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Dusty 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

This 1963 Corvette Convertible has been sitting for a while, but it has the makings of a great project car. It comes with its original 327ci V8, and this has been rebuilt, ready to be slotted back into the car. With values steadily increasing, this has the potential to be a sound long-term investment that will provide its owner with heaps of enjoyment into the bargain. Located in Rockdale, Texas, you will find the Corvette listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has made it to $12,700, but the reserve isn’t met.

The 1963 model year marked the introduction of the C2 Corvette, and it was also the most successful for the badge from a sales perspective. Chevrolet must have felt like they were on a winner because the increase over the previous year was a whopping 50%. Sales figures were split relatively evenly between the Coupe and the Convertible, with 10,919 buyers choosing the latter. This Convertible has been sitting for a while, but it still has plenty of positive attributes. It started life painted in Tuxedo Black but has received a color change to Riverside Red at some point. This is looking tired, and a cosmetic refresh would not go astray. Below the ruined paint is a fiberglass body that is in excellent condition. There are no signs of any flaws or stress cracks, and all of the panels have consistent gaps. The hood vents have been filled with Bondo for some reason, but a replacement hood is included in the sale. The vehicle has spent its life in Texas, and this has helped it to remain rust-free. There is dry surface corrosion on the frame but no penetrating rust. The frame for the convertible top is intact and works as it should. However, a new top will be required. The trim is all present, although some items like the rear bumpers will require restoration. All of the glass is good, with no signs of any flaws or issues.

When you look through the RPO prices for 1963, the L75 version of the mighty 327ci V8 offered great value for money. It delivered a healthy 300hp but added a mere $53.80 to the purchase price. It’s no wonder that 8,033 buyers chose to tick that box on their order form. That’s what you will find with this Corvette, although the engine isn’t currently fitted to the car. When it is, it is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. This combination was enough to send the Corvette through the ¼ mile in 14.5 seconds. This engine is the original 327, and it was removed to undergo a rebuild. This has been completed, but it simply hasn’t been slotted back into place. It appears that most of the original components are present, including the original but freshly rebuilt radiator. The engine bay is looking a bit rough and dirty, so I’d be inclined to restore and repaint that before dropping the engine back into place.

When you look at this photo, it is pretty safe to assume that the Corvette’s interior was initially finished in Black. I’m sure that changing the color seemed like a good idea at the time, but it has left the next owner with the prospect of some significant work if it is to be returned to its best. The owner has new seat foam for the vehicle, but that will only be the starting point. The dash might be able to be salvaged with a bit of careful cleaning, but I suspect that a complete trim kit is going to be required. However, if the rest of the Corvette is restored to a high level, the expense could be worth it.

This 1963 Corvette Convertible is an exciting proposition as a project car. There is the potential for most of the required restoration to be carried out in a home workshop, although I would be inclined to have an experienced person prepare and paint the fiberglass. One of the largest cost components of any classic car restoration is labor. Every hour that can be wiped from this will save significant money in the long run. That means that a few hours of basic reassembly work can save a substantial amount on any project build. If the buyer does some of this basic work themselves, that should ensure that this project remains financially viable. With its fresh numbers-matching 327 included in the sale, there is no reason why this Corvette couldn’t be worth an easy $40,000 once restored. A careful eye for detail during the process could potentially push that figure significantly higher. That has to make it worthy of closer investigation.

Comments

  1. Avatar Johnny Major

    This car was most likely hit (not mentioned) at some point in it’s life, that is not a ’63 front clip (or at least fender)

    Like 9
  2. Avatar Johnny Major

    This car was most likely hit (not mentioned) at some point in it’s life, that is not a ’63 front clip (or at least fender) but the upside, it’s a black/black car

    Like 4
  3. Avatar chilly wind

    1967 nose….very surprised they didn’t note that in the ad. i mean its a collector corvette with the wrong front end!

    Like 7
  4. Avatar George Mattar

    Anybody who knows Corvettes will see that 67 right front fender. This car needs a ton of work and truth be told, C2 prices are not rising. They are stuck in neutral now. Being a 63 conv it is worth half what a coupe is. Why change from factory black to red? Black Corvettes from St Louis are not out there. It is almost 60 years old gonna take deep pockets to do it NCRS.

    Like 7
    • Avatar Stephen Triand

      Apparently you know your Vetts, as I do. I agree with everything your say and I add that you need a load of money to get it properly restored and if you r lucky you might recover 80-85% of your cost. That makes it a very risky investment and it is only worth it if one restores it and keeps it for his enjoyment.

