[VIDEO] This 1962 Corvette’s Gold Grille is One of the Rarest Options You’ll Ever See

By
Mitch Talley
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3
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[VIDEO] This 1962 Corvette's Gold Grille is One of the Rarest Options You'll Ever See


The last of the solid-axle Corvettes, the 1962 model represented the best that the C1 generation had to offer.

Only 14,531 Corvettes exited the St. Louis factory in 1962, but this one being featured on the Horsepower Warehouse YouTube channel is likely one of the rarest you will ever find.

First of all, it’s one of only 1,918 Corvettes to feature the top-of-the-line 327/360 horsepower fuel injection engine that was the year’s highest-priced option at $484.20.

[VIDEO] This 1962 Corvette's Gold Grille is One of the Rarest Options You'll Ever See


What really sets this one off, however, resides up front, where the car is believed to be one of only 50 Corvettes outfitted with an anodized gold grille in 1962. All the others came with black grilles.

According to Auto Evolution, multiple theories attempt to explain the gold grilles.

One idea is that 1962 was Chevrolet’s 50th anniversary, and the company planned to use the grilles on 50 Corvettes before ultimately changing direction to the Impala instead. Some believe the Corvette grilles had already been shipped to St. Louis, and workers there used the grilles on random Corvettes throughout the model year.

[VIDEO] This 1962 Corvette's Gold Grille is One of the Rarest Options You'll Ever See


Some people surmise that the gold grilles were instead used very early in the model year to spotlight Corvettes with optional higher-powered V8 engines, including the 327/360 fuel-injection and 327/300 and 327/340 carbureted engines.

This particular Sateen Silver over red interior Corvette was originally purchased in Houston, Texas and has been restored to concours condition, with the original window sticker included, along with a book full of multiple awards.

Check out this video beginning at the 2:12 mark to get an up-close look at this immaculate and attention-drawing C1.


Source:
Horsepower Warehouse via AutoEvolution.com

Related:
[VIDEO] Dennis Collins Travels to Michigan to Rescue a 1962 Corvette Parked Since 1970
[VIDEO] 1955 Corvette in Harvest Gold is Restored and Driven
[VIDEO] Black, Gold-Plated 1947/59 Corvette with a ‘Gangsta’ Past Taken for a Spin

 



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3 COMMENTS

  1. A $484 performance option?

    Those were the days!!

    Either way, cool car. A ’65 was parked next to my ’23 at a Cars & Coffee this most recent weekend…tons of fun talking to her owner and learning her story!!!

  2. Check the VIN. If early production, gold grills were most likely leftovers from ’61 where they were standard. Or possibly a ’61 grill was used in this ’62’s restoration (or repair).

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