24k Mile 1963 Chevrolet Bel Air 283 V8 3-Speed

Feb 25, 2023

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This subject car is a trip down memory lane for me, back in the day, my father had a ’63 Chevy BelAir like this four-door sedan. He only had it a few years and my memory is vague though I do recall he had seatbelts installed and it never seemed to have reliability problems. Collectible Impalas from this era have survived in numbers, but four-door BelAirs? Not so much so. The seller is claiming that this sedan is a 24 K mile example and was purchased from the original owner. It’s located in Loveland, Colorado and is available, here on craigslist for $18,500. T.J. gets a nod and a wink for this discovery!

In ’57, you were in tall cotton if you had a Chevrolet BelAir! But by ’58, it had gotten a demotion as it made way for the new top-dog Impala. After ’62, it was only available as a two or four-door sedan and a station wagon – it was the “budget-conscious” Chevy. Budget or not, Chevrolet knocked out 354K BelAirs in ’63 and that doesn’t include station wagons!

The seller claims no rust and I’m down with that – there is no sign of fade, corrosion, crash damage, dents, contusions, creases, or minor parking lot mayhem. It’s an interesting color combination with its fawn lower body, white roof, and red interior – it all pulls together smartly. The Impala two-door hardtop with its “creased convertible top look” was a stylistic beauty in ’63 whereas this four-door sedan body style is, ah, well, constrained and conservative.

The red fabric/vinyl upholstery lines up, condition-wise, with the exterior. It’s bright and cheerful but has absolutely no frills with its bench seat, steel dash, and instrument panel warning lights as opposed to gauges. It’s a clean and functional environment that needs nothing – well seatbelts maybe. It would be nice to be able to score these colorful hues in today’s cars, wouldn’t it?

Under the hood is old reliable, a 195 gross HP, 283 CI V8 engine, and in this case, it’s attached to a three-speed manual gearbox and not a Powerglide automatic – how refreshing! Yup, it’s a three-on-the-tree. The seller adds, “new dual exhaust, new gaskets on engine, runs, drives, and shifts excellent” – not sure what specific gaskets he’s referencing.

So, it’s time to ask the age-old question, does this Bel Air have two doors too many? If prior responses are indicative of future responses I’d bet a 50/50 vote on this question. The last thing to muddle through is the price, $18,500. It’s a very nice car but I’m not feeling it, how about you?

Chevrolet Bel Air

Comments

43 responses to “24k Mile 1963 Chevrolet Bel Air 283 V8 3-Speed”

Tom71Mustangs
Feb 23, 2023
Beautiful color combos!
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Gord Wilson
Feb 23, 2023
Very nice!
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KC John
Feb 23, 2023
I agree on the stunning color combination. Really gorgeous. I flinched at $18500 also at first. Then I thought…find another one. Summer cruise in ready for used Accord money. Not too bad imho
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Rex Kahrs
Feb 23, 2023
The 4 doors are perfectly OK. BUT, having owned a ’67 Bel Air in college with that 283 and 3-speed, I would LOVE this car if it had…..brace yourself…..the Powerglide. There. I’ve said it.
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“Edsel” Al leonard
Feb 23, 2023
Nice ride…with the 2 “extra” doors……don’t know if it will bring $18.5 tho….but then as KC John said, try and find another!!!!
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1. MLM
  Feb 25, 2023
  
