(Pics) 1962 Chevrolet Corvette

Did you swap out wheels on this one Mike?  I don't recall Ertl releasing their '62 Vettes with such wide-whites?   🤔 🤔 🤔 

Lol, I did ! I was trying to include a link to Nelson Riddles theme song for "Route 66" starring that Corvette. But I don't think I did it correctly, so I will try again to see if I can get it right !

I did swap out the whitewalls and these are fairly wide ones, although I recall the tires on there might have been a bit bigger than I remember, too. Of course, the real Corvette is from 60+ years ago and I am not sure memory is always a reliable or foolproof way to go !

The black/white picture is a 60, while the red/white is a 61. No 62 is pictured. In 1960 the white walls were slightly wider than the 61 when they were less than 2 1/2" wide. In 1962 the white walls were 1" wide. The headlight rims were chrome plated through 1960 and painted on 61 and 62.

Posted by: @bob-jackman

No 62 is pictured.

Actually Bob, Mike's is a 1962.

Although it's very true the white wall size is all wrong for '62, Mike admitted to swapping out wheels, the side vent trim is correct for 1962.

In 1961, those vents featured horizontal chrome "lines."   The headlight bezels are painted (as they should be for 1962 ) they're not chrome.

But the most obvious clue, however, that Mike's is a 1962 is that there are rocker panel moldings...a one-year trim design (prepping for 1963 ).

Thanks guys...I learned something about Vettes today.  I thought that when the '61 then'62 Vette came out that it was stunning and about as good as it could get.......then came the '63...OMG!  Loved it at first sight and love it just as much today; especially in my favorite color.

That is a beautiful color Jack. You've great taste in automobiles.

Posted by: @100ford2003

That is a beautiful color Jack. You've great taste in automobiles.

Thanks Steve.....a budget to match would be nice.  Lol.

@chris Well Chris, while we are evaluating this car, the 62 didn't have the stainless trim around the coves. Furthermore, the wheels in 61 matched the body color while in 62 they possibly could be body color, usually when the dog dish hub caps were specified, but the majority were black.

Posted by: @bob-jackman

Well Chris, while we are evaluating this car, the 62 didn't have the stainless trim around the coves. Furthermore, the wheels in 61 matched the body color while in 62 they possibly could be body color, usually when the dog dish hub caps were specified, but the majority were black.

Correct, for 1962 Corvette did not offer contrast-color painted coves AND there was no stainless trim. On Mikes's model, however, you'll note there is no stainless trim around the painted coves-which Ertl screw up.  Yes, the wheels are all wrong, but Mike installed those.

Also correct is that "color-keyed"  rims essentially disappeared after 1961. 

Mike's Ertl 1962 is of a '62 Vette, but a much better 1/18 '62 Vette is of course Autoart's.

(I posted pics of that 1:1 '62 "confused Vette"  only because it matched the red/white '61  )