All 1960s Classics

1962 Classic Cars for Sale

14 listings Median price: $13,995 Updated daily

Chevy II arrives to fight the Falcon, Shelby builds the first Cobra, and Max Wedge Mopars terrorize the drag strip

Nineteen sixty-two was a year of clear intentions. Chevrolet, stung by Ford Falcon's success, rushed the Chevy II into production with a timeline that bypassed the Corvair's engineering complexity entirely. The result was a conventional front-engine compact that dealers could sell to buyers who just wanted reliable basic transportation. It sold 326,607 units in its debut year. Not as flashy as the Corvair, but exactly what Chevrolet needed.

Somewhere in a small garage in Venice, California, Carroll Shelby was bolting a Ford 260 cubic-inch V8 into an AC Ace chassis. The first Cobra, CSX2000, was completed in late 1962 and tested at Riverside. The combination of a light British roadster body and an American V8 produced a car that weighed around 2,100 pounds and could run 0-60 in under five seconds. Nobody in Detroit had seen this combination coming.

Chrysler's engineers were running a completely different experiment on the drag strip. The 413 cubic-inch Max Wedge engine, available in both Dodge and Plymouth full-size cars in 1962, produced 410 or 420 horsepower depending on carburetion. These were purpose-built race engines wearing street-legal VINs. Super Stock drag racing would never be quite the same.

Notable 1962s: Shelby Cobra 260 Roadster Chevrolet Corvette Fuel Injection Coupe Plymouth Sport Fury Max Wedge 413 Dodge Dart 413 Max Wedge Ford Galaxie 500 Sunliner Chevrolet Impala SS 409 Pontiac Grand Prix Hardtop

1962 in automotive history

Carroll Shelby completed the first AC Cobra, CSX2000, using a Ford 260 cubic-inch V8 in late 1962, establishing the basis for one of the most copied sports car designs in history.
Chevrolet's 409 cubic-inch V8 reached 409 horsepower in dual four-barrel form, inspiring the Beach Boys hit released the same year and cementing the engine's cultural status beyond its race results.
Chrysler's 413 Max Wedge engines were delivered with intentionally short exhaust headers designed to exit beneath the front doors, improving quarter-mile elapsed times and making the cars nearly undriveable on the street.

Showing 14 listings

Dealer

Dealer

United States

1962 Chevrolet C10

$12,495 14,760 miles

Dealer

United States

1962 Chevrolet C20

$12,795 111,111 miles

Market: Authenticated early Shelby Cobras from 1962 are among the most valuable American cars period, with documented examples reaching well past $1 million. Chevrolet Impala SS 409 cars in strong condition trade from $40,000 to $80,000, with dual-quad 409 horsepower cars commanding the upper range. Max Wedge Mopars have a passionate specialist market with prices varying enormously based on documentation.

Buyer's note: For any 1962 Impala SS claimed to be a 409 car, cross-check the VIN, trim tag, and partial VIN stamped on the engine pad before purchase, as engine swaps were extremely common and 409 identity fraud is well-documented in the hobby.

1962 classics by make

Chevrolet (8) Ford (3) Dodge (1) GMC (1) Willys (1)

Other years in the 1960s Classics

All 1960s Classics 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967