Chevrolet Introduced the Corvette in 1953
By the late 1950s, the infrastructure of the automotive industry had begun a transformation from the monopolistic business of a few, large, corporate giants to a much more competitive and highly segmented marketplace.
For more: 1962 Corvette Research Guide
1962 Corvette – Specifications
1962 Corvette Main Specs
| MODEL: | 1961 Chevrolet Corvette |
| BODY STYLE: | Two-door convertible, front engine, rear wheel drive |
| MANUFACTURING LOCATION: | St. Louis, Missouri |
| CONSTRUCTION: | Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP or “fiberglass”) body, steel frame with steel and chrome structural & chassis components. |
| VEHICLE NUMBERS (VIN): | 20867S100001 – 20867S114531 |
| VIN PREFIX: | RC: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION RD: 327 CUBIC INCH, 300 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION RE: 327 CUBIC INCH, 340 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION RF: 327 CUBIC INCH, 360 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION SC: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250 HORSEPOWER, POWERGLIDE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SD: 327 CUBIC INCH, 300 HORSEPOWER, POWERGLIDE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION |
| ENGINE BLOCK NUMBER: | 3782870 |
| HEAD NUMBER: | 3782461: 327 CUBIC INCH, 300HP, 340HP, 360HP 3795896: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP 3884520: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP |
| CARBURETOR NUMBERS: | CARTER 3190S #3788245: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARTER 3191S #3788246: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP CARTER 3310S #3819207: 327 CUBIC INCH, 300HP, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARTER 3269S #3797699: 327 CUBIC INCH, 300HP MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 340HP |
| FUEL INJECTION NUMBER: | ROCHESTER 7017355 ROCHESTER 7017360 |
| DISTRIBUTOR NUMBER: | 1110984: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP, 300HP 1110985: 327 CUBIC INCH, 340HP 1110990: 327 CUBIC INCH, 360HP 1111011: 327 CUBIC INCH, 360HP |
| GENERATOR NUMBER: | 1102174: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP, 300HP 1102268: 327 CUBIC INCH, 340HP, 360HP |
| AXLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER | CA: 3-SPD, 4-SPD, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, (3.36:1 RATIO) CG: 4-SPD, (3.70:1) |
| PRODUCTION ENDING VEHICLE: | AUG. 1961: 100443, SEP. 1961: 100827, OCT. 1961: 102065, NOV. 1961:103465, DEC. 1961:104766, JAN. 1962: 106234, FEB. 1962: 107585, MAR. 1962: 109116, APR. 1962: 110519, MAY 1962: 112035, JUN. 1962: 113459, JUL. 1962: 114520, AUG. 1962: 114531 |
1962 Corvette Powertrain Specifications
| Description | 4-barrel Carb | Large 4-barrel Carb | Large 4-barrel Carb with Special Cam | Fuel Injection with Special Cam |
| Name: | Standard | RPO 583 | RPO 396 | RPO 582 |
| Type: | 90 V | 90 V | 90 V | 90 V |
| Number of Cylinders | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Displacement (cid): | 327 | 327 | 327 | 327 |
| Horsepower (gross @ rpm): | 250hp @ 4,400 | 300hp @ 5,000 | 340hp @ 6,000 | 360hp @ 6,000 |
| Torque (lbs.-ft. @ rpm): | 350 @ 2,800 | 360 @ 3,200 | 344 @ 4,000 | 352 @ 4,000 |
| Bore Spacing (C/L to C/L) | 4.4 inches | 4.4 inches | 4.4 inches | 4.4 inches |
| Bore x stroke (in.): | 4.00 x 3.25 | 3.875 x 3.00 | 3.875 x 3.00 | 3.875 x 3.00 |
