When Chevrolet released the C2 Corvette in 1963, it added a Coupe to the range. The ’63 included a split rear window, which would remain a styling feature for a single year. Some buyers found the strip distracting and removed it to install one-piece glass. The owner of this 1965 model has gone in the opposite direction, but the change is easily reversible if a new owner decides to perform a faithful restoration. The ‘Vette is listed here on eBay in Glendale, California. The bidding action hasn’t been intense, but it has pushed the price beyond the reserve to $40,100 with time remaining in the auction.
The first photo reveals the point of difference between this Coupe and every other one produced in 1965. The seller desired a Split Window, but those cars command a healthy premium in the classic market. Therefore, they converted this car to capture that look. The supplied photos confirm the strip is glued or bonded into place over the original glass, making its removal straightforward. Purists will probably choose that path, but where they head from there will be a matter of personal preference. The Trim Tag confirms this Corvette is 1-of-1,191 ordered in Tuxedo Black, and although it looks generally tired, the seller believes a professional buff and polish would lift the appearance significantly. That is one option for those seeking a survivor, but the healthy fiberglass and lack of rust make it a prime candidate for a faithful restoration. Most of the glass is good, but the back window is scratched. The front bumper is missing a couple of brackets, which the new owner should have no trouble replacing. The trim looks acceptable for a driver or survivor, but the Rally wheels aren’t original.
This Corvette’s interior is pretty tidy, with only a few items requiring attention to lift its appearance. The wheel center is missing, and the carpet is tired. The seller includes a new front carpet in the sale, and a rear set is available for those wishing to achieve a consistent look. The Black leather seatcovers are spotless, and the dash is tidy. The gauges feature clear lenses and crisp markings, and the bright trim items show no signs of deterioration. The Hurst shifter is a later addition, but this Corvette retains its original AM/FM radio and power windows.
Lifting the hood reveals this Corvette’s numbers-matching 327ci V8 and four-speed manual transmission. It is unclear which version of the 327 this is, but the new owner will have at least 250hp at their disposal. That means it should comfortably produce a low-15-second ¼-mile ET, although a lower figure is possible. The seller is unhappy with the existing Chinese distributor, and the winning bidder might seek something more appropriate to improve performance and reliability. They recently spent some money on this gem, fitting a new clutch, a four-core aluminum radiator, tires, an alternator, a water pump, a sender unit, a fuel pump, hoses, and gaskets. It appears the car runs and drives well, and is ready to be enjoyed by its new owner.
This 1965 Corvette offers a few options for potential buyers. Enjoying it in its current form is viable, and many might choose to do that as they plan its future. Reversing the split window conversion is possible if the winning bidder wishes to retain it as a survivor-grade vehicle. However, its overall originality makes it a prime candidate for some form of restoration. It is set for a new home in a few days, but what would be your plans if you become its new owner?
Bizarre. Why? Seems like its worth less with the goofy window modification
In the ad it shows how it just comes right off if you dont like it. I would just take it off.
Actually, there were two separate pieces of rear glass as part of the rear window in 1963.
Yeah, my thinking too! Could have been owned by a magician at some time in its life. Maybe thought no one would notice?
No rabbit, no hat!
Otherwise looks like a decent start.
Still a nice example to go to cruise night. As for the distributor i’m sure a repro o.e.m. will be easy to find or a good quality h.e.i. for added reliability. Why a fuel pressure gage ???
Didn’t see a fuel pressure gauge mentioned ??
Look at the left valvecover
If the seller truly believes a professional buff and polish would lift the appearance significantly, why doesn’t he just do it?
Probably for the same reason he put a “split” applique on the rear window.
He’s lazy or maybe he don’t know how. Elcomprendy??
My thought exactly. Would it have been too much to give it a thorough cleaning before photos. I mean, Dirty Tires? Dude? If you’re that lazy what’s wrong or unrepaired that can’t be readily seen?
This car could have a decent detail and clay done for $300 or less. It would definitely push the sell price higher. I don’t get it…
This is the first Corvette I have ever seen from Kalifornia that looks like un kept. Is it Homeless?
We’re not interested in any full blown restorations. I’d drive it as-is, making tweaks and improvements towards originality as we go. Let the next caretaker do the resto.
I’m sure I would regret it but I would have to put sidepipes on it to get the iconic experience of a C2! I wonder if he would trade for my C5?
Depends on how much money is in the trunk of the C5…😆
Somebody might correct me, but it appears to have a 6,500 redline tach which would indicate a 365 horsepower motor (highest HP with a carb in 1965). I do not understand how anybody can boldly claim matching numbers without providing pictures of the vin and trim tags and the engine stamping numbers.
Yes, the 6500 redline and 180 MPH speedo indicate the 365/375 motor. An ‘original California’ car could be pretty decent underneath but certainly due diligence is needed before a money exchange.
I suspect this car will stall out at about $50k. Depending on one’s ability and intended future use that might be an OK deal.
Check frame and cage.They can rust pretty bad.????
I thought I was the only one who noticed the aluminum intake manifold.. c’mon guys, that was too easy.
Why or WTF!? This will take up some real estate in my mind today…just don’t understand it.
I like the looks of the factory-installed split rear window on the 1963 models. The idea of a stick-on pseudo strip–not so much.
