This was the year that Chevrolet pulled out all the stops. The new Chevy II series was unveiled for the first time.
Designated as a "senior compact" the Chevy II's were larger than the Corvairs but much smaller than the standard cars. The Chevy II used a 110-inch wheelbase. The car models were 183 inches long and the wagons were 187.4 inches long.
The prestige line of the new Chevy II cars was the Nova Series. In this form, the cars were exceptionally good looking vehicles, considering their price bracket. The Nova 4-Door Sedan, model 0449, cost $2,236 and weighed 2,575 pounds. The Nova Series was available only with the 6-cylinder engine, and featured such deluxe items as special upholstery, foam-rubber rear seat cushions, and carpeting on the floors.
Appearing only in the Chevy II Nova Series was the Sport Coupe, model 0437, which had a very substantial production run of 59,586. It cost $2,264 and weighed 2,550 pounds. Also available in the series was the 2-Door Sedan, model 0441, which cost $2,198 and weighed 2,540 pounds. At quick glance, the two models looked identical, but the sedan had a more pronounced rear window, thicker C-pillar, and used a B-pillar which was lacking in the hardtop.
The Most expensive vehicle in the new Chevy II line was the Nova 400 Wagon, model 0435. It cost $2,497 and weighed 2,775 pounds. Chevy II production was strictly limited to two plants - Willow Run, Mich. (where my own '71 was built), and Norwood, Ohio. All Chevy II models wore their series signatures on the trailing ends of the rear fenders. As could be expected, the Nova wagon shared its body with the Series 300 and Series 100 models, and the wagons varied only in trim levels. All Nova wagons were six-passenger cars.
The only 9-passenger wagon in the new Chevy II line was in the 300 Series, where it was known as model 0345. As with the full-size wagons, the passengers in the third seat rode backwards and entered via the tailgate. In 9-passenger form, the car cost $2,577 and weighed 2,855 pounds. Some lists show that the 300 wagon was also available as a 6-passenger car for $70 less, while others indicate that all 300 wagons were in 9-passenger form, and those wanting just a 6-passenger model had to go with either the 100 or the Nova.
The only convertible in the new Chevy II line was the Nova 400, model 0467, which had a healthy production run of 23,471. It cost $2,475 and weighed 2,745 pounds. The Nova Series featured fluted rocker panels and front fender chrome. Novas used 6.50 x 13 tires, as did all staion wagons, while other Chevy II models used 6.00 x 13 blackwalls.
Just below the Nova Series was the Chevy II 300 Series, which was a nice looking car for its price. Designed to hit head on with the Ford Falcon, the move was a total success, with 326,600 rolling out during the model year. The Series 300 2-Door Sedan, model 0311, cost $2,144 in 6-cylinder form, or $60 less with the 40-cylinder engine. It weighed 2,425 pounds.
An aluminum belt line moulding, fancy wheel covers, and the option of having a 6-cylinder made the Series 300 Chevy II different from the Series 100. The Series 300 4-Door Sedan was available with either the new 4-cylinder or the new 6-cylinder engine. Designated model 0369, it cost $2,122 with the Four or $60 more with the Six. It weighed 2,460 pounds. In addition to the exterior trim, the interiors of the 300 Series were slightly more plush than those of the 100 Series.
The Chevy II 100 Wagon, model 0135 cost $2,339 and weighed 2,665 pounds. With the rear seat folded, it offered 76.2 cubic feet of load space. With the tailgate down, the load floor was 9-feet, with it closed, the cargo floor was 7-feet long. All Chevy II wagons used a single tailgate with a disappearing, manually-controlled rear window. Some production lists show the Series 100 and Series 300 Chevy II wagons to be two-door vehicles, or to be available in either two or four-door styles, yet I have not been able to find any proof that a two-door Chevy II wagon wa ever produced in 1962.
Chevrolet's least expensive 4-door car was the Chevy II Series 100 4-Door Sedan, model 0169, which cost $2,041 and weighed 2,445 pounds with its standard 4-cylinder engine. The revolutionary little power plant developed 90 horsepower. These Chevy II's had a novel taillight treatment, which had red lenses on top for all stop, tail, and turning lights, and white lenses on the bottom for the backup lights. On the 4-door sedans and wagons, the rear door windoes would roll down flush with the sills, but the vent panes were non-opening.
The instrument panel of the new Chevy II line was austere, but in keeping with the car's price. As could be expected, water, oil, and generator condition was given by warning lights rather than the more expensive but far more certain gauges. The Nova interior contained a deluxe steering wheel and horn ring. The car could be had with the $188 extra Powerglide transmission, and a $57 extra push-button radio.
Chevrolet's least expensive front-engine car was the Chevy II Series 100 2-Door Sedan, model 0111, which cost $2,003 and weighed 2,410 pounds with a four-cylinder engine. Despite its reduced size, the trunks of 2-Door Chevy II models held 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space. When the Chevy II was first announced, the Series 100 was supposed to be available in 4-cylinder form only, and a Series 200 was supposed to hold the trim level of the Series 100 but have the 6-cylinder engine. Soon, however, the Series 200 was dropped, and the 6-cylinder engine became a $60 extra cost option of the Series 100. Still, several early lists show the Series 200 as the lowline 6-cylinder Chevy II.
After years of looking at V-8 engines and crowded engine compartments, the new 4-cylinder Chevy II power plant seemed lost under the hood - in fact, the battery appears as large as the engine. With the 4-cylinder installation, the radiator was set back, and a shroud was used to direct air from the grille to the core. The little Four ran a bore and stroke of 3.875 x 3.25 inches and displaced 153.3 cubic inches. It developed 90 horsepower at 400 RPM. A Rochester single barrel carburetor was used. Equally new was the Chevy II 6-cylinder engine, which definitely was not the normal Chevrolet Six. This engine displaced 194.4 cubic inches from its bore and stroke of 3.562 x 3.25 inches and produced 120 horsepower at 4400 RPM. It used a slightly different Rochester single barrel carburetor.