  Never thought I would ever say this but nice Edsel.
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  1. “Edsel” Al leonard
    Feb 25, 2023
    See what you’ve been missing???
    1
Howard A ( since 2014)
Feb 24, 2023
“See,,the,,USA, in your Chevrolet”, this was the last car Dinah Shore promoted, in what was called the “Dinah Shore Era” 1952-1963. TV was relatively new, in a marketing dept., Shore was Americas sweetheart, America was “feeling good”( that was about to change in a few years), and that lady helped sell a lot of Chevys. So much so, GM gave her a new Chevy every year. If you are reading this, there’s an excellent chance, you had some connection with early 60s Chevys. Mine was my grandfathers, ’61 and ’65 Impalas. It really was, baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolets, I was there. Again and again, that 3rd pedal is going to limit sales. I remember, these were the 1st cars to exhibit the “idiot light”, Gone were the separate gauges of ’62, and cars had gotten so reliable, all that was needed was a speedo and gas gauge. A warning light, indicating it’s too late, replaced them here. Nice car, but needs an automatic, an easy, and perhaps well worthy addition.
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1. Howard A ( since 2014)
  Feb 24, 2023
  Correction, while Vietnam was the ultimate bummer, it was the JFK assassination that slapped our faces in late ’63. I bet that radio delivered that fateful news to some family on the way to grandmas. It was a Friday, we were on our way to grandmas for supper in the old mans ’63 Olds. I remember the day well, at 8 years old.
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  1. Will Fox
    Feb 25, 2023
    My Mom said she and I were sitting at a red light at a busy intersection that day in `63, on our way to the doctor for me. (I was barely 3) we were in her two-tone blue `57 New Yorker coupe (whose exhaust matched the paint job!) words came over KFAB and Walter Concrete broke the news. Mom said people got out of their cars right there at the light, and some cried. It was a shocking moment no doubt. But apparently traffic just stopped.
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  2. Neal Jacobsen
    Feb 25, 2023
    When I was 16 I drove a 63 Bel-Air like this and had overdrive with the 3 speed manual. If you drove like an adult I could get 22 mpg on the highway. But being 16 found out that I could burn the tires for almost a long city block with that 283. It was a wonderful car. But now at $18,500? I would be a little Leary and then again it is in beautiful shape. Color combo doesn’t fit together though. Might be a consideration.
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  3. K. R. V.
    Feb 26, 2023
    I remember that day very well. I remember Mother Superior announcing on the intercom that President Kennedy had been killed! But I remember that hat was in the mid afternoon EST.
    1
Bultaco
Feb 25, 2023
My parents bought a new 64 Bel Air wagon in this color when I was a baby. We had it through 1970, when my dad traded it in on a new Kingswood Estate. Both cars literally never broke down or left us stranded. They were amazingly reliable. In 1980, the Kingswood was sold and my parents switched to Hondas.
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1. JustPassinThru
  Feb 25, 2023
  That was the era where GM had the market. The Chevrolets of the time were staid in engineering (Corvair excepted) and not overly sturdy (rust on those things was frightful; and the X frame turned out to have safety issues in side impacts) and none-too-frugal with the gas; but they always started and ran. Chevrolet had essentially perfected the OHV six – to where AMC, after their aluminum-six experiment failed, and having only the old Nash flathead six to fall back on…they, AMC, reverse engineered the Chevy six to come up with the near-immortal 199 six, later the 258/4.0 Jeep six.
  But that was in the future. People who bought Chevrolets were buying…not pure transportation; that market belonged to VW, M-B, or Studebaker. Not style – that belonged to the higher GM marques. Not longevity – that, too, belonged to the German imports of the era. No, what they were getting, was an affordable mix of conservative design, proven engineering, a socially-approved brand and image.
  In that mix, it is no wonder that the middle-tier, the Bel Air, took off. No wonder the four-door was the big seller.
  Nice offering. I think the vendor is still on yesterday’s classic-car prices, though.
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Maggy
Feb 25, 2023
Great color combo.In today’s market with 24k miles on it I think it’s a just a little on the high side but still worth it especially if the under body is as clean as the body.4 doors are cool and the 3 speed Saginaw 283 combo are bullet proof and fun to drive.
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Taco
Feb 25, 2023
Low Rider
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1. J Martell
  Feb 25, 2023
  Negative,meats,jacked up and a floor shifter,side pipes that won’t be scraping the road.4-brl 283’s ROCK!
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Billyray
Feb 25, 2023
I had the 2 Dr ht in the exterior color combo with matching beige interior but on the Impala, as my first car. As much as I like that year Chevy, I’m not sure if I would pay more than $750. Which was what I paid for my Impala back in1969.
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tom h
Feb 25, 2023
My 1st car was a Impala 2 door in the same color and drive train. Put every dime I made at Jack in the Box into fixing it up… so many memories! I still think the 63/64 Chevys had the coolest dashboards especially when you used the radio speaker grill to hold parking meter pennies.
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K. R. V.
Feb 25, 2023