| Redline (rpm): | – | – | – | – |
| Compression ratio: | 10.5:1 | 10.5:1 | 11.25:1 | 11.25:1 |
| Idle Speed (RPM) | 500 in neutral (man. trans) | 500 in neutral (man. trans) | 500 in neutral (man. trans) | 500 in neutral (man. trans) |
| Engine Weight (Dry); | – | – | – | – |
| Automatic | – | – | – | – |
| 3 Speed Manual | – | – | – | – |
| 4 Speed Manual | – | – | – | – |
| Firing Order: | 18436572 | 18436572 | 18436572 | 18436572 |
| Cylinder Number System; | – | – | – | – |
| Left Bank: | 1-3-5-7 | 1-3-5-7 | 1-3-5-7 | 1-3-5-7 |
| Right Bank: | 2-4-6-8 | 2-4-6-8 | 2-4-6-8 | 2-4-6-8 |
| Recommended Fuel: | 94-96 Premium Octane | 94-96 Premium Octane | 94-96 Premium Octane | 94-96 Premium Octane |
| EPA Powerglide | – | – | – | – |
| EPA 4 Speed | – | – | – | – |
Manual Transmission / Gear Ratios
| Gear | 3-Speed Close Ratio | 4-Speed (RPO 685) | |
| 1st Gear: | 2.47:1 | 2.20:1 | |
| 2nd Gear: | 1.53:1 | 1.66:1 | |
| 3rd Gear: | 1.00:1 | 1.31:1 | |
| 4th Gear: | N/A | 1.00:1 | |
| Reverse: | 2.80:1 | 2.26:1 |
| Clutch | Stats |
| Type | Borg and Beck, dry plate, semi-centrifugal, coil spring |
| Spring Pressure (lbs) | 1620 initial |
| Lining area (sq. in.) | 90.68 |
Powerglide Automatic Transmission RPO 313/ Gear Ratios
| Drive | 1.76 and 1.00:1 |
| Low | 1.76:1 |
| Reverse | 1.76:1 |
1962 Corvette Exterior Dimensions
| Exterior Dimensions | Hardtop |
| Wheelbase: | 102 Inches |
| Overall Length: | 176.7 Inches |
| Total Body Width: | 70.4 Inches |
| Overall Height: | 52.1 Inches |
| Front Track Width: | 57 Inches |
| Rear Track Width: | 59 Inches |
| Min. Ground Clearance | 6.7 Inches |
| Interior Dimensions | Hardtop |
| Headroom: | 36.0 Inches |
| Shoulder Room: | 49.4 Inches |
| Hip Room: | 59.6 Inches |
| Leg Room: | 46.4 Inches |
| Exterior Dimensions | Softtop |
| Wheelbase: | 102 Inches |
| Overall Length: | 176.7 Inches |
| Total Body Width: | 70.4 Inches |
| Overall Height: | 52.2 Inches |
| Front Track Width: | 57 Inches |
| Rear Track Width: | 59 Inches |
| Min. Ground Clearance | 6.7 Inches |
| Interior Dimensions | Softtop |
| Headroom: | 37.1 Inches |
| Shoulder Room: | 49.4 Inches |
| Hip Room: | 59.6 Inches |
| Leg Room: | 46.4 Inches |
| Capacities | Specs |
| Passenger Capacity: | 2 Passengers |
| Curb Weight (LBS/KG): | – |
| w/3-Speed manual trans. | 3,060 |
| w/4-Speed manual trans. | 3,075 |
| w/Powerglide automatic | 3,075 |
| Hard Top: | 55 |
| Interior Passenger Volume (cu.ft): | – |
| Interior Trunk Volume (cu. ft): | 12.09 |
| Fuel Capacity (gallons): | 16.4 (24 with RPO 488) |
| Engine Oil Capacity (qts.): | 5 (capacity of crankcase less filter – refill) |
| Coolant Capacity (qts.): | 16.5 (with heater) |
| Battery: | 12 volt, 11 plates per cell, 61AH, Delco 1980558 |
1962 Corvette Brakes, Wheels & Suspension
Suspension – Front
Unitized, Independant, Short and Long Arm
| Front Springs: | Chevrolet, coil |
| Make & Type | Chrome alloy steel .547 — .550 |
| Material & Gauges | Total 9.75; active 7.94 |
| Number of Coils | Outside 4.30; pitch 3.752 |
| Diameter | Free 13.75; working 9.62@ 1245 lb. |
| Height | 9.72 |
| Height Under Curb Weight | 800 lb. |
| Capacity At Ground | – |
| Deflection Rate | – |
| -At Spring | 300 lb. |
| -At Wheel | 110 lb. |
| Front Shock Absorbers: | – |
| Make & Type | Delco, direct double acting |
| Mounting | Vertically from lower control arm through coil spring to front suspension crossmember |
| Front Stabilizer Bar: | – |
