1962: It was a very good year
I take this opportunity to sing the praises of not one car, but many: those from a single year, 1962. Why this particular year? I can almost hear the thoughts of many out there wondering why this year and not some other one that has way more hot cars. What about '69 when we had Super Bees and Boss 302s? Or maybe 1964, which saw both the GTO and the Mustang debut? To these criticisms I can only respond: Hey, this is Car Lust, after all.
But I have my reasons, some of them carefully reasoned and others a bit more self-referential. I will
admit right up front that this was the same annus incredibilis that saw the introduction of the Cagle Mark III model (that would be your humble blogger), but that's actually secondary and is good only as an additional plot device to the larger point which I came to by other avenues. In truth, I'd been gravitating towards the general 1961-63 era for some time, an interest initially sparked by a single event in
automotive history (below the fold).
The upshot is that I find the cars produced in the period between what we think of as 1950s classics and the muscle car era of the later '60s to be terribly attractive in their own transitional way. In a lot of ways they seem to capture that moment between the staid '50s and the free-for-all '60s that, in some sense, reflects on how society (or at least society as presented by the media) looked at the time. After the gray flannel suit, but before bell bottoms, if you will.
So apart from the debut of the '62 Cagle model--a definite improvement over the '58 and '60 in your humble correspondent's opinion--what else was going on? Well, the first Target and Wal-Mart stores opened, the Rolling Stones made their debut at the Marquee Club in London, the Beatles released their first single, Vatican II convened, Bobby Darin was still singing the classics, and some silly thing involving Cuba was going on. Oh, and Rwanda and Burundi gained independence. You may die in peace now, having learned all that.
But what about the cars? Fins had pretty much disappeared by this time, foreshadowed by the Continentals of the late '50s. The classic bulbous design of the 1950s had given way to much sleeker sheet metal and less chrome, making for a much cleaner look. Long and low was the look of full-size cars and just looking at them creates a fantasy of cruising the open road with the top down, radio on, and letting the wind blow through your newly-hatless hair as you embark on your trip through the freshly-minted '60s.They look sleek and sexy and a bit understated. Marilyn Monroe gives way to Audrey Hepburn, if you will; John Wayne to James Bond (entirely not coincidentally, Bond debuted in 1962 with Dr. No).
For example, the Ford Galaxie:
Probably the last time that fender skirts actually looked good, IMO.
Or the Olds Starfire Coupe, one of my personal favorites:
And for good measure, the classic Chevy Impala a couple of years before the 1965 restyling that took away many of the clean, sharp lines:
And who can forget the big, black Lincoln, favorite of bad guys and Rat Packers everywhere?
That one should look familiar, as it was (sorta) used as Flounder's brother's car in 1978's Animal House which, again not coincidentally, was set in. . . .1962. Rumor hath it that the actual car used in the movie was a '64 though. Still, they don't appear to have changed much. I also have something of a personal connection here in that I was in a similarly, how shall we say, morally challenged fraternity in my college days. It wasn't exactly the same as in the movie, of course; for instance, we drank a lot more.
There are dozens more that I could mention (the Riviera is one), but these are the standouts for me.
As I mentioned above, the event, or more precisely non-event, that initially prompted me to start considering this year in more detail was that 1962 was the last of the early Corvettes. Although Hafner and I disagree in the details, we both have an affection for the looks of the '56-'62 'Vettes:
"They were more artistic and aggressive than their bathtub-sided ancestor, and more pure of line than the similar but chunkier 1958-1962 models, which were laden down with quad headlights, chrome bars, and other filigree."
The later versions of this Gen 2-3 bunch still retain the same basic shape, but show a bit more aggression than the earlier versions. This generation always appealed to me, being not quite as muscular as the later Sting Rays, but not quite so, dare I say, girly as the earlier ones. Call it BMW's Z4 to Mazda's Miata. I admit never caring too much for the Sting Ray even though one could argue its superiority as a true sports car till the cows come home. It seems to me that the '62 still had the character of a true American roadster with a bit of European flair rather than the true sports/muscle car it soon became.
