First generation · C1 · 1953–1962
1962Chevrolet Corvette
The original Corvette — launched mid-1953 as a hand-built fiberglass-bodied roadster. Six-cylinder at first; the 265 small-block V8 arrived for 1955, setting the V8 sports-car template.
Photo: “1962 Chevrolet Corvette” by Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The 1962 model year
Overview
The 1962 Chevrolet Corvette was the C1 model-year specification for the U.S. market. Its documented factory range comprised 327 cu in small-block V8, carbureted or fuel injected with 2-speed Powerglide automatic or 3-speed manual or 4-speed manual.
Specifications
- Engines
- 327 cu in small-block V8, carbureted or fuel injected
- Transmissions
- 2-speed Powerglide automatic, 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual
- Body styles
- Convertible
Year over year
What changed
- The final C1 adopted the 327 V8 while retaining its convertible body and externally accessible trunk.
- Chevrolet's 1962 detailed equipment sheet distinguishes RPO 686 heavy-duty brakes from RPO 687 heavy-duty brakes with special steering. The RPO 687 specification gives a 16.3:1 overall steering ratio and 3.25 turns; the engine and gearbox alone do not identify this chassis equipment.
- The 1962 RPO 687 equipment sheet also specifies heavy-duty shock absorbers. The factory option list separately identifies RPO 488 as a 24-gallon fiberglass fuel tank and RPO 441 as off-road exhaust equipment; neither is presented here as automatically included with RPO 687.
Worth knowing
Notable
- This page records the U.S. 1962 factory powertrain and body-style range rather than borrowing a nearby model year's specification.
- Check original option documentation and installed brake and steering hardware when researching a competition-equipped car. These factory chassis options are described separately from the documented powertrain lineup; their presence is not inferred for every car with the same engine.
Living with it
Reliability & ownership notes
- For a 1962 Corvette, verify the VIN, installed powertrain and service history against the exact-year GM document; age, modifications and deferred maintenance are more useful evidence than generation-wide reputation.
- Check the NHTSA VIN lookup for unrepaired safety recalls before purchase or road use.
Maintenance & service parts
Keep your 1962 Corvette on the road
Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.
Service desk
What this car needs & when
Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1962 Chevrolet Corvette. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.
- Service topics
- 13
- Scheduled topics
- 12
- Applicability stated
- 13
- Exact references
- 1
Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.
Chassis, parking-brake system, shift linkage, and clutch cross-shaft — lubricateView intervals, applicability and sources
Chassis, parking-brake system, shift linkage, and clutch cross-shaft — lubricate
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Rear-axle lubricant level — check and add as necessaryView intervals, applicability and sources
Rear-axle lubricant level — check and add as necessary
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Transmission lubricant level — check and add as necessaryView intervals, applicability and sources
Transmission lubricant level — check and add as necessary
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Brake-master-cylinder fluid level — check and add as necessaryView intervals, applicability and sources
Brake-master-cylinder fluid level — check and add as necessary
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Battery — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources
Battery — service
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Fluid level — check and add water as necessary
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Terminals — clean and grease; terminal washer — oil
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Engine oil and filter — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources
Engine oil and filter — service
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Engine oil — change
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Oil filter — check
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Air cleaner — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources
Air cleaner — service
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Service as required
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Paper element — check and replace if necessary
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Fan belt — checkView intervals, applicability and sources
Fan belt — check
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Fuel-filter element — checkView intervals, applicability and sources
Fuel-filter element — check
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Ignition and engine tune-up — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources
Ignition and engine tune-up — service
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Spark plugs — clean and adjust; distributor points and timing — check and adjust
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Comprehensive engine tune-up
Includes coil, condenser, distributor, vacuum control, compression and heat-riser checks; cylinder-head/manifold tightening; spark-plug, point, timing and carburetor adjustment.
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Brakes — adjustView intervals, applicability and sources
Brakes — adjust
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Front wheel bearings — clean, repack, and adjustView intervals, applicability and sources
Front wheel bearings — clean, repack, and adjust
Sourced interval available
Source: Chevrolet — 1962 Owner Protection Plan, second edition · Maintenance coupons at 1,000–15,000 miles and complete-lubrication list, pages 2–31 and 48 · checked
Engine oil filter — catalog fitmentView intervals, applicability and sources
Engine oil filter — catalog fitment
Exact reference available
Manufacturer-catalog fitment only; no service interval is inferred.
Baldwin P18 cataloged fitment
This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; it does not alter Chevrolet's service interval.
Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 785, Chevrolet 1962 Corvette 327-cu-in carbureted and fuel-injected V8 row — Lube — P18 · checked
Verified ordering references
- Validated equivalentBaldwin P18
Qty. 1 · Engine lubricating-oil filter · catalog-listed
Cataloged for the 1962 Corvette 327-cu-in carbureted and fuel-injected V8; confirm the installed engine and filter dimensions.
Catalog: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 785, Chevrolet 1962 Corvette 327-cu-in carbureted and fuel-injected V8 row — Lube — P18 · checked
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Sources
Other First generation years
Explore the C1 generation →All First generation · C1 years →
Documented lineup
Find your exact 1962 Corvette
Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified
These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.
Browse 10 documented records — use the filters above to narrow the list
Corvette 250 Convertible — 3-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in four-barrel V8 (250 hp)
- Gearbox
- 3-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette 250 Convertible — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in four-barrel V8 (250 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette 250 Convertible — 2-speed Powerglide automatic
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in four-barrel V8 (250 hp)
- Gearbox
- 2-speed Powerglide automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette 300 Convertible — 3-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in four-barrel V8 (300 hp)
- Gearbox
- 3-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette 300 Convertible — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in four-barrel V8 (300 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette 300 Convertible — 2-speed Powerglide automatic
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in four-barrel V8 (300 hp)
- Gearbox
- 2-speed Powerglide automatic
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette 340 Convertible — 3-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in high-lift-cam V8 (340 hp)
- Gearbox
- 3-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette 340 Convertible — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in high-lift-cam V8 (340 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette 360 Convertible — 3-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in Rochester fuel-injected V8 (360 hp)
- Gearbox
- 3-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
Corvette 360 Convertible — 4-speed manual
- Body
- Convertible
- Engine
- 327 cu in Rochester fuel-injected V8 (360 hp)
- Gearbox
- 4-speed manual
- Built
- Regular production
No factory configuration matches those filters.