The owner of this 1963 Chevrolet Corvette must have been into the mindset of making lemonade when life gives you lemons, as the convertible was stolen and then stripped not too long after it rolled off the assembly line. The car had also suffered some body damage, with enough bad stuff having occurred that the insurance company declared it a total loss, and that’s where the seller stepped in. If you dig what you’re seeing here and like the idea of owning a Corvette that nobody else has, maybe you should check this one out. The car is sitting about 40 miles north of Pittsburgh in Portersville, Pennsylvania, and can be found here on the Classic Cars Website with an asking price of $65,000.
Larry D. has been feeding us lots of cars he’s spotted lately, and we’d like to thank him again for sharing this one and all the others! The story goes that the seller’s father owned a high-end body repair shop back in the sixties, and this car was purchased directly from an insurance company that saw no hope back in ’64, so that’s when the transformation to what you see here was begun. There’s certainly no shortage of customized Corvettes still around, which I guess are sort of the epitome of the beauty in the eye of the beholder concept in the automotive world, and I’d love to hear what you all think about this one.
Upon acquisition, the seller spent the next 5 years working on his ‘Vette, and it’s a lovely commodity under the circumstances when your dad’s in the body business. When I was around his age and tinkering with cars, I was lucky to find a floor jack and a pair of vice grips in my father’s one-car garage. He says the body was completely custom fabricated, with no kit parts incorporated, and he also converted it from a convertible to a hardtop with a removable roof. While I’m appreciating some of his vision, the one thing I’m most struggling with is the forward trajectory of the rear tires in relation to the wheel well openings.
A few of the interior parts were left factory, but the seating and upholstery are custom, as is the dash and steering wheel, although the steering components, suspension, and drivetrain are all standard Corvette parts. I kept staring at those gauges and their presentation, then finally decided I’m cool with how they are mounted but not really feeling the wood panel surrounding them. Everything else inside looks pretty decent, and I like how the roof can fit behind the seats when it’s off, but heads-up that there’s said to be some mouse critter damage inside.
This one’s been parked and off the road for over half a century, and there are no specifics mentioned regarding the state of the engine or transmission. Fortunately, at least there is a motor in the bay area, and from what I can tell things in there look to be overall complete, minus battery, but to have been idle for over 50 years I’m guessing it’ll need a good thorough going through. What are your thoughts on this custom Corvette, and the seller’s asking price of $65,000? Did the visionary hit their mark with this creation?
Aaaahhhh nope, agree with the author that rear wheel housing is off. Car had to be relieved of its drive line as well. The dash looks worse than some kit cars I’ve seen. Does have a big block added although no mention of displacement. Pretty pricey for what he is selling. Don’t get me wrong has a few good ideas but I have no idea what he started with either. So B+ for the effort.
When you take one of the best looking designs ever put on the road and turn it into something basically ugly you have to wonder if it was a relative of the designer of the SP250 who did it.
Saab Sonnet vibes.
My first impression.
Okay, hold on, this is really cool. Remember, this was 1964 and this car was fabricated by a very talented guy. The C3 was a couple years away, but this guy had a vision, and tell you what, he wasn’t very far off. The 409, dual quad was the hottest stick at the time, tilt hood, right out of the Cheetah, I think it’s really neat. I couldn’t care less what it brings, but shows what one guy can do. What ever happened to that?
And that’s a 409 because you think so? As far a futuristic it was finished in 1968!! The builder took 5 years on that.The Cheetah had come and gone. Still stand with B+ for effort.
I also think it is a 409. The shape of the valve covers makes it either 348 or 409. The dipstick on the right, (You can see the top of it peeking out over the heater hoses) makes it a 409.
As far as the looks, nope, no, no thank you, not me.
Could it be a mystery 427 Z-11, and the guy’s thinking it’s rare enough to ask $65K?
I don’t like the back of it but , I would like to run it through it’s paces just once .
Custom interior, custom body, swapped engine and tranny, even custom dash and seats and this in NOT a 63 Vette. It is essentially a one off kit car that used a Vette donor. You can buy running C2’s with more upside for less than 65k. Clown world here.
Each to his/her own. I would have a blast searching through all of the real Corvettes I could have for $65,000.
This car is more than ugly, it is FUGLY !
This is what happens when a Saab Sonnet hooks up with an Opal GT!
how to take one of the coolest cars ever made and turn it in to a Saab Sonnet clone….yikes…
The VIN listed in his ad is for a 1964 Corvette convertible, not a ’63.
I can tell the owner put a lot of work into his creation. I don’t think his time was well-spent, however, and his asking price is from Cloud Cuckooland.
Hard pass.
This car maybe cool, but it has absolutely nothing to do with a 63 Vette!!!
I’m not so sure about the “high end body shop” part of it, but whoever put this together definitely owned an empty beer can factory. Wow.
Anybody can restore a Vette ,it takes a real man to cut one up.
Nope, doesn’t cut it. The back end has to be the ugliest I’ve seen in recent years. $65,000?? Maybe $6500 at best.
I guess no one likes this car, I must concur…………..lol
I appreciate the guy’s hard work but…nah.
At an appropriate price, and if the chassis checks out, I could see pulling the entire body off and replacing with new.
The W block motor could be sold for, hopefully, enough bucks to help fund the resurrection.
I concur with the VIN being from a ’64.
What a pity …!
Admire the skill, question the vision.
Are the seats stuffed with $60k in cash?
it’s definitely in the eye of the beholder …….
You misspoke…in the eye of the beer holder.
$65K? It’s good to want.
But I do like the 409.
ATBGE – Awful Taste but Great Execution
The old saying “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” comes to mind. He was obviously a talented body and fender man as well as a fabricator. Buuutttt he didn’t have a good eye for design. Imo the car should have been a roadster, short windshield in a chrome frame, get rid of the sailpanels and fab a fiberglass hardtop that you can remove. It is savable but at approx $10-20k not $65k.
This car could have been in Death Race 2000! IMO proportions are off. It does feel similar to a Saab Sonnet as bunch of people mentioned. Would prolly be hella fun with the 409 if that’s what it it – but $65k is out of touch with reality! Good luck with that!
Damn that is ugly, I thought it was a Saab Sonnet when first saw it!
A whole lot of money for ugly!