Yeah it kinda reminds me of ‘ss’ badges on a non-ss car, I mean, it’s a highly sought after car! Why in the h-e-double hockey sticks would you try and make it look like something it’s not? And I’m with you guys on the dirty tires, it looks like it’s been rolling up and down my dirt driveway (out here in rural Madison county ). I would definitely give this one a thorough look-over before I handed over any loot! BBW! (Buyer Beware, for those of you not up on the acronyms)… reminds me of the Jeep I test drove that time and the owner swore it only had 78,000 miles, but the bottom right corner of the brake pedal was MIA…
I get so sick and tired of these comments relative to not being able to see out the back of a split-window. That is pure HOGWASH! Actually, a different phrase was intended. Ask the guy that owned one. I never had a problem seeing out the back of mine in either the r/v mirror or looking over my shoulder. Anyone who says it’s a problem has never been near one.
I wouldn’t think the split rear window materially obstructed drivers’ view rearward. I never heard or read that owners of cars from the mid- to late 1930s, when the styling feature was ubiquitous, had complained about them .
In my personal opinion a ’63 SWC is hard to see out the back. Actually, all C2 coupes are hard to see out the back. Is it a problem? For some. Altho I have never seen actual numbers ‘supposedly’ some folks opted to have the split removed and ’64 glass and trim installed.
I have driven a few SWCs and the split is right in the middle of the rearview mirror making it hard to see out the back. Actually, all C2 coupes are hard to see out the back.
For the record I have owned several C2 coupes but mostly convertibles, including the ’66 convertible I own now.
Isn’t it hard to see out the back of all C2 coupes.
I had a 63’’ SWC back in 71’ as my 1st car.
Never had any issues with the back window. Uses the rear window only when passing a car.
I was taught my my dad to use the side mirrors and have been doing it ever since.
Sold it many years later to buy a house.
I find it funny more people comment about the split window are people who never had a car with a split window.
Now GM is making a SWC again.
It’s not “hogwash”…just because you personally had no problem with it. It was the main reason why GM got rid of the split window after ’63.
May I repeat, HOGWASH!
Actually, anthony d, your last sentence is “hogwash”.
I hear you man, they’re probably the same naysayers who said the solid wheels on a Fatboy would catch the wind too much and cause you to be blown off the road…heh heh heh, eat my dust! Hogwash!
They’re probably just jealous…
I agree … not that big of a deal. I have a HTC C8 and the rear viz with top down is pretty bad. Frankly, all mid-engine cars have the same issues. Thankfully, the side mirrors are excellent and the collision avoidance systems work like a charm. I’d take a 63 in a heartbeat!
Agreed…..what a bunch of “i know everything” commandos….id giv my left nut to hav a 63 split window weather i could c out the back or not….jeeez…
Whether
I had a swc for 40 years sold it and bought another one for 6years now it is a little hard seeing out the back.the thing l don’t understand is they knew it was going to be hard to see,why didn’t they put a mirror on the passengers side too and maybe a little bigger rear view mirror or something
Thanks acz….i think peeple got the point
Viper, please understand, that kind of thing cuts down, severely, on the credibility of what you are trying to say.
Chevy designed and built a racecar.
They didn’t care about what was behind. The engineers might have had trouble keeping a full glass in the car, or they couldn’t make the one piece glass, in 63. Too many angles?
Chevy designed and built a racecar.
They didn’t care about what was behind. The engineers might have had trouble keeping a full glass in the car, or they couldn’t make the one piece glass, in 63. Too many angles?
I’m thinking a 63 sw in today’s market may bring $65k or so?
@…rayburn Check out BAT [Bring A Trailer] I think that you will see that your estimate is quite low.
I was thinking it might have been somewhat low, and the factory big blocks are really up there…
rayburn I’m talking a real SWC not this Redneck version. You will not find a factory big block in a ’63. Any decent ’63 coupe will be on the North side of $100 K. Especially if its a fuel injected. Then you are getting closer to $120-$140. In ’69 I missed out getting one for $950. Of course the injection was missing because most guys couldn’t keep them running back then.
rayburn I was wrong on my estimates. I just looked at BAT results for the last year or so. 3-5 sold for $300K +. Several more in the $200 + and then the majority in the $100K +.Only two under $100K and one of them was an old race car.
Wow, these years of corvettes with a big block must be about as rare as the older dodges with the 426 hemis!
I had the guy send me pictures of the VIN & Trim tags and the engine stamping. Engine stamping matches the VIN and decodes as a 365 horsepower engine. Paint code matches tuxedo black, too, and is a rare original color. This would be a nice one to restore (and ditch the split window strip).
This proves there alot of coffee shop Einsteins that know everything but not much else. I saw several of these conversions growing up and frankly the owner is the only one it has to make happy, just like all the other cars.
A”Chinese” distributor?never heard that one before.Just go with an MSD setup,the box and the plug wires and use a platinum or iridium plug,you,ll notice the hp gains.stock ignition systems do the job,but an MSD system does it better….
Splittie or not. Ended:
Jul 01, 2023 22:51:26 PDT
Winning bid:
US $52,800.00
[ 27 bids ]
D Koker must not have heard about this one?
I have not seen one that was drivable go that cheap in quite a while. Buyer will have enough money left over to buy an American made distributor since he got it cheap!
“I suspect this car will stall out at about $50k.”…damn, when yer hot yer hot!
Not bad money for a 63, I thought it would bring a little more though..
Take out the split, tint the windows, detail it, add some Cibie driving lights under front bumper, put some western mags on it, and then you put and add in the newspaper:
1965 Corvette for barter only 555-1234 ask for Ray.