| Type | Link |
| Material | Hot rolled steel |
| Diameter | .8125 |
Suspension – Rear
Outrigger mounted semi-elliptical leaf springs
| Rear Springs: | Specs |
| Make & Type | Chevrolet, semi-elliptic |
| Material | Chrome carbon steel |
| Length & Width | 51×2.0 |
| No. of Leaves | 4 |
| Leaf Thickness | Number 1 & 3 = .282, Number 2 = .313, Number 4 = .262, Total = 1.159 |
| Capacity | At pad = 575 lb., At ground = 725 lb. |
| Rear Shock Absorbers: | Specs |
| Make & Type | Delco, direct double acting |
| Mounting | Stem attached to slotted holes in flanged “U” shaped rear crossmember, eye attached at bottom to an anchor bolt on rear spring “U” bolt and shock absorber anchor bolt plate |
| Piston Diameter and Travel | 1.0 x 7.44 |
| Rear Stabilizer Bar: | – |
| Type | Link |
| Material | Hot rolled steel |
| Diameter | 0.625 |
| Brakes: | Specs |
| Type: | Duo Servo – 4 Wheel Hydraulic (Heavy Duty, RPO 687) |
| Power brake type: | None |
| Drum diameter, front (in.): | 11 |
| Drum diameter, rear (in.): | 11 |
| Effective area (sq. in.): | 157 (Heavy Duty 134.6) |
| Wheels/Tires | Specs |
| Wheel Type (Standard): | Short Spoke Disk, Pressed Steel |
| Tire Size | 6.70 — 15 — 4 Ply Tubeless (standard), 6.70 — 15 — 4 Ply Whitewall |
| Front & Rear Wheels: | 15″ |
| Tires, type: | Rayon Cord (Nylon with RPO 1833) |
| Revolutions at 30mph: | 760 |
| Inflation (cold) | 24 lbs. Front & Rear |
| Steering | Specs |
| Type: | Semi-reversible, worm and ball bearing sector |
| Make: | Saginaw |
| Ratio: | 16.0:1 |
| Wheel Diameter (in): | 17 |
| Turns, Stop to Start | 3.7 (3.25 with RPO 687) |
| Turn Diameter (curb to curb) | 36.5 ft. right — 37 ft. left (outside front), 38.5 ft. right — 39 ft. left (outside front) |
1962 Corvette Performance
| Performance Results | Standard | RPO 583 | RPO 396 | RPO 582 |
| 3-Speed Transmission | ||||
| Performance weight (lbs.) | 3360 | 3360 | 3340 | 3370 |
| Pounds/gross horsepower | 13.44 | 11.20 | 9.82 | 9.36 |
| Pounds/cu.in. piston displacement | 10.28 | 10.28 | 10.21 | 10.31 |
| Gross horsepower/cu.in. displacement | .765 | .917 | 1.040 | 1.101 |
| Power displacement (cu.ft./mile) | 241.6 | 241.6 | 241.6 | 241.6 |
| Displacement factor (cu.ft./mile) | 143.8 | 143.8 | 144.7 | 143.4 |
| 0 – 60 mph (seconds) | – | – | – | – |
| Top Speed (mph) | – | – | – | – |
| Powerglide Transmission | ||||
| Performance weight (lbs.) | 3375 | 3375 | 3355 | 3385 |
| Pounds/gross horsepower | 13.50 | 11.25 | 9.87 | 9.40 |
| Pounds/cu.in. piston displacement | 10.32 | 10.28 | 10.26 | 10.35 |
| Gross horsepower/cu.in. displacement | .764 | .917 | 1.040 | 1.101 |
| Power displacement (cu.ft./mile) | 241.6 | 241.6 | 241.6 | 241.6 |
| Displacement factor (cu.ft./mile) | 143.0 | 143.0 | 144.0 | 142.7 |
| 0 – 60 mph (seconds) | – | – | – | 5.9 |
| Top Speed (mph) | – | – | – | 132 |
| 4-Speed Transmission | ||||
| Performance weight (lbs.) | 3375 | 3375 | – | – |
| Pounds/gross horsepower | 13.50 | 11.25 | – | – |
| Pounds/cu.in. piston displacement | 10.32 | 10.32 | – | – |
| Gross horsepower/cu.in. displacement | .764 | .917 | – | – |
| Power displacement (cu.ft./mile) | 241.6 | 241.6 | – | – |
| Displacement factor (cu.ft./mile) | 137.5 | 138.1 | – | – |
| 0 – 60 mph (seconds) | 143.0 | 143.0 | – | – |
| Top Speed (mph) | – | – | – | – |
See Also
| C1 | ’53 | ‘54 | ’55 | ’56 | ’57 | ’58 | ’59 | ’60 | ’61 | ’62 |
| Gen | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 | C6 | C7 |
