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Neglected SCCA Racer: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette

The Chevy Corvette got its first redesign in 1963 and the sport coupe version of the sports car would later become iconic due to its one-year-only split rear window design. The C2 (second generation) ‘Vettes helped put the car on the map in terms of longevity as the nameplate is still in production though today’s Corvette is nothing like its ancestors. This ’63 “split-window” found its way into racing on the SCCA circuit (Sports Car Club of America) but was left to languish after 1978. Located in Carlsbad, California, the forlorn hot rod has just been sold on Bring a Trailer for $70,000, though we first discovered it here on CorvetteForum. Thanks for stepping outside the box once again for this tip, Larry D!

Though today it would be considered heresy to chop up or modify a ’63 “split window”, it was just another Corvette in the 1960s. Someone decided to go racing with it in 1968 and the transformation began. It apparently spent about a decade on the circuit before being discarded and left in the condition in which it was raced. That includes the flared rear wheel wells that accommodated 15-inch Fenton Fanjet-style wheels mounted with racing slick tires. The interior was stripped except for the necessities and racing buckets and a roll cage were added.

Under the modified hood resides a small block V8 (327 cubic inches?) fitted with an aluminum intake manifold, 4-barrel carburetor, and tubular exhaust headers, plus a 4-speed manual transmission. We don’t know how much of this could be original but if it were raced a lot, maybe very little would be. As you might expect, the passage of time hasn’t been kind, but it could have been worse if not for the fiberglass body panels that the Corvette used.

We’re told that the Chevy was stored outside for a while, which could date back as much as 44 years. Fortunately, the seller came to its rescue last year and saved it from getting any worse. The yellow base paint with multiple covered stripes has seen better days, but things like the racing number (16) are still quite visible. You must wonder what the buyer intends to do with this Corvette – we would assume to restore it to its racing form rather than to go back to how it left the factory. For a link to the actual sale, click here.

Comments

  1. Avatar shelbyGT500 Member

    Sold for $70,000 on 9/27/2022 .

    Like 3
  2. Avatar gaspumpchas

    Looks like it went swimming, no attempt to clean it up, 70 Large?? I’m missing something. Anyhoo, good luck to the new owner.
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 7
  3. Avatar Gary

    For that ? People are crazy

    Like 6
  4. Avatar Mark

    Go through it from end to end , clean it up , but leave the paintwork and patina as is.

    This would be a head turner on the street !

    Like 6
  5. Avatar JEV

    Paying 70k for this literally rat trap most likely a rich fat cat going to restore it back to original split window splendor and sell it at auction for a million?

    Like 2
    • Avatar Dave

      You sound mad, but look at it this way: When he’s done restoring it to it’s original split window splendor, I’m sure he’ll sell it to you for a million. Personally I wouldn’t want this one, too much responsibility for me.

      Like 0
  6. Avatar gbvette62

    I’m surprised that thing sold for $70K. There are restored, race ready, mid year Corvette’s out there available for less, many with much better race history. This is a nice car, with race history, but it was just a club level racer, and was never driven by any name driver, or raced in any significant events.

    The seller of the maroon 65 coupe a little further down the page is a friend of mine, and a Corvette vintage racer. I’ve been researching the race history of cars he finds, and crewing for him, for 15+ years. I’ve been involved with road racing Corvettes, on and off since the 70’s. I love this car, but I can’t understand paying $70K for it.

    Like 7
  7. Avatar bobhess Member

    Prime Vintage race car these days with plenty of places to race across the country. Mechanical refurbish and new paint using the same colors and graphics and you are good to go. Hope that’s what happens to it.

    Like 4
  8. Avatar AF

    I hope this car’s 15 minutes of fame are up. Anyone else keep seeng this car?
    It just doesn’t seem that special.It might be better to try to return it to something that doesn’t look like a ’80’s scca car.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Johnny Demonic

    I love this car. Just clean it up, get it mechanically sound and drive it.

    Like 3
  10. Avatar Melton Mooney

    Happy they found a buyer for it at 70K, but even happier that it wasn’t me.

    Like 8
  11. Avatar JagManBill

    Without researching the VIN, I’m going to guess someone did for that kind of sales price. At that price, I wouldn’t be too surprised if it is a tanker with history

    Like 1
  12. Avatar Kim

    At 8 or 10 years old the 63 corvette became my life long dream car. As I grew so did the popularity of the C2 Corvette, but it was much later that the split window stopped being the ugly duckling and became a beautiful swan. I never stopped loving that split window and was disappointed as the prices began soaring faster than my ability to tuck away unneeded funds. Now even as I have entered into a higher tax bracket, so has that elusive split window. That window divider has become a vanishing point that never appears to get closer.

    Like 1
  13. Avatar CeeOne

    It’s in the current issue of Hot Rod

    Like 0

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