Ok, let’s get this out of the way. This is a beautiful car, period. Clean lines and apparently in remarkable condition! It’s for sale here on eBay with no reserve. Bidding is already up to $7,700 and I predict it will go higher still. The big Chevy can be found in Demopolis, Alabama, and the seller is quite correctly encouraging in-person inspections before bidding.
The car is presented as a “survivor.” When we have discussed that term on Barn Finds it means different things to different people, but usually, that includes original paint and upholstery. All I can say is that if this is the original “Magic Mirror” acrylic lacquer paint and upholstery that it is one of the very best preservation jobs I’ve ever seen!
Apparently, divine help was involved in keeping the car so nice.
Just wow. It’s a shame the floor wasn’t spotless as well, but you can see how nice the interior looks from this picture. The auction lists the mileage as 76,000. Do you think the upholstery is original?
The seller tells us the inline 6 cylinder engine. Assuming it is the original one, it would be a 230 cubic inch, 140 horsepower version, capable of propelling almost 3,500 pounds of car from zero to sixty miles per hour in about 13.4 seconds. In other words, you aren’t going anywhere in a tremendous hurry. But you sure would be going in style! Share your opinions on this car in the comment section below!
I’m sorry but if I saw a car with that plate coming up behind me
I’d deliberately stand on the brakes just to see if God was paying attention that day.
Three things should remain private;
Your religious thoughts
Your political opinions
And your sex life.
Haha! Unfortunately with those four wheel drums, puny single master cylinder, 55 year old brake lines, and all that weight, you might actually get to ask God that question yourself if you tried that.
Ha! Where’s your messiah now? And shouldn’t it be God is my pilot?( co-pilot was always the lesser of the 2 pilots) IDK, there may be divine intervention in driving, but I’ve found, it’s usually common sense that gets you through the rough spots.
It God is your co-pilot, switch seats!
I like how you just said that religion should remain private, but you pretty much just shared yours🤔🤔 just look at the nice car and move on
The next time you see this car for sale it will be sporting a 409 under the hood.
Quite possible. But the buyer should hang on to the 6 cup for the next buyer.
No way thats original seat cover they woreout quick,had a 63 belair with 92,000 bench seat was fried ,cant beat that 6 banger though they last forever with hardly any maintenance nice car,albeit boring but nice
Back then most people had plastic seat covers installed as soon as they bought the car. Ask me how I know! Those certainly look original.
I know how you know Rob.
You also had a record player in your 59 Chrysler and it was your job to change the record, all while Dad put foot up the local mountain pass.
As you slid from left to right – if your aim was just right – the King would appear out of his jailhouse and read y to rock…
It sure looks shiny. From the looks of the guys eBay account, he seems like he’s a bit of a flipper. None of the cars listed ever mention the condition of the paint or body work. It’s hard to believe a seasoned seller wouldn’t include that sort of information since he’s bound to be inundated with questions focusing on just that. I’d ask him upfront, if he gave an answer that left any wiggle room I’d assume it’s not original and there might have been other work done at some point.
Steve R
To nice for words.
The car is gorgeous! That being said, this
car is indeed a survivor in the sense that
it has not been cut or altered in any way
and retains its original engine, transmission, and rear axle as well as its
factory interior and body structure. Therefore, I consider the term survivor
a loose interpretation of the word as this
car may have been totally restored at
some point in its life. I’ve been a motor
head for many years and I have seen
an owner perform a full-blown restor-
ation on a car that really never needed it
in the first place. One of Dad’s friends
did this to a ’51 Lincoln convertible
with 32K miles on it. The car had been
properly stored inside since 1955. Dad’s
friend bought it in 1970 for just under $2K. When I first laid eyes on the car, it
was in fantastic original condition. There
was no rust on it anywhere, the paint still
had a healthy shine, the leather interior
was still very supple and untorn, the top
had no rips or holes. Why, it wasn’t even
separated at the seams with the factory
glass rear window still in place. And
lastly, the 337 cube flathead ran like a
swiss watch and the Hydramatic tranny
shifted as smooth as fresh churned
butter. Yet this gentleman spent a huge
pile of cash to restore, in my young mind,
a mighty fine car that didn’t really need it.
