Can you believe this 1963 “split window” Chevrolet Corvette has only 25,500 miles and has been largely off the road since 1974? That’s what the listing states here on eBay, where the car has a buy it now price of $55,000. The car is currently located in San Bruno, California. Many thanks to reader Ikey H. for sending us this cool find!
I have to wonder about the condition of the paint for a car with such low miles, but it sounds like the seller has had it for quite some time — they may have an explanation for the mottled finish. The car is said to “drive wonderfully”.
I wonder what would happen if you showed up at a Corvette event with the car looking like this? I’d like to be there! The seller describes it as 97% complete with some extra parts included. I’m hoping the 3% doesn’t mean the bumpers as they can be quite pricey.
This part of the interior looks okay, but I’m puzzled that the seller states that the car is rare due to the saddle leather seats (one of 52 so equipped) but doesn’t show a picture of them!
The car was “partially restored” about 10 years ago with the drivetrain and suspension being described as “new” by the seller. Note that the engine and transmission are not the original units which certainly affects the car’s value — as a matter of fact the engine is described as a 350 rather than the original 327 unit. It would be nice to see an under hood picture as well; I’d certainly want some more information before shelling out more than $50,000! Do you think the car is worth that much given that it isn’t a matching numbers car?
Looks like black vinyl / leather in the dash photo.
Upon further review (ebay photos) the car is equipped with some odd diamond pattern on the seats, so the original (898E) saddle leather seats are long gone, or in the “parts” listed in the ad.
Non matching drivetrain, crappy paint and $55K? Even for a SWC that is way too much for a car such as this one in this condition IMO.
I’m not a corvette guy but is this worth 55 large? low miles means nothing with a replacement eng. orig engine where is it? Bumpers included? Hows the bodywork under the primer. Frame?? Not many pics and lots of fluff in the description. How about specific facts about this car? I try not to be negative, but this is nuts, maybe he figures if you like what you see you will come look at it.
Good luck to the new owner. wonder if he would take less but states no low ballers. SMH!!!
Since it’s not original I’m going to paint it Daytona blue with red leather. Thank You.
Great color choices !!
Rareity and myths have a lot to do with pricing, and if you want this model they are scarce and somebodys dream has to begin somewhere.
Cost only a tad high as well done restores are highly prized.
It is extremely rare to find pre 70 vettes with all original matching number parts, does one care if shocks, alerrnators, tires starters rear gears and tranny are still
original.
Driving one of these new was not that pleasant a driving experience as they creaked, liked to leak around rear window, exhaust was loud and 10 miles from town engine static drowned out radio.
Yes If I had bucks could I still turn a handy profit at this price, , not in wildest dreams.
Where is the proof the car has 25,000 miles? If there is none, it’s an empty claim made by the seller to increase the perceived value of the car. The weather in the Bay Area is conducive to year round driving. Based on the cars condition and the date on the pink slip which actually says 1978 and registration extending through to 1979, 125,000 miles is more realistic since it was driven through at least the tail end of the 1970’s and likely into the 1980’s. It’s definitely buyer beware with this car.
Steve R
The trim tag says saddle tan paint with saddle tan leather, it has neither. Wrong engine, shifter, steering wheel and gas door, who knows what else.
Plus…the cowl air intake vents have been chromed, the holes for the front bumper have been filled, the lower trim on the driver side has a “wowee” in the middle of it, no fan shroud, overflow tank just sitting there, hubcaps don’t fit the wheels, etc, etc, etc…
$50 grand…send it to Maaco for a quick paint job, put it back together and drive it.
There were 1,114 63’s built with saddle leather. I’ve never seen anything indicating how many were installed in coupes, but I’m thinking it was a few more than the 52 claimed by the seller.
The original engine’s gone, original trans is gone, original shifter’s gone, gas door’s a 64, seats recovered and the rest of the interior changed to black, and it only has 25K miles on it?????