Speaking of roadsters, 1962 was also significant in that it was the year that the British Motor Corporation introduced the MGB, which, as I stated in passing in an earlier post is probably the ultimate Car Lust in American culture. If I'd started counting the number of MGBs that I've seen sitting in various driveways and garages waiting to be "fixed up" I'd have lost count years ago. For whatever reason unknown to my eyes, this thing seems to touch a chord with an awful lot of people. They never appealed to me quite as much as some other British roadsters, such as the TR6, but I'm certainly not here to question anyone's taste in cars.
So there you have it, one small slice of automotive history that is generally forgotten, sandwiched as it is between the Fabulous Fifties and the muscle-heavy later 1960s. I've seen quite a few of these things going for not much money at auction, although the low-rider crowd has been picking a lot of them over for quite a while now. Which is a shame because they really are handsome cars.
Oh, and the 1962 Beetle didn't really change all that much:
The Lincoln photo above is from Stephan Krusco's Flickr site. The Starfire is from East Ohio Cool Cars and the Corvette comes from, oddly, a French site.
--Anthony Cagle
Cookie the Dog's Owner on December 18, 2008 at 08:32 AM
If you're talking about *calendar year* 1962, you also have the debut of the Avanti, which is the ultimate in jet-age futurism on four wheels IMNTBHO.
That Car Guy on December 18, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Great story, Anthony! I hope I'm not being repetative, but if you want to see some great 1962-era cars, please watch "The Andy Griffith Show". They were kind enough to use many non-Ford vehicles in the background; a VW Beetle popped up frequently. In my favorite episode, "The Return of Barney Fife", our favorite M.D. (Mayberry Deputy) drove a '61 Edsel with a '62 grille. "Hubcaps" Lesch (The late great Ellen Corby) would have been proud.
Oh, and how can we forget "American Graffiti"? After all, their poster slogan was "Where were you in '62?". Keen!
Anthony Cagle on December 18, 2008 at 09:11 AM
>>if you want to see some great 1962-era cars, please watch "The Andy Griffith Show".
Ha! You know, part of my fascination with these is from watching old Twilight Zone reruns. Not only does it give you that era's cars, but it also includes the whole creepiness factor.
That Car Guy on December 18, 2008 at 09:20 AM
I doubt they'll make any more black-&-white TV shows, but that texture is unsurpassed in setting moods. Just ask Citizen Kane or the young Dr. Frahnkenshteen.
Smoke_Jaguar4 on December 18, 2008 at 10:27 AM
For another movie with classic early 1960's rides, how about Dirty Dancing? It takes place in the summer of 1963 and also features the transition from the rigid 50's to the radical 60's
TurboDave on December 18, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Those are fun years. Of 1961-1963, I would probably pick 1963. The first thing that comes to mind, since you pictured a '62 Vette, is the '63 Corvette Stingray Split Window, then the '63 Buick Riviera. In terms of VW Beetle changes, at least it got a gas gauge in '63!!
I also have a soft spot for Ramblers and that was the year for a new body style - the Sensible Spectaculars - and for AMC to take its only Motor Trend Car of the Year. I also have owned both a '63 Rambler and a '63 Renault Caravelle (the subject of an earlier Car Lust piece I submitted).
I do think 1964 is also a very good year. What I like to is search Craiglist by year just to see what's out there for sale. I always start with 1966 (I don't know why) and hit the years 1963-1968 or 9)
David Colborne on December 18, 2008 at 11:18 AM
I want to like '62 - I really do - but it's a little hard to ignore the fact that '62 was the first year that Chrysler didn't come out with a new DeSoto, which ultimately lead to a nasty lawsuit that undoubtedly has resonated with GM and its numerous brands to this very day.
Whither DeSoto, Anthony? Whither DeSoto?
Floyd M. Orr on December 18, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Wow! I just stumbled onto this nostalgic car site. My opinions may not totally coincide with yours, since I like the '65-'66 Impalas a little better than the earlier years, though they were certainly interesting, too. I have written lots of similar, nostalgic stories and articles about Sixties cars. The link listed here will take you into my websites. You can follow the links from there. Keep up the good work!
