The “409” badge on this 1963 Bel Air’s front fender tells part of its story but doesn’t reveal the whole truth. Yes, there is a 409ci V8 under the hood, but it is anything but ordinary. Thanks to a healthy helping of motorsport expertise, it churns out considerably more power than when it rolled off the production line. That V8 is wrapped in a beautifully presented package, but the car needs a new home. Located in Chandler, Arizona, you will find the Bel Air listed for sale here on Craigslist. It could be yours for $55,000. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this potent classic for us.
Taken at face value, this Bel Air is a spotless but unassuming classic. It wears immaculate Azure Aqua paint that shines richly. There are no visible flaws in the supplied photos and no dings or dents. If the car has spent its life in its current location, the seller’s seemingly bold claim that it is one of the most rust-free Bel Airs in the country could prove valid. There is nothing visible in the supplied shots, and even the corrosion-prone components under the hood look fantastic. Impressively, the Chevy retains its original glass, which is free from scratches and other problems. The chrome shines as nicely as the glass, but the upgraded 15″ wheels with dog dish hubcaps and whitewall tires provide a subtle hint that there may be more to this classic than meets the eye.
Okay, I’ve kept you waiting long enough. Lifting the hood reveals Chevrolet’s iconic 409ci V8 that produced 425hp when it was new. That’s a respectable figure, but this owner sought far more. The 409 isn’t original, but the seller pulled the motor and despatched it to Joe Sherman Racing, in Santa Anna, California, for specialist attention. Injecting motorsport expertise into an engine like this produced results, with the power now sitting north of 500hp. The power gets to the tarmac via a four-speed Super T-10 manual transmission and a 3.08 Posi rear end. In its original guise, this Bel Air would have demolished the ¼ mile in 14.5 seconds. Getting the power to the road today may prove difficult without converting the tires to smoke, but this ’63 should still blow the original time miles into the air. The engine bay presents superbly, and it doesn’t flatter to deceive. The Bel Air is a turnkey proposition ready to be enjoyed by a new owner.
The seller describes this Bel Air’s interior as “like new,” and it is difficult to argue with that assessment. The seats wear a combination of aqua cloth and vinyl, with aqua vinyl covering the remaining upholstered surfaces. There is no wear, no stains, and no physical damage. The carpet looks excellent, as does the dash. It isn’t loaded with luxury appointments, but the interior features the important stuff. The factory dash-mounted tachometer is intact, as is the original AM/FM radio. Everything works as it should, including all lights and gauges. The glove compartment contains the Owner’s Manual, Title, and other documents.
A 1963 Bel Air with a 409 under the hood will always command respect. However, when an owner elects to squeeze a significant amount of extra power from that beautiful engine, that level of respect increases accordingly. Its overall appearance makes this a genuine sleeper, with the subtle fender badges the only external sign that this classic is anything but ordinary. I would love the opportunity to take this car for a run because I suspect that the driving experience would be enormously entertaining. The asking price takes it well beyond my means, and most enthusiasts won’t view it as a cheap classic. However, if one of our readers buys it and offers me a drive, I would struggle to say no. I promise to be careful!
Seeing the prices being asked for a rusty Mopar project, this seems almost like a bargain.
Man oh man that is so (sadly) true.
‘… the car needs a new home’…? As if it’d be difficult to find any good Samaritan out there who’d show mercy to this poor Chev? Well I know of at least a couple volunteers (me included). Considering its surroundings and companions in the garage there’s a chance this BelAir is fairly spoiled…
Just looking at it has the Beach Boys song running through my head….
Here you go Steve.. 🔊 🎶 🎵 🔊
She’s real fine, my 4-0-9
She’s real fine, my 4-0-9
My 4-0-9
Well, I saved my pennies and I saved my dimes (Giddyup, giddyup, 4-0-9)
For I knew there would be a time (Giddyup, giddyup, 4-0-9)
When I would buy a brand new 4-0-9 (4-0-9, 4-0-9)
Giddyup, giddyup, giddyup, 4-0-9
Giddyup, 4-0-9
Giddyup, 4-0-9
Giddyup, 4-0
Nothing can catch her, nothing can touch my 4-0-9, 4-0-9
When I take her to the track she really shines (Giddyup, giddyup, 4-0-9)
She always turns in the fastest time (Giddyup, giddyup, 4-0-9)
My four-speed, dual-quad, posi-traction 4-0-9 (4-0-9, 4-0-9)
Giddyup, giddyup, giddyup, 4-0-9
Giddyup, 4-0-9
Giddyup, 4-0-9
Giddyup, 4-0
Nothing can catch her, nothing can touch my 4-0-9, 4-0-9 🎶 🎵
Bought a brand new ’63 Impala SS convertible burgundy w. black interior – 409 twin 4 barrel 425 hp 4 speed 4:11 gears $3579.89 from Jefferson Chevrolet Detroit, Mi April 1963 – wish I still had her
It says this is from the north, Arizona is a western state 🏜️🥳
The front fender badges are ’62 emblems, and they’re mounted in the wrong place for a ’63. In ’63 the emblems go behind the front wheel, and the “409” is on top of the crossed flags.
