This 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air was acquired by the current owner in 2008 and underwent a multi-year build completed in 2023, with work including refinishing the body in dark purple metallic, re-trimming the cabin in two-tone gray leather upholstery, and installing a fuel-injected 502ci crate V8 and a Richmond five-speed manual transmission. The car rides on a Ridetech suspension with adjustable ShockWave air shocks and a Currie 9″ rear axle with custom trailing arms. Other details consist of staggered-diameter Intro wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, a raised-cowl hood, and aftermarket headlights. The cabin is appointed with a custom center console, Vintage Air climate control, power windows, Stewart-Warner gauges, and a Pioneer CD stereo linked to trunk-mounted audio components. This modified Bel Air is now offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with a car cover and a clean California title.
The seller tells us the body was stripped and refinished in dark purple metallic during the 2023 refurbishment. Exterior details include a raised-cowl hood on Eddie Motorsports billet hinges as well as “502” crossed-flag badges, chrome bumpers and trim, front vent windows, aftermarket headlights, and dual exhaust outlets.
Intro wheels measure 18″ up front and 20″ at the rear, and they are mounted over a four-wheel disc brake setup, which the seller states has Corvette-specification front rotors. The car is equipped with power steering, and the adjustable suspension system utilizes Ridetech front tubular A-arms, a front sway bar secured with billet brackets, a custom rear trailing-arm setup, and Ridetech ShockWave air shocks/springs.
The front bucket seats and a contoured rear bench are trimmed in two-tone gray leather with textured ostrich-style accents, accompanied by matching door panels and a custom full-length center console. Appointments include air conditioning, power windows, power door and trunk releases, an electrical shut-off switch, front cup holders, and a floor-mounted shifter topped with a cue-ball knob. The aftermarket sound system is comprised of a trunk-mounted amplifier and a Pioneer CD stereo receiver mounted in the glovebox alongside a Ridetech suspension control module.
The billet vintage-look steering wheel is mounted to a tilting column and fronts a sweeping 120-mph speedometer along with factory-style coolant temperature and fuel level gauges. A Stewart-Warner tachometer is attached to the steering column, and matching auxiliary gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level are integrated into the lower dashboard. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 45k miles, approximately 250 of which were added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.
The 502ci crate V8 is equipped with Street & Performance fuel injection, a polished high-rise intake manifold, Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads, and custom-fabricated headers developed by Buxton Motorsports. Additional equipment includes a Billet Specialties serpentine accessory drive setup, finned valve covers, a BeCool aluminum radiator, and a Ron Francis wiring harness.
The seller tells us the Richmond five-speed manual transmission uses a Centerforce hydraulic clutch, and the rear end is a Currie 9″ unit fitted with a PosiTraction differential and 2.50:1 gearing. A polished stainless-steel fuel tank and a custom dual exhaust system with electric cutouts were specified during the build.
Decoding the body plate reveals the following information:
- 05E – Produced during the fifth week of May
- Style: 62-1637 – 1962 Bel Air two-door sport coupe
- Body: SL 1580 – St. Louis, Missouri, assembly; body-sequence number
- Trim: 839 – Blue cloth and vinyl
- Paint: 914 – Nassau Blue
The car is currently registered Planned Non-Operation in California.