Nowadays, General Motors uses Chevy SS (Super Sport) branding only on the Camaro, but things were very different nearly 60 years ago. Back then, no fewer than three models bore Chevrolet SS badges, as can be seen in the commercial that we recently unearthed, shown at the bottom of this article.
Since it refers to 1963 model year vehicles, this ad presumably aired in 1962. To musical accompaniment very typical for the time, the two minute-long clip starts by showing a cheerful young couple polishing their white Corvette Stingray, without saying much else about the vehicle until the very end.
As the narrator explains that “Chevrolet offers four different kinds of Super Sport fun”, Mom, Pop and the two kids walk past the Corvette toward their Chevrolet Corvair adorned in the popular Monza trim level with the extra-cost Spyder option, which means that its rear mounted, air cooled 2.4-liter flat-six engine is turbocharged. That means that this Corvair makes 150 horsepower, or 50 percent more than the most powerful naturally aspirated engine in the range.
At the time, the Corvair was only the second production automobile fitted with a turbocharger as a factory option, following the introduction of another GM vehicle, the Oldsmobile Jetfire, earlier in 1962.
The ad returns briefly to the Corvette couple, before moving on to the Chevy SS model to feature is in fact the Chevrolet II Nova Super Sport, whose “extra cost, extra fun” equipment includes front bucket seats, electrical clock and gauges, and all vinyl (but leather grain) upholstery.
The Nova Super Sport is available with coupe or convertible body styles, but this particular model is a convertible, allowing us to see how much the four occupants are enjoying their ride.
More Corvette polishing follows, only for the camera to move up and reveal the “jet smooth Chevrolet with the extra cost, extra glamor Super Sport option”. Although it is not immediately named, this car is the third generation Impala which, in SS form, features a locking compartment in the centre console and can be ordered with a tilting steering wheel.
Only after mentioning these features does the narrator point out that the Impala is also available with a 409 cubic inch (6.7 liter) Turbo Thrust version of the Chevy Big Block V8, the second largest engine in the range after an even larger 427 cubic inch (7.0 liter) Turbo Thrust, which was intended for use in NASCAR and drag racing.
With less than half a minute to go, the Chevy SS commercial at last switches to the Corvette Stingray, and not just the white coupe which has tantalizingly appeared several times before, but also a gold convertible. It’s worth pointing out that, outside of a one-off race car built in 1957, the Corvette never wore the SS badge. As the narrator utters the mighty phrase, “Corvette Stingray by Chevrolet – America’s only true sports car”, the two vehicles head into the distance, followed by coupe and convertible versions of the Corvair, Nova and Impala.
Check out the video below to get a flavor of what Chevrolets – and TV advertising – were like in the early 1960s.
Today, the Chevy SS branding is limited to the 1SS and 2SS Camaro coupe and convertible. These are two of three Camaro models (the third being the new LT1 trim) fitted with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT1 engine, which makes 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque, though a supercharged version of the same Small Block motor, known as LT4, is used in the range-topping ZL1. In the Camaro SS, the LT1 is mated either to a six-speed manual gearbox with Active Rev Match or to GM’s ten-speed automatic transmission.
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Comments
You could easily pull this off back then as everything was RWD and had an engine compartment that could fit a cheap to build V8 small block.
This made it so easy to develop these cars.
The Small blocks were even lower cost to build than a Corvair 6.
Today we lack RWD platforms and what ones we have are not cheap to build. Regulations run up cost even more.
Back then the economy car was the Chevy two. It was a simple bolt in for a V8. Today it is a Sonic or Spark. A Malibu would not hold an 8 and it has wrong wheels driving.
When I say the market has shifted this is what I mean. The old formula just will not work anymore.
By 1963, GM had put most of their domestic competitors out of business and the import invasion had yet to really begin. I think about 60 percent of the cars sold in the good ole’ USA wore the ‘Mark of Excellence’. Design-wise, Mitchell was beginning to set styling standards across the range and his new Stingray for that year would go on to be revered as one of the greatest designs of all time.
This was a good time at General Motors. If only that same magic could spring forth from the iconic Eero Saarinen-designed Tech Center today.
It was a big deal back then when the new model year line debuted. More dramatic cause body styles changed more year to year. Dad was a car guy and always went to Local Dealer to check what was new. Usually end of September. At one time there was the saying, ‘As goes GM so goes the Country.’ Glad I got to witness that time period. Totally different today in many counts. Don’t think I saw 1 black interior in video? Amazing.
