*FRAME/BODY OFF, NUT & BOLT RESTORATION*
A turn key example that is ready to be enjoyed and shown at all of the local shows, this 1962 Chevrolet Corvette has undergone a complete body off, nut & bolt restoration! This Corvette was produced with a 327 cubic inch engine with 340 horsepower. It had high performance cylinder heads, intake manifold, carburetor and camshaft. The car had its original Borg Warner 4 speed manual transmission and had both tops- a convertible top and a second removable hard top.
The original engine for the Corvette was missing and needed to be replaced. Trying to keep the Corvette as original as possible, a correctly numbered 327ci engine block was dropped in as the perfect replacement. Not only was it correctly numbered, it also had a casting date that matched the manufacture date, factory and same month of the car itself. The same was true for the correct cylinder heads, intake manifold, high performance exhaust manifolds and many other parts, including a high performance NOS (new old stock) forged crankshaft. This example before restoration was all to pieces and stored in a local self storage facility. This car, which had a good body on a good frame, with 50% of all the original parts, sold quickly to a Corvette guy who had several early 60’s C1’s but had let all of them get away from him.
Disassembly began and the car was taken completely apart. The correct engine was taken apart and taken to a long standing and competent machine shop for machining and balancing. Everything was refreshed like factory new or better. The body was removed from the frame. The frame was sandblasted and then primed and painted. The engine was mounted to the frame along with the rebuilt transmission, the front and rear suspension was replaced with all new parts. New brakes and fuel lines were installed along with a new gas tank. The new radiator and its shroud were installed. Then the complete unit was wrapped in plastic wrap to protect all the new surfaces.
The completely reworked, fiberglassed, and primered body was returned to the frame. The body had been stripped to the original fiberglass in one of its previous paintings so it was not necessary to strip it again. The work took the car to a point where it was ready for painting, and better than the original bodywork from the factory. The paint was applied along with chrome and bright work. The car presents better than the original. The Corvette was primed with epoxy primer and this was wet sanded prior to final painting. Axalta (DuPont) paints, primer and clear coat were used in the painting process. Once painted and cleared, the final product underwent a complete wet sanding to insure a top quality finish. Final buffing took place and then final assembly, with much of the bumpers, trim, lights, windshield frame and glass, etc installed.
The interior was installed along with all of the new wiring. A new, Vintage Air brand air conditioning system was installed. The instrument cluster and windshield wiper motor had been sent off for rebuilding and these assemblies were reinstalled. The engine was started and ran in to break in the camshaft. The brakes were made operable along with the steering.
The amount of detail and attention put towards this restoration is astounding. There were no corners skipped and the car was assembled by one of the best shops; Classic Restorations LLC. This is a turn key, show car that is ready to be passed down to the next lucky owner. Example’s this fine never last! This 1962 Corvette is considerably more straight and in better condition than how a new ’62 Corvette would have been produced in the GM St. Louis assembly plant!