      Like 2
  5. Avatar Patrick Mercadante

    That engine doesn’t look like it has been rebuilt. Very dirty intake area.

    Like 7
  6. Avatar daniel wright

    I agree that engine does not look like a rebuild for a high dollar car. It looks crusty, why would you skip on the cosmetics?

    Like 5
    • Avatar JoeBob396

      Perhaps replacing the water pump equals rebuild?

      Like 3
  7. Avatar ruxvette

    Original? Survivor? It’s not original and it didn’t survive very well. ’67 front fenders, painted interior, no door jamb fotos making one wonder if they are still black. It was ‘originally’ a two top car and now just some bent rusty bows are left.
    When all the work is done it’s a $35,000 driver and the bid is over $25,000 now.

    Like 5
    • Avatar George Barnhouse

      If it is bid to over $25000.00 some one has more money than brains it will another 25K to make it just a driver !!!

      Like 2
  8. Avatar dogwater

    If looks like good project for around 20k

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Bob Miller Member

    Perfect candidate on which to put a repro split window coupe clip and then restomod it.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar William Levy

    Front fenders and hood, not “63” The dashboard has been painted?

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Jamie

    The engine must be tired. The car has a hitch. Pulled something. I agree with the 67 Front clip. If you look closely at the stance, it’s been hit. And why do an interior color change? If ya didn’t like the car, sell it or trade it in. Don’t de value something that will never see true numbers the way it is. This is why I hate it when people take a nice original car and hop it up with a LS 3 or something like that. No respect for historical things.

    Like 4
  12. Avatar Jamie

    no political crap.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Big Grouch

      Apologies, wasn’t meant to be political. I just saw this recently on Jay Lenos YouTube channel.

      Like 1
    • Avatar vintagehotrods

      What’s political about that? It was just news to me, and good news at that. I love it when a guy is still the original owner of his car for 53 years, especially a Corvette! Regardless of your thoughts on the politics of it all, seeing a fellow car guy reunited with a car he truly loves has got to bring a little joy to your day.

      https://youtu.be/mP-hyDSlmUs

      Like 0
  13. Avatar Jonkurfin

    The vette sits tall in the front do to no engine. The front clip appears to be a 63.
    The 67 lower fender skirts are simple to replace. I speculate someone in the 70’s or 80’s changed them. I worked at Corvette Specialist in Alexandria VA. for about ten years. Body mods were very common back then, especially with strip and repaint jobs.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Carla Hernandez

    I’m finishing a 64 convertible frame-off. I’ve spent a truck load of the owner’s money! Spent $2,100 alone at Paul’s Chrome on refab of 7 pieces of windshield frame moulding! And the vent window assemblies! Nothing was reusable and the vent glass frames are not being repo’d! I’ve built several cars for this guy and he has the money but he’d have been better off buying a completed car. Well, this car is an amazing ride with all the goodies like a new frame, complete Ridetech susp, Baer Brakes, Tremec, Vintage Air and Front runner. Still, not a good deal financially but its a Great car that already a blast to drive just going easy at it during shake down rides.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar MA_MOPAR

    g m was sutpid as stupid could be no way to get the tranny out no crossmember to remove so you can get it out like most other gm cars were,why? i had some one tell me if they came with auto trannys the cass member wad made to come out so you could get it out with out havung to pull motor and tranny both. of courde after 75 all you all most were auto trannys any way,right?wrong?

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Lowell Peterson

    Take it easy fellas! These are not the Mona Lisa! It takes more than resto value to redo it so Pro Mod it. Make a modern street rod out of it and double the value of a nice restored one. Then DRIVE IT?

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Poncho

    Wow! Car is now at $31,100.00 and reserve not met. Too much for this car that is NOT a survivor, even if the engine is #’s matching. Reserve price at a will not sell #. Seller is fishing for a value which will probably get him a winning bid from a non-payer who is bidding it up to see what the reserve is. Way too much needed at this price point to be a wise purchase.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Poncho

    The car was used to tow something in the past. So now you have a Corvette that was used as a truck. Who knows what was hauled by this poor car. The only thing I can imagine that could be good about this car is it could have been a factory triple black car…if the top was black. But still, $31k for a car that is taken apart, non running, not a survivor, not in the original interior and exterior colors, and used as a tow vehicle? I know you can find a nicer running driver for a little more than $31k.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Bob Turner

    If you remove the driveshaft and shifter. Push trans back at an angle. Then remove the bell housing. The transmission pops right out. I have done these in and out complete in under four hours

    Like 0

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