[dinger]

The roof was a carryover from the previous year and was lighter for the racers.

[TucsonJay]

Dinger, They did use the '62 BelAir hardtops for racing because they were lighter...

...but that isn't the reason they got that roof line in the first place. Sorry.

[lt1silverhawk]

According to Dan Burger's "Impala, 1958-2000"":

"Redesigning the Impala for 1962 was a matter of cleaning up the items on the 1961 model that tied it to the 1950's-era cars. Because the Impala vision in most minds was the sport coupe body style, it is appropriate to focus attention on that. One of the more obvious ties to the old decade was the hardtop roofline that made use of extremely thin pillars. Along with this, the windshield and the rear window glass wrapped upward into the roof, creating a significant glass area. The 1962 sport coupe design successfully implemented a formal roofline with the appearance of a crisply creased convertible top. The artful execution of the roofline design was a significant contribution to the ongoing success of the Impala sport coupe and therefore the entire Impala lineup. It was an Impala exclusive in 1962.

The Bel Air sport coupe continued with the "bubble top" for another year. Many Chevy enthusiasts love the bubble tops, but at the time it was a connection to the past and the Impala was looking to the future. It also gave Impala the opportunity to have an exclusive sport coupe to go along with the only full-size convertible in the Chevy lineup."

From "Impala, 1958-2000", page 52.

[TucsonJay]

Interesting... but there was a much more practical reason that GM kept the bubbletop roof on the BelAir.

I had one private email that had the right answer... but he said to let it ride, to see if anyone else knew. If no one has the answer soon, I'll post it.

[lt1silverhawk]

Originally Posted by TucsonJay

Interesting... but there was a much more practical reason that GM kept the bubbletop roof on the BelAir.

I had one private email that had the right answer... but he said to let it ride, to see if anyone else knew. If no one has the answer soon, I'll post it.

So not racing and not marketing, right? Because the only thing else I've come across is better aerodynamics.

[TucsonJay]

Okay, I'll give up the "secret". :-)

Gm wanted to introduce the new "convertible-look" roof on the upcoming 1962 model hardtops!

They had a little problem though.... they had a large amount of roof pieces already manufactured and warehoused, that were for the hardtop style they had been selling though '61.

What do you do with a large inventory of parts that you suddenly don't need... but have a lot of $$$ invested in??? If they threw them out, managment or investors would probably be very upset!

Eureeka! You put them on the less expensive models, and use the new roof only on the more expensive Impala! You might even attract buyers who would pay more to get the new styling! :-)

....so as I suggested, it was a decision based on practicality. If they hadn't worked so far ahead, the BelAirs would have been built with the same new roofline as the Impala.

Blue.... Ya gotta question yet?

[blue54]

In 1970 "What body change was made to the Corvette and why? Not much of a question, but what do you want for damn near midnight?

[MARTINSR]

The fender "grilles" because there was over heating problems? This is the only body change that I know of so I am tossing it out there.

Brian

[blue54]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

The fender "grilles" because there was over heating problems? This is the only body change that I know of so I am tossing it out there.

Brian

That was a change for style as the 68 and 69 had the 3 vertical slots. The other cures a problem.

[cobalt327]

The rear of the wheel openings look to be flared more than in '69. This might be to keep water spray or things thrown up from the road from hitting the side of the car.


1969


1970

[MARTINSR]

OH YEAH, the little flares, there is another difference in the actual body.

Brian

[blue54]

Cobalt got the answer i was looking for. They do keep the stuff from hitting the sides of the car, both front & rear. Go get-um cobalt.

[cobalt327]

What was the lowest HP rating of a '55-up Chevy w/solid lifters?

[35terraplane]

Originally Posted by cobalt327

What was the lowest HP rating of a '55-up Chevy w/solid lifters?

265HP

Bob

[TucsonJay]

It's a guess, but I am wanting to say a 225 horse 265.