I hate to say it, but I don’t think the asking price is out of line. I’m not saying it’s worth it, but as crazy as the market is for split windows, the price seems reasonable compared to a lot of the splits out there.
No way 25k miles. There’s just no way. It wouldn’t look like this.
No way 50k plus maybe 25k with bumpers,if the owner wants that much they will be using the car for a planter
I live near San Bruno, and that garage looks like a covered side yard. Also a clue to the paint job is that if that garage is not completely sealed, you have to add in foggy conditions, plus very cool evenings, as almost daily. Moisture and 10 to 15 mph breezes can find their way into any garage. Still, the metal looks in good shape.
Still may be able to turn a profit at this price, the biggie for me would be not having the original engine, and the dash picture shows black interior, something screwy about that,, the transmission too but not as important as the OEM engine. The interior should be on the build sheet. shifter and steering wheel was of the time, shifter appears to be a HURST. Still priced too high for condition, maybe $40k or so. Before I would spend $55k I would have to see it, feel it, etc.
Wow 25 k and all drive train swapped .. funny how other vettes with 25k had most of drive train left .
I guess this was built on a Saturday after all workers tied one on a Friday night…😮🙃😏 making the vette blow the engine and trans …,
No. Bumpers and bad photography scare me !
If there ever was a car that needed an up close and personal inspection this would be it. As everyone says, not the original drive train means a big discount in price. I personally hate the C-2 style and I never understood the draw of a split window other than it was a one year only and that was because people did not like it. That said, I am obviously in the minority.
$15K car, tops. 65,66,67 way more desirable. Anyone who has driven a 63 split window will tell you they don’t handle or stop very well. Base engine cars couldn’t even be considered sports cars unless they were rag-tops. Some not so bright more money than brains guy might buy it, average car enthusiast will pass on this Frankenstein.
MB, you are obviously not a Corvette guy. And that’s ok. $15k is barely a down payment on a C2 of any year. As for ’65-’67 being more desirable…nah, unless you’re talking L88 type cars. Not much in C2 years is more desirable than a SWC. Having owned several C2s I will say they perform, handle, and stop well compared to cars of their era.
Your base engine/sports car/rag top leaves me scratching my head.
Be my guest, spend $55K and the throw another $40K in parts and paint at it for a quickie on chassis “restore”and find out that a base motor matching numbers car is maybe worth $95K on a real good day. Now a matching numbers car with FI, big brakes, and 36 gallon gas tank is a $250K car all day long. Of course it would never get driven…. Have at it, I would love to see it done. If I was to “buy” this car, I would only want the body, mount it on a modern chassis, with a LS9 or such. Hence the $15K valuation. It’s not good starting point to restore.
If I’m going to spend 50 large on a vehicle, it better be numbers matching or I’m not buying it. This seller has been popping too many peyote buttons.
I’m going to leave the price issue out and look at it this way. If I where to meet a 55 yr old lady that had a bit of plastic surgery done (not original parts) but still looked good despite showing signs of age, I wouldn’t hesitate to spend some time getting to know her! Anyone who studies philosophy knows very well that purity is merely an illusion, finding the true essence of something genuine is where it’s at.
What if she told you she was a 18 years old and a virgin though she obviously wasn’t? Would you still want to take the time to know her? This seller isn’t particularly honest with his description though several commentators, along with the author of the initial write up saw what they wanted and drew conclusions accordingly. If this is truly the car or someone’s dreams it’s worth investigating, if not, especially at this price level why not keep looking. These cars seem to be coming out of the shadows.
Steve R
Steve, I am laughing my butt off, love your response & I agree with it.
Does she come equipped with B.F. Goodrack?
If someone pays that price it’s worth it to them
Gateway has a nice Saddle Tan Four Speed Split Window for the amazing low low buy it now price of $140,000.00
https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1963/chevrolet/corvette/101000408
while they always have an impressive inventory, their asking prices seem to consistently be at least 20% above market.
Twenty-seven pictures and NOT ONE of the interior or the underhood area?!?
