Classic Cars of 1962
 

One of the most beautiful models in the storied Maserati line, the 1962 3500 GT Vignale Spyder is still considered by car enthusiasts to be one of the most beautiful convertibles ever built. Only 242 of these cars were produced in late 1961, and were powered by a 3485cc, 220 hp straight six with a 5-speed manual transmission. The chance of catching one of these on the street is slim to none, but they can occasionally be found at auction, generally around $200,000. The finer specimens have been known to go for well over $300,000.

Part of the Chevrolet family, the 1962 Bel Air is still considered by many to be one of the finest cars produced in Detroit's storied history. It stood strong with its brothers, the Impala and Biscayne. The Bel Air ranked 2nd in popularity to the Impala, and the 1962 model is one of the most sought after by Chevy enthusiasts and auto collectors. Chevrolet began boasting about the V-8 327, dropping it into the '62 Bel Air. A handful were also produced with the powerful 409. The 1962 Chevy Bel Air came as a two door hardtop, four door sedan and a wagon. They are still quite accessible at auction, and for private sale.

What would this list be without a boat posing as a car? Since the inception of Lincoln, they have been the company to focus on comfort and style. 1962 offered what most had come to expect, except for the fact that the 1962 Lincoln Continental was the only automobile on the American market to present a four door convertible option. The '62 was a bit smaller, lower and lighter than previous models, but it still offered its traditional space. Powered by a 430ci V-8, the 1962 Lincoln possessed all the bells and whistles available in an American automobile.

Roger Moore made the first official Volvo sports car legendary among auto enthusiasts. For anyone who has ever driven a 1962 Volvo P1800, it's easy to understand why the producers chose to use the car in the 1960s TV series, “The Saint.” The P1800 was powered by a modest inline four cylinder, known by Volvo enthusiasts as the B18. In its simplist terms, an 1800cc, carburetor, gasoline engine. The four-speed manual transmission offered a Laycock overdrive, perfect for highway cruising. As the production continued through the 1960s Volvo introduced two additional models, the 1800 S, with additional interior options and the 1800 ES sport wagon. A fun fact about the P1800. A 1966 make is known throughout the world as the most durable automobile, possessing nearly 3 million miles. Proudly owned by southern California resident, Irv Gordon, the P1800 was purchased new in 1966, and is still Gordon's daily driver. In 2007, it crossed the 2.6 million mile mark. How's that for 1960s engineering?