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Recent Restoration: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

It would be fair to say that Chevrolet had a sales hit in 1963 with the new C2 Corvette. Sales climbed by an incredible 50% over the previous year’s record-breaking total. People liked what they saw and voted with their wallets. Today, the C2 remains a staple of the classic scene, and our feature car is a gem. It has remained garage kept following a recent restoration, and its condition is hard to fault. The seller feels the time is right to part with this Convertible, listing it here on eBay in Woodstock, Illinois. Bidding remains short of the reserve at $41,900, but there’s still time for interested parties to throw their hat into the ring.

The history of this Corvette is unclear, but the seller states it has been garage-kept since a recent rotisserie restoration. The claim is believable because it is hard to fault its overall presentation. The Sebring Silver paint shines and is consistent, with no patchiness, blemishes, or other problems. The fiberglass looks flawless, while the underside shots reveal the frame is spotlessly clean and structurally sound. The Black soft-top fits tightly, and there are no glass issues. I believe the exterior trim was restored or replaced during the build because it is all in as-new condition. The Corvette rolls on its original steel wheels, with perfect hubcaps and narrow whitewall tires. The impression is that this Convertible wouldn’t look out of place sitting on the showroom floor of the nearest Chevrolet dealership.

Powering this Convertible is a 327ci V8, with the original owner ticking the boxes on the Order Form beside the four-speed manual transmission and power steering. It is unclear which version of the 327 we’re dealing with, but the driver should have at least 250hp at their disposal. That makes a ¼-mile ET of 15.2 seconds a reality, although the more powerful L75 and L76 versions would slash the time considerably. This aspect of the car leaves us flying blind because not only isn’t it clear which version of the 327 resides in the engine bay, but the seller is unclear whether the car is numbers-matching. They say they believe it is, but there’s an air of uncertainty. An in-person inspection should reveal the truth, which I always recommend. The engine bay presentation is all you might expect from a classic like this, except for the red overspray on the exhaust manifolds. That suggests poor workmanship and is something I would pursue with the seller before committing my money to this car. The listing indicates the ‘Vette has covered 11,000 miles since the restoration, meaning it should offer a new owner many years of faithful service.

Considering its recent history, this Corvette’s interior condition is unsurprising. Buyers ordering a ’63 model in Sebring Silver could select interior trim in Black, Dark Blue, Silver, or Red. The original owner chose the last color, providing a bold and exciting visual statement. There’s no evidence of wear or other issues and no physical damage. The aluminum trim is immaculate, and the gauges look sharp. It isn’t brimming with options, but the original owner splashed $174.35 on the optional AM/FM radio.

The 1963 sales total of 21,513 cars was the lowest during the C2 Corvette’s production life. However, that figure represented a 50% increase over the 1962 record of 14,531. It is unclear how many of those cars survive and how many remain essentially as their creators intended. This looks like a beauty, making it easy to understand why it has attracted eighteen bids with time remaining on the listing. History suggests the action should become more intense as the end approaches, and it is conceivable that the final sale price could be double the current highest bid. Do you agree?

Comments

  1. Avatar Harvey Member

    I wouldn’t mind cleaning the paint off the exhaust manifold. A short test drive should do it!

    Like 6
  2. Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

    Overall, the car looks good. Why they sprayed the frontend of the exhaust manifold, who knows. If there’s documentation and an inspection checks out, it could be a great driver.

    Like 2
    • Avatar ruxvette

      The manifolds were on the engine when it was painted. Usually everything burns off except the ends. Someone wanted a true ‘original’ look. If they went to that detail on the entire car…

      Like 7
  3. Avatar George Mattar

    11,000 miles since resto. Good. At least one 63 owner actually enjoyed this beauty for what it was built for _ to DRIVE. No one in 1963, figured these cars would bring insane money 60 years later. After 11,000 miles, that red paint should have burned off. Chevy painted the engines with exhaust manifolds on them. At least, that’s what the NCRS tells us.

    Like 4
  4. Avatar OldSchool Muscle

    AHH another vette…… what else is new….

    Like 2
    • Avatar 370zpp Member

      Yes and keep them coming.

      Like 2
  5. Avatar Joe Haska

    It is at fifty plus, reserve not met. It always costs a little more to go first class.

    Like 1

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