Very nice color combo! As you mentioned about the roof, there were actually 4 different available roof types in the 61-64 Chevy full size body style. The basic lime above is the standard hardtop sedan, with the flying wing roofline, that has a small overhang over the rear window, that was used on both hardtop sedan with pilar posts and sports sedan without. Then there was the bubble top in only coupes, plus what you mentioned the hardtop with its creased convertible top look in metal, that’s called the hardtop convertible coupe, then they had the convertible. Then of course the Station Wagon or as I like to call the ones with vinyl wood graining Beach Wagons, that’s Chevy called Estate Wagon.
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Bob C.
Feb 25, 2023
Even as a 4 door sedan, it still has a cool look to it. And those dual aerials take me back to my father’s 64 Impala 2 door hardtop. Looks quite honest to me.
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Doone
Feb 25, 2023
This car is the definition of a true survivor, everything is just right, and frankly so is the price. We all agree about the 2 door coupes but what’s not to like with 2 more on this one?
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Henry Davis
Feb 25, 2023
Price is about half or less of what a 2 door would cost. Got my driver’s license in a brand new 64 version of this the same day my Mom traded the 57 210 for it. If I could find a new home for my Packard I’d be all over this one!
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Carbob
Feb 25, 2023
Three on the tree with a 283; perfect for me. Brings back memories of my Dad’s ‘66 Bel Air that I learned to drive in. Sixties GM at it’s pinnacle. I like this car and I don’t think the price is too far out of line it’s a true survivor. GLWTS.
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Tony
Feb 25, 2023
I don’t think the price is unrealistic for a car that’s rust free and beautiful inside and out from Colorado. Try restoring one and see where the cost goes , this car needs nothing. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy this car with four doors and enjoy it. I used to be hung up on two door cars only but honestly it’s still a ‘63 Chevy, get your friends or family and go for a cruise or to a car show. I own a beautiful 2 door’64 Bel Air from Colorado and I always tell people my favorite thing about this car is driving it , not how many doors it has.
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409Bob
Feb 25, 2023
Nice ride, best part is it has three on the tree, most of these four doors were automatics it seems. Should be a good market for it, priced a little high in my opinion even with the nice engine trans combo.
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Chris in WNC
Feb 25, 2023
Stick shift is a plus.
Red interior a big minus.
Price seems ambitious, but I’ll bet they get it…….
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Paul Michaelsen
Feb 25, 2023
Beautiful example of a great automobile era. 2-Door usually fetch more than comparable 4-Door models. Three on the tree is for a true purist. Four on the Floor more desirable for me.
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Joe
Feb 25, 2023
Go buy the other one.
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Jim Kray
Feb 25, 2023
Have had a few of these 62 to 64 Chevys over the years, and still own one. I must say who ever selected those colors back in the day, wow, just stunning. Most had the drab beige or black interiors. Would love to find a two door in this color combo!
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1959Buickman
Feb 25, 2023
That gorgeous colored interior with the gold exterior will definitely help in selling this car. Just don’t see them like that, especially with the low original miles.
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1. Ronald Parker
  Feb 25, 2023
  My neighbor bought new a 1962 Chevrolet Impala 4 Dr with the inline 6 cyl with the 3 speed manual with the Column Shifter. No Power Steering, No Power Brakes and No Air Conditioning. It was Dark Red with a Black vinyl Interior with a Bench Front Seat. The inline 6 Cyl had good torque taking off and averaged 22 – 23 mpg every driving. Ist Gear max Speed was 35 mph, 2nd Gear Max Speed was 70 mph and 3rd max Speed was a little over 90 + mph. At first, it was tough get used to drive with no Power Steering and no power Brakes , but after awhile, you get used to it. For $1800.00 MSRP in 1962, the Chevrolet Impala was an excellent family car, very reliable and very comfortable to drive. The 283 V-8 with a 4bbl carburetor and Power glide Automatic Transmission with Power Steering and Power Brakes jumped the MSRP to $2800 – $2900, but made the Impala a Sporty Family Sedan! The V-8 driven economically, got 18 – 19 mpg every day driving. Now, what about the 1962 Impalas with the 409 V-8 and 4 Speed Manual Transmission? Now that experience is one just a few lucky Owners can share , another day…..!!!
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Abi
Feb 25, 2023
What a barebones – manual, no power anything – not even steering or brakes. The frames loved to rot just behind the front wheels. I wouldn’t consider this car at all unless I seen the underside. I always question low miles on 5 digit odo’s. This is a utility/family car, not a vette or other show car you’d hide in a garage under a cover. It could be a nicely kept 124k car. I’m suspect that both the radiator and heater hoses have been replaced.
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1. Ron J
  Feb 25, 2023
  Of course the hoses have been replaced, the car is 63 years old. These components tend to degrade over time, and if not, most people would replace them anyway just to avoid cooling issues running 60 year old hoses. The miles are definitely accurate on the car.
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  1. Abi
    Feb 26, 2023
