Within Corvette circles, the most coveted ride may be the 1963 “Split Window” coupe. It was a one-year approach that appealed to Bill Mitchell, GM’s head of design, but not to racing enthusiasts. After what may have been some arm wrestling, the design was changed to a single wraparound pane the next year. This ’63 Corvette is a rough rolling project that will need a lot of commitment to become a restored show car. Located in Long Island, New York, this rarity is available here on craigslist for $75,000.
The long-awaited second generation of “America’s sports car” (the Chevy Corvette) arrived in 1963. It was completely new and included the addition of Sting Ray (or Stingray) as part of its name. A record 21,500 copies were built, with half (or 10,594 units) being the new enclosed coupe. We understand the design was influenced by General Motors’ Mitchell who advocated for the split back glass to permit an unbroken flow from the roof to the rear deck. That differed from Zora Arkus-Duntov’s opinion that it would detract from rear-facing visibility for road racers.
We don’t know if Arkus-Duntov (who had the media on this side) won the battle, but the split window design was gone for 1964 (and 1965-67). Which makes the 1963 Corvette coupe more desirable (and more expensive) in collector circles today. Almost no history is provided on this split window project. The VIN decodes it as once wearing Daytona Blue paint. And it would have had a 327 cubic inch V8, but which one? Nor do we know if it had a 4-speed or automatic transmission.
The front clip has been changed and there are some rust/holes in the metal portion of the “bird cage.” We’re told the Chevy has sat for a long time and the chassis was lifted from a 1967 Corvette for whatever reason. Several photos are provided of its detached trim pieces, which are said to be incomplete. And we don’t know how much of the interior survives either. The seller thinks this would be a good donor car for a restomod project – do you agree?
1963 or not. $75k.😂
There’s gold in them darn hills!
VIN tag has been home-welded. Seller says frame is from a ’67. A zillion dollars worth of parts are missing.
This is just a pile of rough parts in my opinion. And, unless you need the rear fiberglass of a ’63 Corvette to complete your current project, there’s no good reason to consider buying this car.
You’ve got to be kidding?!
Do not see 75k here. A close friend just sold a white very good driver condition with beautiful red interior for 70k.
If this wasn’t a split window, how much would this Gen Vette go for in this shape?
Well at the right price this might be a good project for a hands on guy at 30k and it looks to be a 4 speed by the looks of the center console
The center console in the seller’s photo is from a ’64 – ’67 Corvette.
I wouldn’t consider this car for future road use with that fonky VIN tag and a ’67 frame.
What a fool. With a check up from the neck up this guy might realize a 25 k value if the buyer was stoned
63 VIN plates were welded on at factory. This car was originally Daytona Blue per trim tag. But it’s still a pile. You can buy one done for $150,000. Save your money.
I would offer $15k and even then I might have buyer’s remorse. He thinks he’s sitting on a gold mine. Only problem is there’s a ton of work and expense to retrieve the gold from that mine.
Nope!
Vin tag suspect….. Different frame possible… All the making of fraud I would say.
Is Ricky Stenhouse selling his Vette
As some might say: “surely you jest”. I am a long time Corvette owner, (like over 50 years) and in my humble opinion, this thing isn’t good for anything except maybe trying to salvage the rear portion of the body and hope that someone doing a restoration needs one. There are absolutely no, none, zippo redeeming qualities about this thing. Unless I knew someone doing said restoration, I would not pay more than maybe $5000, and even then I would be worried about trying to sell the parts. This whole early ‘Vette has gotten big time crazy.
Someone has been watching meecum on tv.
There’s one in the town I work in just sitting in a dirt driveway usually covered with a plastic tarp.
Seen the owner. Obviously inherited and knows nothing about cars.
Breaks my heart.
Outside of the ‘from the door back body’ and a few bits of ’63 trim pieces there is nothing there. $7500 max.