62-63 were the same badges. The 409 does go on the top.
Biscayne and Belair badges went on the front of the fender, the Impala went behind the front wheel. The badges are in the correct location, but, the 409 should be over the flags.
You would be correct if this were an Impala, however, this is a Bel Air, the emblems look correct.
Sorry, Mikey, but you are incorrect. The engine size emblems went behind the front wheel, but ONLY on Impalas. For BA and Biscayne, they went right where these are.
62-63 badges are the same.
Impala badges were behind the front wheel.
Belair and Biscayne were in the front of the wheel.
409 was over the top of the crossed flags
There is always at least one Deak complaining about something.
To Bad this is a 2 Door Sedan , Sorry guys but this the one that No One Wants … I Know You are all so Smart when it comes to Old Cars but it just seems like you guys just don’t know 60’s Chevys These are known as very Ugly .
Ugly? Not a chance! I love post cars!
That’s so freaking funny!
The Big Deak dumb speak of the uglies. Seam he old as n dumb know Chevy cars. Speak speak Dumb big Deak.
It is a Beauty. Perfect sleeper!
Be Careful Bj … watch what you Say …
You’re the only one complaining. Now that I know what a deak is I have to agree.
I’ve never owned one of these but have driven one spiritedly before. It’s an awesome experience to drive a manual car that size, with a monster motor and a bench seat. Id be all over this one if was in my budget
YIKES! I know prices go up on everything over the years but when did we all start thinking that $55K for an early Chevy (even if it looks better than new) was acceptable? When you “break it down”, other than the engine it’s a real plain jane of an automobile. It seems we’ve all lost the value of money. Especially on risky investments like vintage/collectible automobiles that were once everywhere and driven by everyday people. This isn’t a Cord, or any highly collectible/limited production kind of car when it was new. I can only imagine how many might still be in west coast junk yards just because they didn’t rust away into oblivion like those that ended up in the Midwest/east junk yards. My best friend from 4th grade that I grew up with in the 60’s & 70’s still has his 69′ Camero Convertible that he bought from the original owner back in the 70’s. However, it’s been sitting in his barn for the last 25-plus years and is badly in need of major restoration. If he spent 30 – 50-grand having it restored, he probably wouldn’t recoup all that he invested. Obviously, it has extreme sentimental value, and his daughter will end up with it when we both head to the car lot in the sky…. hopefully not for a few more decades! Of course, if one were to win a ridicules amount with a lottery ticket……
Well, you can buy this primo 409 for 55k, drive it all you want, and recoup all of your money at sale time, or you can take your 55k and buy 3/4ths of a new pickup, and throw half your money away in 5 years.
…. who said anything about buying a new vehicle was a good investment? You would be “throwing away” half your invested money a lot quicker than in 5-years! Driving an overpriced vintage Chevy “all you want” and then expect to “recoup all of your money” afterwards doesn’t make sense either. My neighbors have one beautiful 57 Belair convertible and a couple of 60’s Impalas that you’d swear just rolled off the line but those are something special that I truly hope they “recoup” investment if/when he sells. However, it would no longer be “primo” after driving it “all you want”. I’ve never owned a “Brand New” vehicle of any kind. I learned long ago to purchase 2-year-old lease returns that still have warranty left on them and then depending on the vehicle, purchase additional “extended warranty”. I live in Los Angeles so it’s not too hard to find the vehicle I want as a lease return (there is an overabundance of dealership within a 5-mile radius). Especially if it’s a lux vehicle. That way I don’t take the hit that happens the second one drives a brand-new vehicle off the dealer’s lot after signing on the dotted line!
My first car was a 1963 Bel Air, 4 door, and as I remember it had a 283 6-cylinder engine. I wouldn’t mind having it back. I sure got nostalgic looking at this one. If I had 55 grand I would be very tempted to buy it.
Those 6 banger 283’s are rare as can be, and are a favorite of all BarnDoor Deaks.
😂