The thoughts of getting older and passing away aren’t subjects most people get particularly excited about mulling over, and if you’ve got a collection of valuable automobiles or even just one, deciding what to do with them has got to be a tough end-of-life decision to make. Sadly, it sounds like the owner of this 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe might have experienced an untimely death and didn’t get to choose, as it seems he was in the process of treating this holy grail C2 to the best of everything. This one’s a true beauty, and it can be seen here on Craigslist in Salem, New Hampshire, where the seller has priced it accordingly at $159,000. Rocco B., thanks for the great tip here!
The story goes that the owner of this split-window coupe hired a professional shop to perform a restoration, and the photos certainly back up the seller’s claim that it was a very high-end job. However, the work was completed in 2017, and the Corvette is said to have sat for years following the owner’s death. It’s unknown whether he lived long enough to even get behind the wheel of the finished product, as this one doesn’t look like it’s covered much territory since it was brought back to like-new condition. There’s no word on what the car looked like before, but any previous issues it may have had now appear to be in its rearview mirror.
Four different variants of the 327 were available for the newly designed Corvette in 1963, with the standard engine producing a respectable 250 horsepower. The next step up increased the number to 300, and that’s what’s reported to be under the hood here, which the seller was told is numbers matching. He also believes the 4-speed manual transmission is original, but the rear-end is thought to have been swapped. This one is said to run, ride, and look great, with the quality described as investment-grade. I hope that doesn’t mean it rarely gets driven in the future, because this is the kind of classic that deserves to be on the road and enjoyed, at least part of the time.
That is one stunning red interior, and it appears like a time machine going back to ’63, with nothing jumping out as not pristine. The cost of the leather and upholstery is said to have been $5k, with the seller claiming he has documents and receipts totaling $40k for the restoration. I’m missing it if there’s anything to find fault with here, and given the desirability of the SWC nowadays, I wouldn’t be surprised if an enthusiast with the necessary funds snaps up this 1963 Chevrolet Corvette fairly quickly. Any thoughts to share about this one?
I remember when the Sting Ray came out. I loved it then and still do today, especially the original. I was in Third Grade and watched it on a Chevrolet ad during Bonanza one Sunday night.
This would be a good driver. Basic engine and powertrain. Nothing too involved for the average gearhead. I know I would prefer a carburetor to play with than a fuel injection system and this one is so-equipped.
Win-win all the way which is what I need to afford this beast…
That red interior takes this absolutely bad a** looking Corvette to another level of badness. I think 1963 was the first year for a real Vette.
The ’64 split window coupe is possibly the most beautiful American car ever made. What else can challenge it? Maybe the Cobras, possibly some 30s Duesenburgs/Packards/Cadillacs/etc, the Bill thomas Cheetah? I recall seeing a speed boat designed using the split window as its inspiration. It also looked very cool.
White looks fantastic on these cars. I find the red interior a bit much, would prefer something closer to tan/brown leather. I think I could cope with the red, though LOL.
Those knockoff wheel are actually hubcaps, right?
The split window is a 1963 Corvette exclusive, people thought that it caused a blind spot, and it was eliminated from the 64’s. The knock off wheels are real.
Ah, mistype – meant ’63. Real knockoffs from the factory. Pretty cool.
The wheels may be genuine Kelsey-Hayes units or reproductions but wouldn’t have been fitted by the factory. The KH wheels were in 1963 originally listed as a RPO and pictures appeared in some brochures but none were factory-fitted to 1963 models sold. A set (with two-eared spinners) was on the Corvette on the GM stand at the 1963 Paris Motor Show and they appeared on a couple of cars used in competition (also with two-eared spinners) but “production difficulties” prevented them being supplied to buyers. They were available from the start on the 1964 cars and kept the (three-eared) knock-offs until 1967. Many 1963 cars have been retro-fitted with aluminum wheels and their presence doesn’t usually much disturb the originality police. Word nerds can be amused by the KH units being “real knock-offs” while the reproductions are “knock off knock-offs”.
Folks like the look of them but knock off wheels were generally not available in 63 due to quality issues.