    True someone may just want to replace them, but I see plenty of classic/antique cars on eBay with OEM hoses/clamps. As I said this is a utility vehicle, not a car you put away and don’t drive. Only up to a few years ago would a wagon like this be worth anything so there would be no reason to ‘preserve’ it. From the pictures shown there is no way to be sure this car is a survivor, or a past or recent restoration with a lot more miles on it that it shows. At the least a thorough inspection of the undercarriage is warranted – certainly before I’d fork over that kind of cash for it.
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2. Appraiser1
  Feb 26, 2023
  Most ulta low mileage cars actually are the four doors, not cars that someone purposely stored back in the 60s. These basic sedans often come out of estates, hence the low miles. They were never intentionally stored, usually the result of a long term illness or family estate. The mileage is correct on this car and definitely not rolled over.
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nlpnt
Feb 25, 2023
I’ve never been a 4-door hater, and in the case of this specific model I very much prefer the post sedan or 4-door hardtop to that frumpy dud of a faux-convertible roofline on the 2 door hardtop.
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Dave
Feb 26, 2023
I love this one. My first car was a 63 Bel Air 4 door, solid beige with a 283 and powerglide. My grandfather bought it new, and it became mine 8 years later when he could no longer drive. As a poor college student, it suited me just fine. Unfortunately, while parked in front of my parents house, it was hit and totalled. I still prefer the looks of the 63 over any other year Chevy. But as a senior on a fixed income, all I can do is dream. This car should be left just as it is and be driven regularly. Too many of these basic cars become parts cars for the high end models or else have their guts ripped out and replaced with late model high performance drive trains.
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Alan Henry
Feb 26, 2023
If I like a car, the number of doors doesn’t matter, although it still does to people who love the investment side, over the love of an old car. This deserves to be preserved by someone who doesn’t want to turn it into something else. I could survive the strange color combination. Back in 1963, and sometime later, the Seibs next door, and the Millers across the street, had identical white ’63 Biscayne 2dr sedans. Seib’s next car was about ’68 Malibu SS396, of all things. Millers got a ’70 Bel Air four door sedan.
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K. R. V.
Feb 26, 2023
Ok everyone who collects have gone gargar after the coupes and convertibles, but I’ll take a nice wagon over them all with a nice sports sedan right up there. A good friend had a 62 Sports Sedan, he bought off the widow of the original owner in 1975, with only 48,000 miles on it. But it needed all me brakes including master, tires, front end rebuild and coolant flush, along with a good tune up and oil/filter change. But oh was this car ever worth it! It was a beautiful pearl white the old man had done when the car was new and kept it up, with a beautiful red/white/black interior with power bench seat with arm rests front and rear, power windows and locks, A/C, rear defrost, towing package that included a posi rear. But the best part was the new for 62 327/4brl, that only came in the 4dr with a PowerGlide, that was durable and towed their small Airstream just fine, but as soon as he could he swapped a TH350 into the car, that helped performance and mileage. That car had an amazing ride, even with 4 big guys and all their camping gear. Plus with Firestone Town&Country Snow tires with studs and chains was awesome in the snow and mountain roads covering Colorado! Great road trip car. My friend brought that rust free car back to R. I. After he was Honorably Discharged, then was able to sell that beautiful rust free old Chevy for more than he paid for it!
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Ron J
Feb 26, 2023
Many of those cars you reference on ebay with OEM hoses are restored with NOS parts including the correct hoses. I restore mine cars that way. As long as the old hose was not exposed to engine heat cycles it is fine to use. While this sedan clearly is not a muscle car that would be in a judged show, the hoses were simply aftermarket NAPA stuff installed later in its life. There are a ton of very low mileage four door original cars there like this that elderly people never drove, and I agree the price here is high given the wide selection of makes and models of four doors with extremely low miles available.
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1. Abi
  Feb 26, 2023
  I agree if you are restoring, but there are many ‘survivor’ cars on eBay where the sellers imply the miles have not rolled over – and the cars still have OEM hoses/clamps. There are an equal amount of ‘survivor’ cars that have had them replaced putting suspect into the miles. I’m not saying that’s a diviner stick method of ensuring low miles, it’s just one of many things I look for – and no offense to any seller, if I’m forking over $18k I’m not believing the seller on his word alone. I’ve fallen for the ‘only driven to church by a little old lady’ before.
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  1. Ron J
    Feb 26, 2023
    Obviously no car guy is going to fork over any kind of money for a car without inspection, hoses aside. I know the car, it is amazing, and the miles were not rolled over, and even based on the photos of key elements one can see this car has little to no wear in high wear areas typically found on higher mileage cars.
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24k Mile 1963 Chevrolet Bel Air 283 V8 3-Speed

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43 responses to “24k Mile 1963 Chevrolet Bel Air 283 V8 3-Speed”

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