Some enthusiasts will complete the meticulous restoration of their classic car and go on to experience years of motoring joy. For others, the restoration journey satisfies them, and they will choose to part with a vehicle once the work is complete. That appears to be the case with this 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe. It has covered a mere fourteen miles since the seller completed a meticulous frame-off build. They have decided to part with a vehicle guaranteed to turn heads and draw crowds wherever it goes. You will find it listed here on eBay in Richmond, Kentucky. Bidding has raced to $150,000 off the back of intense action. However, that figure remains short of the reserve.
Chevrolet produced 21,513 Corvettes in 1963. Of those, 10594 were the Split Window Coupe variant. The distinctive rear window makes these classics instantly recognizable since it proved a one-year-only design feature. It didn’t prove as popular as the company expected, with some owners complaining about obstructed vision due to the strip of fiberglass running between the two pieces of glass. This feature also led to an industry where some dealers and other companies offered owners the option of cutting away the strip and installing a more conventional single-piece back window. It is unclear how many owners chose that route, but it is safe to assume they later regretted their decision as Split Window values climbed at a mind-boggling rate. This Coupe just came off the back of a meticulous frame-off restoration, and the presentation is genuinely stunning. The seller makes claims about the rarity of Tuxedo Black ’63 Corvettes, but 1963 is a model year where it is hard to confirm specific build totals for some colors. That is the case with this shade, so we rely on the seller’s word. They overlooked no aspect of the car in the build. The shine it exhibits is understandable, considering it wears no less than eight coats of clear. They say it looks a foot deep, which is a fair assessment. It shows no signs of flaws, which is unsurprising because it has only clocked fourteen miles since the seller completed its restoration. The fiberglass is perfect, and the frame is equally impressive. The chrome and glass are in as-new condition, but it is worth noting the aluminum wheels are aftermarket reproductions. If the buyer seeks originality, they should be able to locate the correct wheels and hubcaps to achieve a factory appearance.
The seller’s attention to detail is further emphasized when we turn our attention to its interior. It received a complete retrim using components from Al Knoch Interiors. They despatched the gauge cluster to renowned specialists Corvette Clocks by Roger for restoration to as-new condition. The shifter console received a $1,000 refurbishment and polish, leaving it looking stunning. The seller completed the process by performing a total rewire, meaning future electrical issues shouldn’t be a worry.
Assessing the engine choices ’63 Corvette buyers faced reveals the company offered no genuinely slow vehicles within its range. However, buyers wishing to lift performance to a higher level had some tempting options. This car’s original owner splashed $107.60 over the sticker price for the L76 version of the 327ci V8. This motor brought 340hp to the table, feeding the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. If the driver pointed it at a ¼-mile, it would despatch the distance in 14.3 seconds before winding its way to 139mph. It is unsurprising to lift this classic’s hood and find an engine bay that looks factory-fresh. Adding to the appeal is the seller’s claim the vehicle is numbers-matching. They rebuilt the engine and transmission during the build, and it has only accumulated fourteen miles since. It is a turnkey vehicle that runs and drives well, but the new owner will probably need to treat it with respect as they will undoubtedly be working through breaking in the rebuilt components.
Some purists will argue that the painting process for this 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe and the aftermarket wheels mean that it should be considered a beautifully refurbished car rather than a faithful restoration. That is a valid view, but it is undeniably a stunning car that seems to need nothing. I am not alone in my opinion because it has already attracted an incredible sixty-three bids with plenty of time left on the auction. Recent history suggests that the bidding should be edging towards the reserve, although it can sometimes be difficult to be sure with cars of this caliber. Even if this ‘Vette is beyond your financial means, watching the auction to see where the price heads before the hammer falls should be a fascinating experience.
As a 63 vette SW owner i like the continual increased pricing.
Were not at 68 shelby pricing yet but getting there
The car is gorgeous, maybe to the point of being over restored. But I just can’t believe the seller would advertise a car like this, at a price point like that, and not include pictures of the trim tag, VIN tag and block stamping.
Black is probably the most counterfeited Corvette color. Repro trim tags are available, that are easy to identify if you know what to look for. So it’s always a concern when the seller of a black car doesn’t post a picture of the tag. The same goes for the block, they can be restamped, but are usually identifiable. The seller’s comments that it “appears to be the correct engine” and “has the correct VIN number stamped on the pad”, make it sound like he’s not sure, or worse yet knows it’s not the original engine, but wants to be non committal about it.
For a car restored to this level, with a six digit asking price, you don’t need 16 pictures taken 10 feet away of shiny black paint, you need to see things like the trim tag and stamp pad.
I couldn’t agree more.
Beautiful car but curious why after so much effort would they use the wrong brake master which is one of the most unique ’63 parts? Just seems odd.
…and shouldn’t the air filter housing have the two snorkels breathing up front?
Nope that was for the lesser horsepower hydraulic cammed motor!
Has anyone ever seen a 63 that had the rear window converted to a single piece?
1964 and up.
Was not too uncommon back in the day but I’d guess all have been converted back by now. That two piece window adds about $75K to a C2 coupe.
Yes. I saw pictures of a friend’s dad’s ’63 that he transformed in 1964. He kept a piece of the rib for years.
Did they offer color keyed steering wheels? This is the first I recall ever seeing.
Yes, the first 18,000 or so cars had color matched wheels to the interior or wood grain finish was an option.
63’s came with a color keyed steering wheel until late in the model run. Near the end of 63 production the walnut grained, plastic wheel that became standard in 64, was offered as an option on 63’s.
Scuderia and I came in with the same answer at the exact same time, 7:43pm. That’s pretty funny, and we probably couldn’t do that again if we tried.
Yeah, that will be a tough act to repeat. And I knew that someone(s) would know the answer.
@gbvette62 Great minds….
do you have a ’62? I’ve got a ’64 roadster but still trying to wrangle a ’63 coupe.
Scuderia, yes I do have a 62. It’s a nothing special older restoration, Roman Red, black gut, two top car with a wrong motor that I’ve owned for years, but I like it.
We also have a 44K mile Bowling Green 81 we bought new, it was my wife’s daily driver till we started having kids. The 81’s received an NCRS Top Flight award. I have a Corvette parts business, do Corvette per-purchase inspections and crew on a 65 Corvette vintage racer…..I guess Corvettes are a bit of an addiction for me.