62 Cove Color

[mark malone]

Hi Guys,

A buddy of mine has a Hondurus Maroon 62 which he is about to re-paint and he tells me that he has "heard" that there were a few Maroon cars delivered with the coves painted white and that if so, he is considering painting his white.

I haven't heard such a thing but I thought that I would throw it to you more knowlegeable guys.

So were there any such cars???

Thanks for any help.

Mark.




My 59 pages.

[Wayne P.]

NO!! *NM*

[Brian M.]

Re: NO!!

Only the metal 62's had the coves painted.

[mark malone]

Re: NO!!

Oh Brian it was only the steel ones,,,,,,,,,,,,,I thought that some of the 4 cylinder Vettes also had them.

OK I thought that this would be the answer that I would get but hey, who am I to asume that I know everything.

I'll inform him that he will be attacked by hundreds of original loving corvette owners if he even considers painting the coves a different color.

Thanks guys.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: NO!!

As everyone knows by now, GM ran short of the new 327's during the 62 MY run and was forced to install dual quad 409's in a very few 62's in order to keep production going. I believe these cars were delivered with painted coves.

[Ken K.]

Re: Painted Coves?

YES!! All of the '62 had "painted" coves. They are painted the same color as the main body! We are all have having some fun with this. (Winter is getting long.)

[Mark B.]

Re: Painted Coves?

I believe only right-hand drive Vettes had painted coves of a different color in 62. Dual-quad 409 Vettes were only produced late in the year and all had coves the same color as the body. They are easily distinguished from other models by the concave crease the forms in the center of the hood.

[Clare Carpenter]

Corvettes Down Under

Hey Mark! Nice Corvette! I was wondering about right hand drive requirements. I visited your website and noticed you had to convert the C4. I've seen a couple of solid axles in the past that were converted but see that your car remains a left hand drive vehicle. Is there exceptions made for age or grandfathered vehicles?

Also wondering if you've ever driven a Holden Monarro? The GTO version imported into the US is an awesome performing vehicle even though somewhat sedate in styling. It hasn't caught on the way GM/Pontiac would like but it can kick some serious tail performance wise with the Corvette engine.

[mark malone]

Re: Corvettes Down Under

Hi Clare,

Yes you are right, we are allowed to fully licence any vehicle left hand drive provided that it is 30 years old or older.

This legislation came into effect in 99 and prior to that you could licence early cars but only on a VERY limited use permit.

There are a few converted C-1's and C-2's which were converted before 99 and beleive it or not some people prefer them converted.

I prefer to have mine Left hook as it is more unique and can be all sorts of fun driving on the left side of the road, toll booths and drive throughs can be very interesting.

I was considering buying a new Monaro (we had Monaros back in the late 60's and early seventies which could be compared slightly with the GTO's of that era). The new ones are a very nice car and can be bought in a wide range of otions and horsepower.

I didn't end up going through with it as when I went to a local dealer to check out a particular color option there was a C-5 Vette in the showroom and although the Monaro was nice I'm afraid the Vette was too much of a contrast and I was put off the Monaro.

I didn't end up test driving one but all reports are as you say.

Mark.

[Clare Carpenter]

Re: Corvettes Down Under

Thanks for the info. Might consider a move to Australia now that I know I can bring my Corvette and not have to convert it to right hand drive! Seriously, I have always wanted to visit but thus far have not gotten around to it. Beautiful country and a great friend to America. I remember seeing those old Monarros in pictures of early drag racing from Australia. Seems like they used Chevy engines but Holden wasn't yet owned by GM? Wasn't that a Monarro Mel Gibson drove in "Road Warrior"?

[mike mccagh]

Re: Corvettes Down Under

clare: i'm not real knowledgable regarding Holden and GM but i was under the impression that the Holden Utes ( el camino style pickups built in the 30's thru at least the 50's) were a GM product because a 39 or even a 49 Holden Ute used a 39 or 49 chevy pass car front clip.alwaqys wanted one--maybe some day. regards, mike

[Clare Carpenter]

Re: Corvettes Down Under

Mike, after I read your post I found out that GM has owned Holden since the 1930's. Interesting the term "Ute" originated down under long before the utility vehicle craze here in the states. The following is from "About" on the web:

""Utes Are an Australian Tradition

Think the only way you can have an El Camino or Ranchero is to restore a vintage version? Not if you live in Australia, where their counterparts are alive and well.

Australia was the birthplace of these car-truck hybrids, which are generically referred to as "utes," short for utility. The Holden Ute is just one example of these popular vehicles, and it's among that company's bestsellers.

Holden Ltd. was building truck bodies way before General Motors bought the company in the 1930's. A major part of Holden's business up to that time was providing a variety of vehicle bodies to several auto manufacturers.

The Australian public wanted a vehicle they could take to town or drive through the fields, a step-up from an everyday pickup truck. The Holden Ute was officially introduced to the public in 1951, but there were plenty of ute-like vehicles prior to that date, used in part by the military.""

If you think about it, a "Ute" or El Camino type of vehicle makes a perfect second vehicle for errands, parts chasing, etc. for the Corvette owner, much "cooler" than a pick up!

[mike mccagh]

Re: Corvettes Down Under

there was a 46 or so Ute for sale at carlsile last fall. unrestored and just off the boat from down under. i have a book with pictures of the utes built in the 30's thru early 50's. would like to have a 39 and a 49, just in case you come across any. call me, not the wifey. i've just about saturated her tolerance for my toys.mike

[mark malone]

Re: Corvettes Down Under

I just wrote a huge response but git cut off before I sent it, anyway in brief, Yep the early monaro's did have chev engines of varying CI and HP as well as localy made motors.

Mel drove a Falcon 2 door in Road Warrior (or "mad max" as it was released as in Aus) but there were probably some Monaro's in that film somewhere.

Those earlu 30's and 40's utes are about as rare as early vettes over here but not as expensive.

Mark.