1962 was the highest year in sales for the C1.That is puzzling. Did the 63 come late in production ? Didn't the public know a whle new Corvette was going to be built. The 63 convertable was two dollars cheaper according the my Corvette black book ????
-
-
Re: 1962 Model year ending sales
Why is that puzzling, not everyone was excited about the Sting Ray. A lot were sold because it was the end of body style. If you look at production numbers the Corvette better each year from 56 on. Some of us still think the 61-62 is the best looking Corvette ever built. -
Re: 1962 Model year ending sales
I feel the same way about the C-7 Corvette that I felt in 1963. The back end of both look like a boat tail Buick Riviera, which I hate. The new convertible I can live with but not the coupe. There may be hope as I did like the C-6 enough to buy one (2012 Grand Sport convertible) that is a COUSIN to my Honduras Maroon 62, but 50 years newer. It only took me 20 year to accept the change from solid axles to the 63 Stingray. If I live long enough maybe I'll accept a mid engine Vette..... who knows. Terry, this entire tread is my agreement to your statement about the 1961-62 style....... "They trailer horses not horse power"Comment
-
Re: 1962 Model year ending sales
In 63, I was in my 2nd year of college and no way could even think about buying a new car. I loved the engineering of the 63, but did not like the new car. You could not see out the rear window. and the phony hood grills and side front sculptors were not my favorite. Finally in 65, I warmed up to the car as the many changes made were exciting improvements. In 69, I could finally afford to buy a used 65 fuel coupe, missing the engine and injection and repainted Cadillac blue.
I owned three 62 cars over the years. All great Corvettes. Two were fuel injected, one was the 340hp that ran very fast.
Today I think my favorites are 65's, 57's and 62's. I have a lot of respect for all the C-1 and C-2, especially 63's and 67 small block 350hp cars. Every big block I owned back in the day had engine reliability problems. I guess I drove them too hard.Over 80 Corvettes of fun ! Love Rochester Fuel Injection 57-65 cars. Love CORVETTE RACE CARS
Co-Founder REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS.COMComment
-
Re: 1962 Model year ending sales
My original plan was to buy a '62, and arrange delivery for my 16th birthday in June, but then rumors of an "all new Corvette" began circulating early in '62, so I decided to wait. Being as how I lived in Seattle at the time, which isn't a great convertible town, It would have definitely been a two-topper.
The first time I saw a picture of the SWC it was love at first sight. On announcement day in October I went down to Tad Davies Chevrolet in downtown Seattle to see the car "in the flesh". There must have been nearly a hundred people in the showroom, three or four deep looking at the silver SWC. The car was an absolute sensation.
I recall talking to a well dressed gentleman, about 40, saying I had been working since age 11 and had saved enough to pay cash. He, too, said he planned to buy one, and I wonder to this day if he believed my story or just thought I was some starry-eyed kid.
Of course, the chassis represented a quantum leap forward as I was aware that the C1 front suspension dated back to about the 1949 passenger car. The basic '55 design was much simpler and easier to service and the IRS was definitely state-of-the-art in 1963 compared to solid axles.
'63 sales were about double '62, and for the first time St. Louis added a second shift to satisfy demand.
DukeComment
-
Re: 1962 Model year ending sales
I made up my mind to buy a 62 in late 61...only problem...not enough money to satisfy my dads demand that i have 1/2 the amount of purchase price saved...at age 19 I needed him to co-sign loan....ordered new 62 in April 62....took delivery June 12th...i couldn't care less what the 63 was going to be....never looked backComment
-
Re: 1962 Model year ending sales
I guess not much has changed from what I am reading in over 50 years. Seems it takes most some time to warm up to a new designs. I hated the C6 when they took the hidaway lights away, a trade mark since 63. Now I like the C6 better then the C7. Yet the C6 is started to look dated. Same with the new Mustang. I think Ford totally ruined the new Mustang.Comment
-
Re: 1962 Model year ending sales
Walter
You shouldn't use language like that on this form! LOLComment
Comment