Questions for the experts on 62 bel airs

[jimk]

My questions are:

1.) Did 62 bel air bubbletops ever come with trim found between the rear window and the trunk, just like the horizontal vent trim found below the back window of a 61 Impala bubbletop?

2.) How about the upper front fender "gun sight" trim as found on a 62 Impala? Did Bel Air's ever have this extra trim as well?

I hope that someone can clarify this for me.

Jim

[real61ss]

Jim,
I'm no expert on 62's but the Bel-Air did not come from the factory with the 61 vent trim. So far as the gun sites on the front fender, I don't believe they were factory equipment either but they could have been purchased at a Chevrolet dealers parts dept. and added easly.

[droptop62]

2.) How about the upper front fender "gun sight" trim as found on a 62 Impala? Did Bel Air's ever have this extra trim as well?

Jim

That was an Impala trim level.
Not part of the belair, biscayne trim.
There are quite a few 62 belair bubbletop clones out there.
people have requartered 61 chevrolets with 62 sheetmetal.
and there are also 62 impalas, that have 61 impala roofs grafted on.
maybe you have seen a clone.

The trim and vin tags should determine body style unless they have been changed??

[jimk]

I have been looking for a 62 bel air bubbletop for a while now. I have run into some clones before, but I could distinguish these clones by looking at the VIN tags. A car I have recently come acrss has the correct Bel air VIN/Firewall tags, but has these features that makes me guess that it is a clone with swapped VIN and firewall tags as well. I hate this kind of crap. I recently received an email from a guy in Texas that thought I might have a title/Vin tag combo that he could buy and slap on his clone he was going to sell. I told him to shove it.

On another note, I have placed want ads before on this, but maybe you guys know someone, who knows someone. I am on the hunt for a rust free 62 legitimate bel air sport coupe (restored or preferrably unrestored). I have a longer preference list for the car, but I can't be so picky on something that has given me so much trouble finding. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I'm not a dealer, I'm not a fancy collector with boat loads of cars for investment purposes....just someone who really loves these cars and their super stock heritage.

Thanks,
Jim

[models916]

Chevrolet book I have shows the fender trim as a dealer installed item on OTHER than Impala. Has a part number and hours of labor to charge. Nothing on the rear window trim.

[models916]

Anybody need a copy of the book let me know and I will PDF it for you.

[Impalaguru]

I know of a 62 "bubbletop" belair that may or may not exist. The guy that owns it supposedly has a bunch of 58-64s. He's a handful to deal with and while trying to buy 2 of my cars over the phone angered me more than anyone ever has.
But, he says that he's got a red on red 327 PG bubbletop that was rolled years ago. I guess it needs a roof!! I can give you his phone number if you want. Just e-mail me!!

There is also a little old lady near me that is STILL driving her 62 bubbletop, but that story is so wierd and strange, you're better off staying away from that one. Trust me, I know!!

Ross

[Tom Kochtanek]

Jim, I know what you mean about being fascinated with that 1962 BA Sport Coupe. I would really like to have a straight solid one, but was unable to locate one that I could afford (and they have gone up from there since 5 years ago).

I have a terribly corroded one that I settled for, a good deal in terms of dollars, but thousands in parts away from being "soild" again :(. That's with free labor :). I'm hanging on to that one, while looking for one that might fit my budget AND be a bit more solid...

Good luck in your findings. Part of the fun is looking, looking, looking. Generally when I do that I get distracted and acquire something in addition to what I was looking for :). I never seem to be able to pass up a "good deal".

Hope you locate (or we can help you locate) what you are looking for. Keep us posted as things develop.

Best,
TomK

http://www.missouri.edu/~iskoch/1962BelAirbubbletop/1962_Bel_Air_Sport_Coupe.html