At the end of the day, and all comments considered, It is still a 1963 Corvette. A one-year only automotive icon. At least when you finish restoring it and decide to sell you will have a pretty wide audience interested.
This car would be a great restomod/ pro touring candidate, imo (moderm fuel injected LS/ LT and a 6 speed manual trans and an aftermarket chassis from Speedtech, roadstershop or similar). What would the point be of restoring a car that would not have the original drivetrain, and ride and stop like a truck on bias ply tires? Unfortunately, since the engine trans and chassis would all go away in the process, it would be worth about half the asking price, imo, as I would be interested in the bod and interior only.
add to all the incorrect components that would have to be discarded and changed, the Flowmaster exhaust, ugh!
This reminds me that at least one split window corvette had the center divider hack sawed out and had a one piece rear glass installed in order to remedy the rear window obstruction issue resolved. It made the car look a year newer in the process! LOL
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c1-and-c2-corvettes/3976837-un-split-your-63-split-window-coupe.html
Might as well break out the hole saw and add the fifth and sixth tail light while you are at it! LOL
Great story Steve, thanks!
the listing has ended, Hmmmmm.
And if you thought that was a bit too high, take a look at this SWC listed on Ebay. Just the body.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-Chevrolet-Corvette-/273466620719?oid=253869598064
The whole ad is a joke
Well its a free country! No one is putting a gun to our heads to buy pieces of junk like this. What I don’t like to see is some novice plunking down the money and getting burned. Lets keep educating people, so the stuff that is really worth something gets the attention it deserves and the garbage, the attention it deserves!
What bunch of computer weanies, $55,000 or best offer! i’d give it shot 4 something that rare & cool. I know u all would rather spend $55,000 on rustie tin can like a 69 Charger that has no floor pan. I’ll keep my 69 Mach 1 in the real world
350s are soo boring..
Put a Coyote in it along with some bullet proof glass and be the target of hate at the local corvette meet!
Those old odometers are so easy to turn back !
Not worth it. 30k would be pushing it for a mostly non original. Where’s red line in tach.?
Went and looked at it. Seller was super friendly and understood what the car is and isn’t. For me it wouldn’t work. Too much chrome (not limited to the 350) and needs most everything. Could be a ratty driver for someone but not me. Just no way to justify restoring it at current price as you’d likely be in to it for well over a $100K and it’d still be a NOM low option car. Now for someone wanting to build a resto-mod on an original frame, the price is about in line with others. For that reason he’ll likely get something close to asking. Oh, it does have a set of cherry black plates.
This listing was ended by the seller because there was an error in the listing.
Another SWC money pit.
I wonder whatever happened to a SWC I saw in Brookfield, IL, back in the mid seventies, that had a Buick nailhead in it?
Every week there is at least 1 Corvette in stored forever condition that comes up for sale on this site or other sites such as this.
Only going to get worse as all the Baby Boomer DREAMERS who kept these old cars for that one day when I get to it and restore the car.
Just like so many other cars that will follow this Corvette on this and other for sale websites that day NEVER ARRIVED. This fact will provide a GLUT of this type UNRESTORED PROJECT CARS coming to market in the next 5 years which will continue to DEPRECIATE the value of these “Old Cars” that only the OLD GUYS want!
Better sell em NOW for decent money while you still can!!!
Well said, Bull, well said.
This looks more like a nightmere Steve instead of someones dream!
That rear wheel camber indicates it needs a new rear leaf spring and wheel bearings at least, before you roll it to your restoration facility.
Yep…going to have to change those 40 year old mufflers….
i hate flowmasters
way too many wrong things in your 👀’s…. wonder what else is looming behind the
scenes ??
👀’s like a ‘plain Jane’ that was previously molested way back when, and a dreamer thought it was the ‘real deal to store’ …. sad to see these Stingrays pop so often in this condition and an unjustifiable asking price ….
Paper trail …. no mention 🧐