Forum member goes from W-machine to W-motor machine.

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Stefano,

By chance, do you know the origin of this car?

 

Although the 409 was not the engine of my choice growing up, it is unique this day and age especially with a manual trans. I love the lines of a Bubble top.

 

I looked at a 60 years ago with the 348 or w/e the predecessor was up in Terre Haute. Then I got my 442. Same color, yours is in better shape. It ought to fly with that power to weight ratio.

 

Love this car! It's soooo cool.

 

While I am not an expert on Chevrolet, I believe in 1961 it is termed a hardtop. In 1962, there were a few "61 hardtops" left over, and "bubble top" is a term used to describe the special option rare 1962 year model. Of course there is a 62 hardtop as well.
-ben

 

It's not mine. Wish it was : ) It belongs to Charlie Rogers. It's his new toy.

 

Its a bubble top.

 

I know that it just came out of sunny and dry Southern California. I was told it spent its life there?

 

Ben, you are correct, In 1961 this was the only two door hardtop Impala available, in 1962 there was a new simulated convertible top-hardtop and the "Bubble Top" available.

Today both '61s and '62s with this roof line are referred to as "Bubble Tops".

 

62 Bubble top was only on BelAir. Remains one of the most graceful rooflines GM ever devised and it looked good on all the 1961 B-body cars.

That 61 is gorgeous. I was thinking 409 available only in the mid-year SS? Even if it turns out a 348, still cool with a four-speed.

 

Cool car.
Reminds me of the 69 SS Impala
I had for about 2 months.

Pulled it out of a wrecking yard for $250.
I was 18. Anyone remember Cherry Ave. Auto Salvage
in Amarillo? Grill was broken out and front
bumper was trashed. Got it running and driving and
was at a 7-11 putting in 10 bucks of gas in it and
a fella offered me $1850 cash. I popped off and said, $2150.
Had to pull up and use the pay-phone and call a bud.

I want to say it had a 348 or a 409 with 3 on the tree.
It would haul *** for the boat it was. I had forgotten
all about that one. Thanks for the memory.

 

Good Points.

Here is my old '62 Belair.

 

^^^ Beautiful!

 

I absolutely love the 61-62 impalas. In any form lowrider , stock or modified street machine. My favorite though is when they are in class race form from the stocker days. My dad used to have a 64 impala ss with a 409 not sure if it was original but I remember being pinned against the seat as a kid while he ripped through the gears.

 

Low riders and the like make my skin crawl. I just worry about mine being stolen and turned into a hoopty.

 

I have a wide range in taste for cars. despite what anyone say's I still lowriders when done right are very tasteful.

 

In 61 the 409 was only available in the Super Sport option. This car is not a SS. The SS had badging on the side where the flags are. The SS was raised over the top of the flags. There was an SS emblem on the trunk lid in the center where the V emblem is. There was also a "chicken bar" attached to the dashboard on the passenger side, this car does not appear to have this either. I would suspect this one was a dealer install 409 or it is a 348 optioned with the four speed and dual quads added. I'd sure like to see the vin plate.

 

neighbor had a 62 bubble top - went back when I was older to see if I could buy it, was long gone as was the panel truck in their back yard - dang.

 

the easiest way to tell a 348 from a 409 is the dipstick.pass side 348,drivers side 409.so this one would be a 348.

 

In 61 there is only one 2dr hardtop and it's referred to as a bubble top.In 62 the 2dr bubbletop was only available in Belair- Biscaine trim as far as i know.

 

That's correct 62 was the first 409,also the cylinder heads are different 409 has taller intake ports.

 

Not a lot of those built.

 

409 was last available in 65 early builds 396 also came out in 65 later builds,69 could be 396 or 427 if big block.

 

A local guy has a '62 BelAire bubble top, 409, 4-speed. I believe it is featured in THIS Hemmings write-up. He's running it less wheel covers, beautiful ride.

 

It's a great looking 61, although was originally an automatic transmission car or at least it has an automatic steering column in it.

The 61 SS Impala package also included spinners on the wheel covers. Same spinners were carried over to the 62 SS Impala.

In 61 the SS package could be order on any full size Impala except the station wagon.

Henry

 

i don't know that lug on the column looks alot like a 3 on the tree lug.would be lots easier to do the 3 to 4 spd swap as the pedals would be there.oh well i got him beat i have a 2x4 offyon my toro gt motor.now i just need a body to put it in.

 

From what I see there is only one ear visible on the lower column which makes me think was automatic. That being said even if it's a conversion it's now more desirable as a 4spd.

Henry

 

thanks for the response on the bubbletop guys!! for the record the car was originally a 348 3 on the tree sport coupe los angeles built, now its a {numbers checked} 409 with the gm 425hp heads and intake, with a bw early iron mid case super t-10. has stock p case posi 3.70 gear. wanted to clear up a couple facts on the 61 409s. the rpo 580 got you the 409 motor and there were about 265 rpo580 ordered that year. only available in the fullsize chevy {models 12, 14, 16, 1800} 143 0f these came in the ss impala the rest went into the other big cars. production for the 409 started around the 2nd week of jan 61 and available to the public in feb 61 from the Towanda plant. the dipstick for the 409 is on the pass side, the 348 is on the driver side! this is no way to confirm a 409, as the oil pans hold the dipstick and they interchange. just like all are motors check casting numbers to be sure!!!

 

forgot to add,, thanks to nicky performance {Stefano and crew} for transport the right way. plus having one of the most knowledgeable early impala guys around to set me straight.
Charlie,,

 

I understand.
Whatever engine mine had in it why back then
looked just like the one in the original post.
Mine was short four barrels though.
I thought the 348-409-427's had that type V/C.

 

you mean 409 on drivers side.i doubt very much my 59 spartan has a 409 as my dipstick is on pass side.

 

I believe you're correct. Certainly the 409 wasn't restricted to the SS package.

2x4 was not factory, but I've read once they had a kit from the dealer. Not sure if that's true. For 1962, of course, it was one of two 409s available, with three being available for 1963-64, then back to two for 1965 till it was replaced by two 396s. From 1966-68, one 396 was available, then a new 2bbl. 396 was the sole '69.

 

no there was 2 396's in 66 325 h.p. and 360 h.p.in 67 325 and 350. h.p. was in the cam low lift 325 high lift 350/360.i don't recall if the 350/360 h.p. was an option on the impala/caprice though.

 

I meant "till it was replaced by two 427 in 1966" - sorry.

But there was one 396 in 1966 -325 horsepower. The 350/360-horse motor was Chevelle-only. And don't forget the 375-hp L78 motor too.

But, from 1966-68, the only 396 for the big cars was 325 horsepower till the 1969 2bbl. motor and the 427/335 replaced it.

 

hey maybe you do have a 409!!! as the dipstick on a 409 from the factory is always on the driver side. ........ or maybe its just a 409 oil pan on your 348. anyways on with more 396 bbc chevy talk, what about that 1965 vette 396/425hp motor.

 

That was also available in the big cars too. It was replaced by the 427/425 L72.

 

Only the 348 and 409 had those V/C's, 396, 427, and 454 had the standard BBC covers.

 

Weren't the 1963 Z11 427's based off the W-block engine architecture?

 

yes, but they were introduced in a few late 62 cars and continued thru 63. the z11 foundation was based on the production 409 block but increased the stroke from 3.5 to 3.65 this is how they got to 427ci. special cam, hi port heads, 13.5 comp and 2 piece hi rise dual 4 intake manifold were the big items that made the z11 motor such a beast. I believe they were rated around 500hp.