GM peaked from around 55 to 69. Then the market changed and GM begin to believe as GM goes so does the country.
Well they found out the hard way they forgot about the world.
The American companies stayed the same but then the world changed the American markets and they had a very weak response.
It used to be fun to see what new cars looked like every year. We got a new car every ear ordered in May but we never knew what it looked like till September.
Even then the dealer had to hide it as we had to wait till they were introduced by the companies to take delivery.
They would take us in back of the dealer storage to let us look but had to wait till GM released the title.
I was very young but that was fun!
There was more efficiency then. You had a Biscayne to Impala SS. Convertible to wagon on same platform. 6 to big block. Wide variety of options and trim on same basic car across different brands. GM covered just about whatever you wanted for needed. More flexibility for consumers.
It was just a few years before that you only had one Chevy model.
Delray to Belair. No Nova, Camaro, Chevelle or Corvair. You just picked a body style, trim level and engine.
If you wanted any other Chevy it was a truck or Corvette.
If you wanted more you went to another GM division for added trim choices.
It really was more efficient and simpler.
GM has tried to get back to more basics with less divisions as most companies do with two. If not for China there would be no Buick. If not for a Buick GMC dealers may not have had GMC.
Those were exciting times for hot-rodders. And back then, just about all of us baby-boomers were into cars at one level or another.
LULZ @ the article providing ‘litre’ measurements for the 409 and 427. Those engines will ALWAYS be known by their cubic-inch designations; no ‘metric’ stuff needed nor wanted..
You are 100% on the mark! Sadly the site won’t allow any of us to give you a thumbs up.
1. The “site” doesn’t prohibit anyone from giving anyone else a thumbs up… or down.
2. As for liter measurements – it’s called providing ALL of the information, otherwise known as responsible journalism. While you might be familiar with the displacement in ci, perhaps some folks are not. One particular case I know of personally is a younger reader who was simply not alive during the era being covered by the commercial. Providing the displacement in both units doesn’t hurt you or anyone else, but it certainly helps the reader in question.
Alex from GM Authority
Interesting the ad features Super Sports. Always LOVED them. Ever since I saw my first ’63 Impala SS convertible. Triple black. That began my future with nothing but SS Chevys. Started with a ’64 Impala SS to my 1969 Chevelle SS 396. Been a Chevy guy since 1967. Now it’s Chevy 4×4 trucks. All top of the food chain, Silverados. I ordered Silverados, way back when it was a Top trim line, not an entire pick up name. Love them Chevys.
You can’t touch GM in the ’60s. Today’s GM looks shamefully pathetic by comparison. They’ve so lost their mojo, and are so egregiously PC, they’re banking their whole future on the darlings of the left – electric trucks and SUVs – and China.
Gasoline isn’t woke and Barra and company have decided the best thing for the planet, ultimately is no GM at all. The plan has already been set into motion and they’re well on their way to burying what was once the greatest car company the world had ever known.
Seems trucks have replaced the rwd cars of old?
Idiot Boy,
I too sincerely question GM’s all-in approach on a product category (EVs) they’ve had no real success with thus far and their competitors, sans Tesla, haven’t had sufficient success with either so as to justify the wholesale conversion of a lineup
as vast as GM’s. In time, we’ll see what happens but Mary Barra’s big gamble could prove to be more politically correct than actually correct. GM has been down this road before with their decision to transform to an all FWD, transverse-engine lineup in the early 1980s. GM, and Cadillac especially, never recovered from that fumble.
The truth is GM is not all in on the EV models. While they will have a comprehensive EV models they are not replacing any ICE models.
The harsh reality is EV is a growing segment and in some markets it will be a regulated type of vehicle.
In the future if you do not have products for these segments you will be shut out of many markets.
But GM and others also know ICE is not dead to all and have plans for it till at least 2050
GM may talk a lot about EV but look at their future product charts and all show adding EV models not removing ICE models.
It is a smart move to let the market migrate if and when it wants but not abandoning what they have now.
If any ICE model is dropped it will due to lack of sales or due to lack of markets with increased regulations.
GM is holding all the cards.
Aired in 62 big block ? i don’t think so check your engine info 427 of 63 was larger 348 w block big block was a65 396 66 427