The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe has become a star of the classic market, with good examples typically commanding healthy prices. Our featured Split Window isn’t an original survivor, but it presents extremely well, and the engine bay houses an upgraded V8. It appears to need nothing, making it ideal for enthusiasts seeking a turnkey classic. Barn Finder Curvette deserves credit for spotting this potent beauty listed here on Bring A Trailer in Cambridge, Minnesota. Bidding is at $60,000 in a No Reserve auction, meaning it is only days away from finding a new home.
When Chevrolet introduced the C2 Corvette in 1963, it added a Coupe variant to the range. It proved an inspired decision: the Corvette set a new sales record of 21,513 vehicles, and 49% of buyers liked the idea of having a roof over their heads. There was a downside, though: some owners found the divided rear glass with the fiberglass strip down the middle distracting, negatively impacting rearward visibility. Chevrolet swapped to a more conventional back window in 1964, making the Split Window a one-year-only feature that increases its desirability. Our featured ‘Vette isn’t a survivor, receiving a variety of changes and upgrades throughout its life. The paint shade is the most obvious change, with the Trim Tag confirming it left the line in Sebring Silver. It is unclear when the change happened, but the process included adding subtle Blue pinstripes to the car’s hood and tail. The paint is in good condition, with a healthy shine and no evidence of significant flaws. The fiberglass is in the same condition, and the underside shots show a rock-solid frame painted Blue to match the exterior stripes. Other changes include a side exhaust and chunky 15″ Ultra aluminum wheels.
Ordering a 1963 Corvette delivered the buyer a classic powered by a 327ci V8. Chevrolet offered four versions of the 327, and it is unclear which this car originally featured. That is essentially irrelevant, because the original motor is long gone. The engine bay now houses a 350ci powerplant from a 1972 Chevy truck, with a four-barrel carburetor and headers that feed spent gases to the side exhaust. Power reaches the car’s rear end through a four-speed manual transmission, while the brakes remain the original four-wheel drums. The engine bay looks tidy, with some painted surfaces featuring Blue highlights, and the motor fitted with chrome enhancements and an updated dual-pulley belt system. Typical of most Bring A Trailer listings, there is no information about the car’s mechanical condition. However, a couple of embedded videos show the Corvette in action, and it appears to run and drive extremely well.
Apart from a Hurst shifter, this classic’s interior is largely untouched. The first owner chose standard Black vinyl trim, which looks pretty tidy. The carpet, especially in the rear storage area, has typical fading. However, since it isn’t badly worn, you could leave it as-is. The seats exhibit minor wear and stretching, but no evidence of developing holes. One rare feature is the woodgrain wheel, chosen by only 130 buyers. Sadly, this one is cracked in a couple of spots, and I’m unsure whether it is repairable. The embedded video confirms that the speedometer is inoperative and that the tachometer needle appears to bounce more than I would typically expect. The seller doesn’t mention these flaws, and it is unclear whether there are other functional shortcomings.
This 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe shows that a classic doesn’t need to be unmolested to generate significant interest. It has already received ten bids, and with the other listing statistics looking extremely impressive, that total will likely climb during the auction’s final days. It won’t appeal to purists, but enthusiasts seeking a turnkey classic providing stunning looks and excellent performance may find it irresistible. If you have long craved owning a Split Widow, could this one be a contender?
1985 called and asked for their wheels back. Seriously, not a lot to complain about here
Those are dated, but they represent a point in time, the Moroso air cleaner, valve covers and blue highlights do too. There is nothing wrong with leaving the car as it is, it looks good and would start conversations when out. Besides, a “restoration” will never make it matching numbers, while adding significant costs, relegate it to a life in a garage and wiping away what makes it stand out from every other restored Corvette.
Steve R