You know, it’s amazing what a little clear coat will do for a worn finish. Take this 1963 Chevrolet Biscayne two-door sedan for example. Originally sprayed in GM’s “Magic Mirror” acrylic lacquer, it’s a long-lasting finish, but still, one known to fade and oxidize. Add a quick overspray of a modern clear coat and that old finish can be brought back to life with a notable shine. Now, it’s often done to preserve the “patina”, a more recent automotive trend to project a rugged wear vibe. I’m really not sure what to call it exactly but I wouldn’t consider it a beauty enhancement. Yes, I’ll admit it, I’m not a fan of preserving surface rust. Regardless, the trick turned out pretty well on this 61-year-old resident of Redondo Beach, California (one of my absolute favorite West Coast destinations) and it’s available, here on craigslist for $27,500. A salute is due to T.J. for this discovery!
OK, most know the drill, in ’63 Chevrolet rode high with the Impala on top, the BelAir in the rocking chair, and the Biscayne bringing up the markers. In 1963, the Biscayne, almost always a last-place entry (except in ’58 when it was undercut by the Delray) was available as a two-door sedan or as a four-door sedan and station wagon. Considered a fleet trim level, or a car for budget-conscious buyers, the Biscayne sold well with 186,500 copies going to new owners – and that doesn’t include station wagons! As is often the case with a Biscayne (unless it has been hot-rodded), there’s nothing really remarkable about this car except that it shows quite well and hasn’t been ravaged by rust. The seller tells us, “Had one original owner since 1963 until it was sold 4 years ago.” I’ll run with the assumption that this sedan has spent a lot of time on the west coast and thus its condition. Actually, the patina is very minor, seeming to have affected only the horizontal surfaces of the front fenders. Of note is the engine badge (Vee) placement. In ’63, BelAirs and Biscaynes featured it on the leading edge of the front fenders while the Impala displayed it further back, behind the front wheel opening.
Power is provided by a 195 gross HP, 283 CI V8 engine, married to a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. While this was an extremely common powertrain arrangement for Chevy in ’63, research indicates, not surprisingly, that most Biscaynes preferred the 140 gross HP 230 CI, in-line six-cylinder engine. The seller mentions that the 58,000-claimed mileage engine has only experienced a replacement starter and battery – no word regarding this car’s operating prowess.
Inside, we’re looking at what could double for a taxicab interior – it’s plain and to the point. The attractive checkerboard vinyl and cloth upholstery is amazingly clean and as expected, a color-keyed rubber mat is underfoot as opposed to nylon loop carpeting. Of note is the factory-style, dash-mounted tachometer. Years ago, finding one of these took a holy grail search, today they’re available as reproductions.
This is a neat find but I’m not sure what one may want to do with it. You could leave it as is and just enjoy it, though it’s not a terribly exciting arrangement. I can see the next buyer ginning it up as a street sleeper. But…at $27,500, the price of entry is high and I’m not feelin’ it; how about you?
I really like this Chevy. Im very glad to see its survived with its original 283 and a powerglide. I dont like it when people clear over rust. HOWEVER, in cases like this where most of the original paint is there and is serviceable, I think its a great idea. I think it was on Barnfinds a long time ago I saw someone preserve If my memory serves me correctly ( 50 percent chance here folks) a late 30s early 40s Ford coupe a beautiful green color, and it had wear on the horizontal panels, they cleared it and it looked great to me, just as this Chevy lookes great to me if its solid why not save it? And the interior too is fantastic, looks good in the trunk and under the hood too. I hope this gets preserved. And kept nice for decades to come.
I used to be a 3 tail light or nothing guy on Chevy’s full land yacht line, but as time has passed and the abundance of these thin out, I have a new respect. It is rare to find a non 4 door and without a 6 cylinder. Not saying those are bad cars either. Would leave this as is and proudly putt around on Saturday mornings in it. All it needs is a nice dual exhaust to give her some rumble!
Q: Why would anyone put an NOS factory tach on a base-level 283 V8 equipped Biscayne? OVERKILL. For all I know they would do the same if it had the inline 6.
