After more than 20 years in storage, this forgotten classic received an admirable clean-up before seeking a new owner here on craigslist. Located in Alabama, the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette does not run and will need a thorough once-over before splitting the wind under its own power. The solid-lifter 327 and Muncie four-speed manual transmission hail from a nondescript 1965 Chevrolet, and apparently the small block wears the original aluminum intake. The asking price of $35,000 could make a fun starting point for negotiations. Thanks to reader Mitchell G. for spotting this fresh Sting Ray.
Reading the tea leaves of the spartan listing, this could be a 1965 solid-lifter 327 cid (5.4L) V8, possibly the potent L76 mill making 365 HP with a Holley carburetor. Chevy experts are welcome to comment below! Only the distributor cap suggests this engine has received any recent attention, and the seller indicates that the carburetor and brake master cylinder are toast.
Take a lesson from how this long-forgotten Corvette has been cleaned up for top dollar. Though not running, it’s easy to picture yourself slipping behind the wheel of this classic, twisting the key, and driving away. That daydream beats fears of inhaling toxic spores while reviewing disease-ridden “as found” pictures.” The latter is great for historical purposes, but a clean car shows respect for the vehicle and potential buyers.
Originally Daytona Blue, this ‘Vette looks great in black and will pop even more when all the shiny bits are polished to perfection. The removable hardtop comes with the car, but no soft top. Nothing here suggests that you couldn’t accomplish a mechanical refurbishment and enjoy this car as it sits. I’d love to see the big rear wheels with fresh tires and a matching set up front. The period look would attract more attention than a row of perfect factory restorations. The new owner might pick a point in time, say 1978, and make it a period-correct custom from that time. How would you bring this one back?
So the car is from New Jersey and just emerged from storage. As a 63 it might be a good idea to look it over carefully. If the engine is the 365 HP that would make it fun to drive, but slowing it down with drum brakes hmmm. Someone will have to sink some bucks into it to get a decent driver out of it. Why a new distributor cap and haven’t tried to start it?
That’s not a 63 hood, it’s missing the rf isolation hardware, I suspect wrong valve covers for mechanical lifter engine.
This is likely a heavily modified car with a very optimistic $ ask.
Interior door armrests missing, not ordered, or not available in ’63?
Looking at the skiiny bias plies up front, i believe tires were THAT narrow front & rear on these cars when new, & also on the 1st mustangs. Must have been fun when changing lanes, going over a somewhat wide groove in the road. lol
The owner of this car just documented his discovery as it sat in the barn on a Facebook page “Rotting Muscle Cars.” It is barn fresh, and now cleaned up reveals some dated details that may want to be retained for the period look.
The rear quarter panels looks like they been chopped.
http://www.rlcherry.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Rathbone-as-Sherlock.jpg
It would help to show the VIN tag and the trim tag and the stamping on the ledge at the front of the block to determine what engine it has. This should help sell the car for sure. Otherwise, you’re just buying a “pig in a poke”.
emphasis on pig
Not worth 35 maybe 20 I’d return to stock redo wheel wells get new bumpers hood not original but nice stock tires and wheel covers would be nice
Solid lifter 327 was snot available in any 65 Chevy but the Corvette/ It does have the proper manifold and carb for the 365.
No way that is the proper carb!!!!
Well it has a solid lifter tach, so it was at least a 340 horse, doubt if it was a fuelie but anything is possible. Has headers and a Hurst shifter, probably spent time at the strip. Loved Daytona blue in that time period, GM sprayed it on everything.
BTW those aren’t ’63 seat covers.
This car was for sale on ebay several times in the last few years. At that time, the car was gold.
Maybe 20 grand on a good day.
So where is the car, Alabama, New York, New Jersey ? It does look like it is presently Daytona Blue not Black. I see remnants of Chevrolet Orange on the valve covers where back in the day we used to paint the finned area, it was a nice touch the script & the top of the fins stayed natural aluminum. 365 horsepower Corvettes ruled the streets for a long time,,,,very, very quick ! Lots of questions about this car, it needs a close in person inspection before anyone lays down that much ca$h for it. Seats, BB ’67 hood, motor, wrong carb. ?
I think the questions about the location of the car have hurt its saleability in the past. The seller seemed very vague to questions about the car and the discrepancy of its location.
I lived in Alabama for 5 years and the soil in those pics definitely looks like what you find there. So, I agree with @moosie about questions of where the car is. Why doesn’t the seller address that question once and for all?
On top of that, there needs to be pics of the frame and bird cage when you are asking this kind of money and I see none. Potential buyers like a seller who communicates freely, openly and honestly.
Anyone that has been around cars & Holley Carbs, know that they’re just about indestructible! Take them apart, throw them in a bucket of carb cleaner, a new gasket set, and, if the throttle shafts are frozen, some heat and WD-40 will get them going again! A couple of hours work, and they’re good as new again! I been working on & using Holley’s since the mid ’60’s! They’re great carburetors, easy to work on and set up, too!
A cah is only a cah. I know where a ‘41 La Salle is, and ya know what? It ain’t that pricey!!! It even has a rare steel sunroof.
IMHO, This car is overpriced!
Probably a steel insert, unless it’s a closed limousine with an occupant sky view.
327/365 did not come out till mid 64 I had one it was to keep the horses power with out fuel injection
Forgotten classic??? I doubt very much if it was forgotten.
I rebuilt one of these a cherry red one with a 327 backed by four speed manual. By far I think that was one of my greatest mechanic experiences.
Sad part was handed the lady the keys that owned it and she drove it 12 miles in second gear. Thought the motor was scorched. it set overnight fired right up it just hammered. The car was still beautiful LOL.