vintagecorvette

The car is 40+ years old. It very likely had the tach replaced because the original broke.

oWEN

Casper001

Considering the price, mileage is probably 14x,000, not 4x,000 miles.

John S 1961

If you have been driving any thing late model your gonna have a real experience with the C1. They dont drive well, remember they have the crude suspension, poor steering and rotten brakes from a 49 chevrolet. You have to drive them for nostalgic reasons or change things to make them drive well. I have one, enough power to be really dangerous, (no brakes) you will want discs regardless of what anyone else says, (like perfectly functioning drums are OK) true they are OK for a 49 chevy! Steering is really bad in parking lots, generator doesnt charge much and dim headlights, 45 year old wiring, lots of bubba maintenance and repairs remember these cars were worth about $1500 in 1979. Look for crash damage (undisclosed). But if you got the cash to blow go for it and enjoy, this time next year you wont regret it!!! I am still surprised at the values and I have one!!!!

Subfixer

One thing to remember about the '49 design brakes. They were designed to stop a full size 49 chevy sedan (almost 3 tons of steel). They work quite well in the lighter Corvette.

They may require some adjusting from time to time, and yes, the discs work better in water, but they are still quite safe nonetheless.

DZAUTO

Brakes are 51 vintage. The 50-earlier brakes were huck style brakes and 51-later were Bendix style------------------A MAJOR DIFFERENCE!
True, the steering leaves a lot to be desired, there is NO power steering and there really isn't a suitable ps add-on available for these cars. BUT, if you do not add wide wheels on the front, install radials, have a good alignment and keep the tire pressure around 32psi-------------AND you're not a total wimp, the manual steering isn't all that bad. My 56 has larger than stock radials on 15x6 wheels, a fast steering adapter, I'm 63yr and I can handle my obsolete, 1940s technology 56 just fine. As a matter of fact, just this last week at the Eureka Springs event, I came in second in the autocross event in my class. I have upgraded my brakes with a home made HD brake setup, but they are still MANUAL drum brakes. Oh ya, and I pulled a trailer.


Damn, it stops good!
So, don't be too quick to condemn these antiques (why is it that the pre-madonna owners of later model Vettes always seem to be down on the very reason for the existance of the car they own? If Zora hadn't saved the mark back in the 50s, you might be driving some kind of Dodge, Kaiser, DeSoto or whatever).
SOAPBOX FOR SALE, CHEAP!

Plastic Pig

K2

Now that's about the biggest bunch of Hogwash I have ever read!! The fact is that if they are in good mechanical shape they drive like a slot car - compared to Model T speedster, If you get my drift. Remember in their day they won all the marbles in SCCA against the likes of Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, Aston Martin, Porsche, and the likes. Wouldn't have been the case if they were as bad as you portray them. Fact is everything is relative and it is pure bunk to try to compare 40 year old technology to today's. It might say something however about the level of pussification of today's drivers (this forum's members excluded of course).

AZDoug

After I took off the front cross member and totally rebuilt it with all new parts, including front and rear sway bar bushings and new leaf spring bushings and new coil springs (one had sort of collapsed, but the sway bar kept it from being obvious), the car handles fabulously with modern 50/60 profile tires.. It has great throttle steer also.

Before I did all the above, the handling reminded me of trying to ride a pizza plate on marbles

Doug

Plastic Pig

All hogwash, bunk, and pussification.

ctjackster

DZ, K2, Duntov, you guys are on fire today! Even Paul [politely, of course] comes in to defend the old school stuff, love it . . . .

Jstockton

Thanks for the great answers so far.

I didnt want to start a generation war, Every Corvette out there is an incredible car, because it is a corvette...

Obviously we will double check numbers on everything, but anything from the pictures grossly stand out as misleading to you owners..

I obviously dont have one so I cannot refer to my garage for any answer to help him out. He knows a little about them but I figured I would go to the ultimate database of corvette knowledge..

Thanks everyone..

sixt1vette

Well, having wanted a C1 61-62 vintage (which is what you are buying, not a C2) for years and finally getting mine last year, I'd agree with all the replies you've gotten except the one knocking the handling, braking, etc.
You do need to prepare yourself and brother-in law for a different driving experience in a 62 compared to modern technology. Driving with manual brakes and no power steering is a bit like driving a bus compared to modern day cars. It surprised me, but if you love the nostalgia of the C1 era of cars the old-school driving characteristics are worth it. I love having people stop me at gas stations, restaraunts and wherever I take the car out to talk about it and their fond memories of cars like these. That makes the driving experiences great.
The car looks decent enough to have some things to work on and still enjoy as a driver. Hope he likes it as much as I've enjoyed mine.

Jstockton

Sorry on the C2 quote, I edited my original post.. oppps!!

Plastic Pig

Just a few things I see with a quick glance.

Wrong air cleaner assembly.
Wrong distributor NO vac advance on a 340 car.
Wrong oil cap and fill tube.
Chrome dipstick
Later carb with electric choke
Wrong cap on the expansion tank.

Nothing a couple thousand can't fix.


Looks like some kind of coolant leak around the thermostat housing. Could be simple, could mean having to replace a corroded $700 '62 397 intake.

I can't put my finger on it but something doesn't look right on the intake.
make sure the last three numbers are 397.

If he's gonna invest $40k I would suggest he take someone knowledgable with him to check it out. Would you invest $40k in the stock market in something you know nothing about with a stranger from ebay ?

61iwon

I agree, they don't drive like modern machines. But they have their own style and feel. I put some new low profile tires and wheels (17") on my ''61 this summer. That made a huge difference in the feel of the car. Handles much better!!!
If you look under the dash of mine you will see it has been seriously bubbafied. Most of them are that way if they have not been restored. These cars were cheap in the 70's & 80's. They were worked on at home back then.

Of the total made, how many of them got wrapped around a tree or went into the ditch etc.... who know how many are left.

It looks like you have yourself a pretty original machine. I live in Lincoln, so you will probably be passing through on your way to Valley.
Corvette club has a meeting tonight at AAA, 29 & O.

Enjoy the car, there were only 14,531 '62's made according to the black book and only 4,412 of those were 327/340. You will have time to make it what you want over the next few years.

Dave

Coves4me

Jstockton, I hope you enjoy the 62!!!! I absolutely love both of mine and the 62 is my favorite. It may not stop or turn with modern day technology, but the thumbs-up and smiles I get are worth more than any current car could give me! (with the possible exception of a new Z06, he, he).

You just have to remember to give yourself some extra stopping distance and turning radius. Also, it's good to learn to hum if your Wonderbar is toast, as mine are!! The sweet sound of the off-road mufflers is music to my ears, however.

John S 1961

WOW, I guess I never noticed that the 62 was way ahead on technology with its 1951 Brakes!!! LOL, and those king pins!!! Wonderful, and that Worm and roller, pure GMC truck!!!

I love my 61 nothing else like it, compare to the jaguar of the same year, rack and pinion, IRS, lightweight.

I did say go for it, you wont regret it driving an anacronism.

Solid axles forever!!!