Former Show Car: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette

America’s Sports Car, the Chevrolet Corvette, finally got a redesign in 1963. That was more than 10 years after its original debut. Now sub-dubbed “Sting Ray”, it was immediately popular with sales increasing by half over the warmed-over 1962s. This 1963 coupe/convertible was once a show car, but none of that heritage is described. Located in Bonney Lake, Washington, this weather-worn project is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $25,000. A “bravo” goes to T.J. for the custom tip!

Sales of the all-new Corvette were split almost equally between the “split window” coupe and the convertible, which could come with an optional hardtop. So, nearly 11,000 of these non-coupes were produced in ’63, and the seller’s example gained custom paint and a side exhaust for the show circuit. It’s a shame those details are shared – because if its history is significant, that would be important if you decided to restore it as its former show status.

In 1963, you could buy a new Corvette drop-top for less than $4,000 (MSRP), about the price of a used ordinary daily driver today from the 1980s. About 85% of the ’63 Sting Rays came with a 4-speed manual transmission, but this one was converted to an automatic at some point. Also, the original 327 cubic inch V8 has been replaced by another Chevy small block.

The seller’s car looks familiar, but I can’t find another like it online, and I have never been to the Pacific Northwest. We’re told it’s been in a garage for more than four decades, but when it became a show car is unknown. The white paint may be original, and the body will require repair in some places (the snout and the driver’s side rear wheel opening). The interior looks to have been customized, too, but it’s mostly just full of spare parts now. If you brought this project home, what would you do with it?