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Black Plate Survivor: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe

Chevrolet offered the Split Window Coupe for a single model year. Eventually, 10,594 buyers handed over their hard-earned cash to own one, and today they remain one of the most instantly recognizable American classics. This particular car is not a restored example. This is an entirely original black plate survivor that is in remarkable condition for its age. It is looking for a new home, so the Corvette has been advertised for sale here on eBay. You will find the Split Window located in Calabasas, California. Classics like this don’t come cheap, and while the auction has been set to open at $125,000, there have been no bids to this point. The owner has also set a BIN of $135,000 for those potential buyers who want to avoid the hassles of an auction. There might not have been any bids, but that doesn’t mean that the Corvette has failed to attract its share of attention. At the time of writing, an incredible 324 people are watching the listing.

It’s hard to know where to start with this Sebring Silver Corvette. This classic is a two-owner vehicle that wears all of its original paint. This isn’t perfect, with evidence of some extremely minor scuff marks and scratches. None of these are significant, and I don’t believe that they warrant a repaint. The finish holds a pleasing shine, and it has managed to avoid the patchiness and matte look that can be an issue with Silver paint. The Corvette has spent its life in California, and while the seller doesn’t categorically state that it is rust-free, this kind of a life should help keep the vehicle structurally sound. All of the original trim and chrome is present, and its condition is excellent. The original hubcaps are free from damage, and I can’t spot any issues with the glass.

Potential buyers in 1963 had a decent range of engine specifications from which to choose when ordering their Corvette. In this case, that buyer ticked the box beside the L76 version of the 327ci V8. At $107.60, this offered a great “bang for your bucks.” That sort of money brought 340hp to the table, as opposed to the entry-level engine’s 250hp. This car is a numbers-matching classic and remains mechanically unmodified. As well as the L76, it features a 4-speed manual transmission, a 3.70 Posi rear end, the Off-Road exhaust system, and sintered metallic brakes. That configuration produced an American classic that offered impressive performance levels. The ¼ mile could be demolished in 14.3 seconds, and with enough room, this car should be capable of winding its way to 139mph. The seller emphasizes the factory originality of this Split Window. There are no aftermarket components to be found anywhere, with everything down to the hose clamps being original. The car has a genuine 30,400 miles on the clock, and this appears to be confirmed. Included in the sale is a raft of documentation, including the Owner’s Manual, Dealer Literature, and every Californian Registration back to 1963.

The incredible preservation of this Coupe continues when we open the doors and take a peek inside. It is upholstered in Tuxedo Black, and the overall condition is pretty incredible. The seats have some slight wrinkling, but that’s about all there is that is worth faulting. The rest of the upholstered surfaces are spotless, while the carpet has avoided significant wear or fading. The dash looks to be perfect, and there is no visible wear on the wheel. The original floor mats are still present, as is the AM/FM radio. This interior isn’t merely about looks. The owner states that every piece of equipment functions as it should. This includes the clock, which can be troublesome in these cars.

There is no denying that this 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe is a fantastic survivor. There is also no denying that it is not a cheap vehicle. Values have ridden a bit of a rollercoaster in the past year or so, but they have been increasing steadily in recent months. Its low mileage and documented originality would seem to justify the BIN price, and the chances are relatively high that these Corvettes will continue to appreciate over the coming years. If you have the cash to splash, maybe this could be the most enjoyable retirement nest-egg that you would ever be likely to buy. It’s certainly something to think about.

Comments

  1. Avatar Moparman Member

    In the words of 80’s heart throb, Dan Hartman: “I Can Dream About You!”, but I’ll never own you….*SIGH*! LOL!! GLWTA!! :-)

    Like 7
  2. Avatar Steve R

    This is a gorgeous looking car and deserving of recognition, but it’s a little much to feature it twice in one week.

    SteveR

    Like 3
    • Avatar Tony Primo

      The week is still young, if you are lucky maybe you can see it a third time!

      Like 9
      • Avatar Steve R

        There are worse things that could happen.

        Steve R

        Like 5
    • Avatar Joshua Mortensen Staff

      We try to make sure we don’t run duplicates, but with writers all over the place, it’s hard to keep it from happening once in a while. Initially, we weren’t going to run this post, but Adam did a great job writing it and we didn’t want to see his hard work go to waste!

      Like 7
  3. Avatar gaspumpchas

    A thing of beauty from any angle, I always thought the back view of the splitty and the rest was sooo cool to this 10 year old. good luck and stay safe!
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 3
  4. Avatar Charles Sawka

    Seems like they must have made more than 10k. They are always coming up for sale or auction ! They’re even being cloned

    Like 2
  5. Avatar ruxvette

    Gorgeous car. Being skeptical I question the “J65 sintered brakes” and the “off road exhaust”. The brakes are rare (and not particularly $$$ added) and the exhaust, under car, was not available in ’63.
    But it is a beautiful car.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Pat

      what do u mean about the exhaust?

      Like 1
      • Avatar ruxvette

        In ’63-’67 N11 offroad exhaust was offered (altho, in ’63 nobody ordered it) and it was a chambered exhaust in place of the mufflers. In ’65-’67 N14 side mount exhaust was offered.

        Like 1
  6. Avatar Dig Malo

    Nothing bad to say about a low mileage 57 year old “relic” split window. Truly a Corvette lovers dream. No ac?lol

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Don Page

    This one is on my lottery winner wish list.

    Like 2
  8. Avatar JoeNYWF64

    A see thru not so secure garage door for this car? I could see maybe for a Yugo. lol
    The view out the split window is lot better than out the back of a new Vette, or ’71-3 stang fastback, & many modern “cars” with dumb sloping upward too high rear ends.
    When the ’68 vette & ’82 f-bodies came out, i wonder how many sales were lost when prospective buyers noticed a proper secure glove compartment was gone!

    Like 0
    • Avatar ruxvette

      “I wonder how many sales were lost when prospective buyers noticed a proper secure glove compartment was gone!”

      That’s a joke, right?

      Like 0
      • Avatar JoeNYWF64

        Well my friend kept his 2nd gen firebird when he noticed the above on 3rd gens as well as loss of leg room in back seat – for more money!
        No glove box may make 1 think what else was left out/off, or what cheap route(s) were taken elsewhere – hidden plastic instead of metal parts, etc.

        Like 0
  9. Avatar George Mattar

    N11 is not a chambered system. It looks exactly like the standard system, but has two fewer baffles inside the mufflers. N14 also was offered in 1969.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Lowell Peterson

    I think 324 are watching in disbelief!

    Like 0

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