Although the first series cars introduced the Corvette to America, it was the second series, launched in 1956, which earned Corvette the title “America’s Sports Car”. The clean good looks of Harley Earl’s new body struck a chord with the American public, and the new design was soon outselling the older style by a margin of three to one.

If the 1961 Corvette was good – and it was – the 1962 edition was even better. For its triumphant final run of the C1 series solid rear-axle form, Corvette styling was significantly updated for 1962 with the elimination of two-tone exterior finishes and the trim surrounding the coves. The teeth were eliminated from the grille, and most prominently a newly-contoured tail section gave rise to the nickname “duck tail.” Less decorative and more purposeful, the final C1 edition was a hot seller when new at a base price of $4,038, with 14,531 built.

This 1962 Chevrolet Corvette is a nicely restored example that is finished in Roman Red with a black interior and black convertible top. The Vette is reported to run with a properly date-coded 327-cid, 250-hp V-8 engine (base unit) with a desirable four-speed manual transmission. Along with a newer AM/FM radio, the car has a passenger grab bar, clock, spinner factory wheelcovers and BFGoodrich radial whitewall tires.

A precursor to the radical Sting Ray of 1963, it gave the public a preview of things to come. Today, fine examples, such as this, are a continuing favorite.