I put a Sun tach on the steering columns of my 78 Pinto (a stick) and my 76 Malibu (Automatic) just liked seeing what the revs were, and it looks cool.
I did that too. On my 70 Chevelle Concours 307 wagon. For the same reason. Wanted to know my rpm’s at various speeds.
My 1956 Plymonth has a factory tach that I didn’t put there….
Because it looks stock and also looks pretty darn cool. It does have a V8. If you wind those powerglides past 80, you start getting into trouble with the revs!
They said that they were repopping the tach. I’d have killed for one back in the day when I had the twin to this, only mine was a BelAir and didn’t have the trim running along the fenders back.
I love anything with the old Powerglide from 66 down because it had the rear pump in the transmission and many times it saved my a** when the charging system went out ( battery, alternator, starter) and I use to roll my 66 Biscayne down a hill and kickstarted it automatically in neutral to drive and just like clockwork it’ll start right back up at 25 mph from a neutral drop to drive with the the ignition key on, miss those secret advantages that most people don’t know about! Live on Powerglide 66 down trannys! 🍻🍻🍻🥃🥃
Good information!!
Discovered this by accident on my 64 Impala that had powerglide and 283. I was towing it as it had not been run in a few months and had traded it off and my brother dropped it in drive and it started.
I have owned Chevrolet’s all my life, (and more than a few Powerglide’s) and I did not know that. Interesting information.
@ Will Fox….No sin was committed by installing that tach on a 283/’glide car. Though STOCK on any manually-shifted L74, L33, L31 or L80 V8, a tachometer was an option you could spec. on ANY drive train combo back then.
I agree about the tach. But I’ve never seen one before.
My dad bought this same brand new color 2 door Biscayne that had a 327 and 3 on the tree transmission.That car could was a thrill to ride in as a 12 yr old kid. 21 mpg on the highway.
Always wondered what ever happened to that car. Only seen 1 like it recently.
Factory tach (& even extra gages) not avail on 1st gen f-bodies with 6 cyl.
This fact tach may not have been avail for these full size cars with 6 cyl.
No backup lights? Optional?
Yes, they were optional.
If ALL 4 rear red lenses HERE are supposed to light up with headlights on & when you hit the brakes, you have insurance not getting a ticket if 1 bulb burns out (or 2 burn out – 1 on each side) – vs getting the optional backup lights – on Biscaynes.
I like this………a lot. I think I’d add dual exhaust and A/C and just enjoy the heck out of it.
I like it. I agree add dual exhaust. The craigslist add shows the shifter and it is a 3 speed auto that was upgraded
You are correct – good catch, I assumed it was still running the original Powerglide.
JO
I knew a guy that rolled and totaled a then fairly new 67 nova SS.
He took the 327 and the
4spd out of it and put it in a 63 Biscayne it wasn’t as nice as the nova but it was a cool car.
Timing.. currently working on the Impala exact version of this with the original 283 and Powerglide removed and transplanted with a 327/th400! Bought the original drivetrain (included driveshaft) with it too for posterity.
The th400 is a lot heavier & consumes more power internally than a glide.
Yes, they were optional.
This is a very cool car, but with that being said, I believe that it is overpriced. The factory tach is crazy. I also can’t think of any Chevrolet that had that particular gear indicator. It’s such a nice, fairly original example that I tend to agree with others comments about throwing some Flowmasters on it and leave the rest of it be. The only thing that would persuade me to do otherwise is the fact that when I was 18 or 19 a friend bought a ’63 Biscayne from a fellow in Medford Oregon that looked just like this on the outside, (different color) but had a 365 horse 327 with a M-21 and 4:11 gears. Now that my friends was a very cool car.
The steering column is aftermarket, the shift indicator, shift and turn signal levers, and the 4 way flasher switch give it away. Love the old cold and hot idiot lights! Very cool car.
Paging Taco…
Bad move clear coating 60 year old paint. In 12 months it will be starting to peel off.
I have one of these out back in white. I hate white cars. Thinking of painting it 69 Camaro glacier blue or even darker blue like I had in high school.