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Bloomington Gold Winner: 1963 Chevy Corvette

This 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster is a numbers matching example that took home Gold-level certification as part of the Bloomington Gold evaluation process. Equipped wth a manual transmission and 327/340HP, this drop-top checks a lot of boxes if you’re looking for a showroom-spec example with much of the heavy lifting done by a previous owner and the prestige of the ultimate Corvette certification. Find it here on eBay with a $56,995 Buy-It-Now.

The seller has listed the option to submit a best offer. The official colors are noted as Ermine White over Dark Blue. Now, the certification process by which Bloomington Gold evaluates cars is pretty easy to follow, and Gold-level cars are among the best. Those vehicles are described as being “….95 to 100 percent of the way it rolled off the assembly line,” according to the Bloomington Gold website, which helps confirm just how special this drop-top ‘Vette is.

The interior is nothing short of stunning, and it’s a pleasant surprise to see the manual transmission in a convertible. It also makes it even more incredible that this Corvette has survived all of these years without being abused. If your car achieves Gold certification, it basically means it’s the benchmark, the standard-bearer against which other cars of the same make and model will be judged. The seller notes this Corvette has traveled just over 300 miles since being restored.

So about that last part: the seller doesn’t explain whether the Corvette was restored before or after its Gold-level win, but it’s safe to assume that an un-restored car that wins that kind of prize should never be touched. The certification in this instance likely means the Corvette was restored back to exactly the way the manufacturer intended, which is difficult to do for even the best restorers. A pretty car with the trophies to back it up – nothing wrong with that.

Comments

  1. Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

    Very nice but expensive. Funny thing, I never heard anything about this month being ‘Sell your Corvette’ month. I know a lot of people don’t store a Vette over winter but this is ridiculous.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Frank Sumatra

      It is starting to appear the the Boomers (Relax! I was born in 1953) who own these cars have realized the fishing is over and it is time to cut bait. They realize no one in their family wants to be burdened with an “old car” and they are also smart enough to know that prices have probably peaked due to a very limited audience interested in these cars. Folks who are interested in these cars would be well-advised to sit on their wallets for a few more years while the prices start falling.

      Like 7
      • Avatar Steve R

        How do you know that? Even if true, there are plenty of reasons to sell now, mainly to save the heirs from having to deal with raising cash to settle the estate. Then there is the possibility that it’s part of a collection and the heirs don’t have the means or desire to keep all of the cars. My parents who are in their mid-80’s recently created a trust, mainly to deal with end of life medical care. However, they outlined that their hard assets including House are to be sold and the proceeds be divided between me and my sister. Several of my friends parents have sold their older cars just so their kids don’t have to deal with it after they are gone. That’s the smart thing to do, leaving everything for the heirs to deal with is, at best, short sighted.

        The cream of the crop will always hold considable value. It’s the marginal cars or makes and models without a strong following will take the biggest hit.

        Steve R

        Like 2
      • Avatar Frank Sumatra

        Steve- I can’t tell if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me.

        Like 2
      • Avatar Al

        I agree with you Frank. A ’60 vintage boomer myself with 2 millenials with zero interest in any of these cars on here. It’s all about the new. No labor paddle shift, injection so no choke to pull in winter. Plenty USB ports. I know mid 70s myself, I was into the 66 GTO’S, 67-71 Camaros. None of dads favs, Packards, Cords,lol. Young guns today have zero interest what turned our cranks so if can wait 5 years, wa watch the muscle cars tank like the ’08 housing crisis lol

        Like 2
      • Avatar Frank Sumatra

        I think the write-up on the recently posted Collector’s Edition Corvette will become more common over the next few years. Kind of sad when cars someone enjoyed become a burden to a later generation.

        Like 0
  2. Avatar Comet

    Stunning! You couldn’t restore one for the asking price. But Frank Sumatra makes a very good point.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Grandpa Lou

      I agree with Frank. Our generation is the last true car loving one. Yes, as Steve says, unusual best of the best will maybe always command some kind of market, but even those have to drop some. There are only so many ultra rich dudes to buy so many cars, and the younger rich dudes, how many of them even care about cars? Investments in collectibles have always been dependent on hype, and with us gone, where is the crowd rushing to say those oos and ahhs?

      Like 3
  3. Avatar Chuckster

    No doubt a great car , but not exactly what I call a ” barn find “

    Like 2
  4. Avatar David Morse

    Regarding the description, a Bloomington Gold car is a restored car. If it wasn’t, it would have been judged as a Survivor, which, if it was this nice, would be worth even more. Either way, I agree that it appears that the interest in mid-year Corvettes is going down, unless it is a rare beast like a ZO6 or original unrestored big block ’67.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar TimM

    I really hope the prices do start falling!! These are great cars but just to much money!!! The restoration looks good from the pictures!!!

    Like 0
  6. Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

    Funny the comments on Millennials, my kids are millennials and I had a chance to talk to one of the boyfriends over Thanksgiving about houses, cars etc. Asked about Vettes etc. and he came up with some interesting answers. No interest in a house, they are into apartments. No interest in manual transmissions, most cannot drive anything but automatics. No interest in rebuilding cars as most never had any auto shop classes. Most only have money for 1 vehicle so it’s a daily driver. When asked about a fun vehicle, he said they don’t have space to store or work on one if they had access to one.
    I have to agree I think it won’t be that long before cars like this go begging because there won’t be anyone that wants them.

    Like 2
  7. Avatar David Nelson

    That’s very sad that the younger generations could care less about vintage cars. This feeling (used to be) in every American Male. I blame Computers!

    Like 0
  8. Avatar dogwater

    Wow the sky is falling on the classic cars ?, there are still many 30 +guy that love the old cars and will buy them……

    Like 0
    • Avatar Frank Sumatra

      The sky is not falling, but there are clouds on the horizon. And as you know a cloud could have a silver lining. The 30+ guy you mention might be able to find some good deals. But I doubt your theory based on my small sample of Corvette owners I associate with. The 30+ guys I know are more like 2X 30+

      Like 1
  9. Avatar TDM

    I hate Classics that have only 300mi. It’s a car, get in it and ride. Before you are dead. I gotta go. Appendix knawing on me.

    Like 0

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