The final year of the first-generation Corvette allowed buyers to benefit from all the lessons learned in its development, establishing it as a dominant force on road or track. For the 1962 model year, Corvette introduced some changes like two-tone paint and much of the brightwork disappeared, the body adopting more creases than curves, signaling a modernization.
Under the hood, the revered 283 CI small-block V-8 grew to 327 CI, boosting base power from 230 HP to 250 HP. With fuel injection, 11.25:1 compression, and the solid-lifter “Duntov” cam, peak output rose from 315 HP at 6,000 RPM in 1961 to an exciting 360 HP.
In 1962, a Chevrolet Corvette competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, showcasing impressive performance despite wear issues preventing it from finishing. This same car would later become one of the most dominant Corvettes on record, with Dr. Dick Thompson, the “Flying Dentist,” securing five championships in the American-made, fuel-injected machine that struck fear into European competitors without any apologies, or Novocaine.
Photos by Aden McClintock courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
