1962 Bubble Tops 409s

[Stefano]

1962 Bubble Tops 409s going through Mecum 2021 Kissimmee Florida.

Anyone know these cars?


https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0121-44...ir-bubble-top/

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0121-45...ir-bubble-top/

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0121-44...ir-bubble-top/

[RPOLS3]

Not sure why the black one has an Impala SS grab bar on the dash board.

[olredalert]

----What does Mick say? I don't know the cars, but if I had to pick one it would be hard. The last one is a gorgeous resto, just unreal! The one that talks to me though is the 380HP one. Appears to have a bunch more originality and a 380HP is probably rarer than a 409HP. Vern would know if I'm right or not. Be surprised if Vern has no info!.....Bill S

[markjohnson]

The red 380 hp car is from the Patrick McGroder Collection that was broken up. It’s the real thing.

[markjohnson]

Remarkably, the three best surviving REAL 1962 409 Bel Airs that I'm aware of are all 380 hp cars. One of them belongs to Chris here on this site (Tuxedo Black). People throw around the 600 produced educated guess figure but those cars are much rarer than that. 1962 Bel Air Sport Coupes were rare when new, along with 409’s, and when you combine the two it really makes for a special car. That said, there are VERY few real ones out there.

[Too Many Projects]

Anyone know where I can get a dual snorkel air cleaner like the one on the Red 380 hp car....cheap...

[mprice]

I haven't seen any of the 3 in person but I would agree the unrestored red 380hp car looks the most correct. None of them state if the engines are original or even date and casting correct. Nor does any of the ads tell us if they are all V8 cars. These things do effect the selling prices even if they were to be clones. I have heard of the original 380 horse car before and I would say it is for sure generally correct, it even appears to have original tail pipes but does have the wrong master cylinder.
The black car also has wrong master cylinder, SS dash and aftermarket gauges in dash and wrong generator.
The third car (restored red car) looks great, trunk pan should be painted black just below the rear bumper, radiator cap looks to have small ears and has wrong color plating on the hood latch (should be gray phosphate) but hey it looks killer good.

[Verne_Frantz]

I'm not familiar with any of them just by sight. If I had VINs or cowl tag photos I might be able to find some history though.
They all have restoration mistakes but none major. My two pet peeves on these cars that seem to almost always come up, are incorrect master cylinders and 6" wheels.

Original master cylinders are identical for '62 & '63 and they're not that hard to find. And even though the 8.00x14 tires were required with the 409s, they were all mounted on 14x5 wheels.


Verne

[Vern B]

There’s another 62 Belair 409 car in this Mecum Punta Gorda auction after the
Kississmee auction.

Two COPO Camaro’s and a Z16 Chevelle also.

From Kissimmee to Muscle Car City - January 22-23 in Punta Gorda, FL

https://www.mecum.com/auctions/punta..._campaign=PG21

[markinnaples]

Vern, thanks for posting that. I was going to put that up this morning. Not sure if anyone has been there before, but a pretty cool place. Sad to see he's selling out the collection.