Once again, in 1962, the Impala was the recipient of a subtle redesign. While the quad headlights remained, the grille now spread entirely across the front of the car. Across the board at Chevrolet, the B-body cars were also featuring what is referred to as a convertible-style roof. Although not actually a convertible, the design of the C-pillar, and body lines across the roof, mimicked the appearance of the convertible top.

When it came to powering your Impala, the choices were different for this model year. Your standard engine choices remained the same as the previous year, with the 135 horsepower 235 cubic-inch inline six-cylinder engine and the two-barrel equipped 170 horsepower 283 cubic-inch small-block V8. But, replacing the previous years’ more powerful 283 cubic-inch options was the all-new 327 cubic-inch small-block. The 327ci engine came in two horsepower ratings: 250 and 300. The 250 horsepower versions had a Rochester four-barrel carburetors and a 10.5:1 compression ratio. The 300 horsepower versions featured the same camshaft and compression ratio, but used a Carter four-barrel carburetor and larger-valve cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds with larger ports.

The multitude of 348 cubic-inch engines that were available in 1961, were discontinued, and were replaced by the soon-to-be legendary 409 cubic-inch engine. This new engine was introduced as an option in 1961, and was available in 1962 in both a single and dual four-barrel combinations. The 380 horsepower 409 cubic-inch engine featured a single four-barrel carburetor, while the 409 horsepower iteration carried a pair of four-barrel carburetors. The small-block V8 cars were available with any transmission, but 409 cubic-inch models could only be had with a manual transmission. Due to reliability problems, the optional Turboglide automatic transmission was discontinued, leaving the Powerglide as the only automatic transmission available.

Super Sport (SS) models featured a special engine-turned aluminum, trim which was filled the side moldings, giving the Super Sport a more upscale appearance. Impala also enters the top station wagon class, as the Chevrolet Nomad is no more.

What year Impala is your favorite design? We have a hard time choosing between anything from 1961 through 1970, but we want to hear from you.