Chris Hafner on December 18, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Like you, Anthony, I love these years. There's an honest simplicity to these cars, and they're bereft of the excessive ornamentation of the 1950s and 1970s. They're somehow even more stylish as a result.
I'm still not wild about the later C2 Corvettes, but that's just because I love the 1956-1957 and C3 Corvettes so much. In isolation they're extremely desirable.
...m... on December 18, 2008 at 06:39 PM
...the new second-generation karmann ghia and type 34 were gorgeous, too - '62 north american model year, although 1961 appellation by volkswagen's standards of the day...
http://www.barzooka.com/jpgs/ghia/DSC01618.JPG
http://www.type34.org/images/articles/2004022617365575_1.jpg
Paul Phillips on December 18, 2008 at 08:01 PM
In the early 70's the second car I bought after a '63 VW Bug was a '62 Ford Galaxie with 352 V-8 auto trans and no frills. No radio and no seat belts. Just four doors with huge bench seats which were perfect for drive-in movies. The thing would get 18mpg cruising at 80mph on the interstates. One time I was along side a friend in a souped up '65 Chevelle and I got my car up to 110. Looking over at me he punched it and was soon a dot in front of me. About a year later I ran it into a ditch, hit a rock and sold it to a friend who ran it in a demolition derby. Fond memories.
Paul C. Perkins on December 19, 2008 at 10:04 AM
We had a 1962 Starfire convertible. White with red interior. My mom drove it. I think it had the same engine that was ulimately used for the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. It was an absolute ROCKET of a car. Two years before the GTO - scary quick cars from Detroit DID exist. . .
Preston Earle on December 21, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Add the 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk to the list of praise-worthy '62 models. Photos are here: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/3120708168_739c97000b_b.jpg and here:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/3120708092_4c953b4e1f_b.jpg
Wikipedia gives some details here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker_Gran_Turismo_Hawk.
There is some back-story on this car here: http://sawdustforbrains.blogspot.com/2008/03/car-lust.html
John B on December 21, 2008 at 02:52 PM
As usual, I've got to agree with Cookie the Dog's Owner about the the Avanti. It was introduced in late 62 as a 63... Does that count for the purposes of this artice...are we talking about calendar or models years here?
In any event, the 63 model year can also claim some other highlights...the New Buick Riveria, the first of the "mid year" Stingrays, and a hit in the mid-priced field, the all new 63 Rambler Classics and Ambassadors...the Motor Trend Car of the Year.
Anthony Cagle on December 22, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Yeah, I could have hit nearly any year in the '61-'63 range and it would have been good. I just chose '62 for the plot hooks. =)
I thought about including the Avanti, but. . .you know, one can only talk about so many and that one had its own article; ditto the Riviera, which also is quite stunning. I think those Rivieras might be a good, if not investment, at least a good buy. I've heard they're still not increasing in price like everyone thinks they will be Real Soon Now.
I know diddly about Euro cars from that period, too, so those I would like to hear about as well.
Andys120 on December 22, 2008 at 01:06 PM
For those who love sports cars 1962 was the apex of the Golden Age. 1962 being the only year one could be every one of the following great classics brand new:
-Ferrari 250GT SWB (replaced by the beautiful but less racy Lusso Berlinetta in'63)
-Mercedes-Benz 300SL (replaced by the less powerful 280SL in '63)
-Shelby/AC Cobra (260) (first year)
-Jaguar E-Type (introduced 1961)
Not to mention such worthies as the Triumph TR-4(first year), Austin-Healey 3000, Porsche 356-B and the Alfa-Romeo Giulietta Sprint.
Yes indeed 1962 was a very good year, maybe the best ever.
Anthony Cagle on December 22, 2008 at 01:47 PM
There, see.
Ronnie Sarno on June 08, 2009 at 06:47 PM
Does anyone know how many 1962 Chevrolet Impala S/S convertibles were produced?
tomm on June 23, 2010 at 12:46 PM
"There are dozens more that I could mention (the Riviera is one)"
There was no "1962 Riviera", the first was a 1963 model.