I’m pretty sure that’s what happened here
too–either that or he went to the Lambrecht auction, bought the car, came
home, and cleaned it up to the point you
see here, and then simply enjoyed it.
Whatever he did, it’s still a really nice
ride.
My said 6 on the sides not v eight logos.dont no .
Good catch, there is no reason for those V8 emblems to be there on an original paint car.
Steve R
V8 flags indicate 327. I disappointed when I read the ad
Great catch, Rubin!
The v with no flags are the callouts for the 283 not the 327 and certainly not the good old six cylinder. Nice car but not what I would a survivor!
Right. Those are 327 flags on the V
Your price prediction was right. It is now at $9800. And 4 days left to go. It is one gorgeous car.
Now up to $10,801.00.
As I was reading down the ad I was hoping for a 409 under the hood.
I was disappointed.
Looks beautiful till the engine, at that point it becomes who cares or gee 6 cylinder cars are worth more than 5 grand? Sure it has a really pristine body but if you made it something fun to drive now it’s not original. And worth less the purchase price of the 383 crate motor and new 4 speed trans plus cross member, driveshaft suspension. ….
And the list goes on.
Unless you want to drive a wheezing car like this the price is already too high.
The license plate is not appropriate in 2018, leave that to your self and family.
Why? I’m not religious, I’ve never been to church other than wedding, funerals and christening. I don’t see anything wrong with it. Why does it matter so much to you? It’s not imposing on any of your rights, why do you feel the need to impose on theirs?
Steve R
You are RIGHT! The flags on the front fenders indicate that a 327 is under the hood.
Very nice car, but not a true survivor!
I will shout God from the rooftops! He rules supreme… in my life. Has made a huge difference
But, let’s stick to the cars here
Back in the 80’s, my ex-BIL and I went to Nashville ( from Wisconsin) in his K5 Blazer pulling a home made car trailer. Back then, there was a ton of stuff to choose from. It came down to a ’56 Chrysler, immaculate, no motor, a ’65 Falcon 2 door wagon, with holes in the floor, and a ’63 Bel Air, just like this, only a stick. The paint was faded, and the left rear 1/4 panel was damaged, a rust free replacement 1/4 was included, rest of the body was perfect, it ran, but we loaded it on the trailer. $350 bucks. Soon after leaving Nashville, it was painfully apparent, the trailer had serious stability problems. What to do? I said, let’s off load the car, and I’ll drive it back. We changed the oil in a Kmart parking lot, new plugs, ran great.
The appeal in these is the big V8, lowered and clown wheels and not in stock 6 poppers. That’s what will happen next.
I had one exactly like this one back when I was a kid, but it was a three on the tree. Great car and lots of great memories.
Beautiful car. Even if it is a 2 door :-)
I wish the automakers would build cars this stylish today
The only things that bother me on this car is the 327 insignias and “the original spare tire”……. they didn’t have radials in ’63.
My Dad had one one these back in the 1970’s. That is not the original material on the seats or the interior door panels. My guess is that this had a 327 in it at some point and the original engine was put back in prior to selling the car.
Looks like it to me.
It’s original style upholstery pattern but clearly new covers on the seats and creative license taken on the door panels.
I restore many cars in my life, now doing work for Joe Bortz concept cars , but my car had 6 emblem down on lower part of fender.
heater delete would be a problem here, but a totally cool car which should be allowed to keep its 6.
radial spare and V-8 emblems make that personal inspection before bidding prudent…….
Yup. Nice but some weird stuff going on
Soon to be a real V8
I see one error right off the bat. 327 crossed flag over V fender badges. 6 cylinder under the hood. Scam.
Not really a scam. Removing badges and covering up the mars can be a problem for us hobbyists
Heater delete, radio delete..lol. NOT deletions. Either you paid for the OPTIONAL cost heater and the OPTIONAL cost radio or you didn’t get either.
Pretty much everything in those days, right down to an outside rear view mirror, was an extra cost option.
If it is really a survivor I would just drive it. If was originally a V8 and switched to a six, odd usually other way, leave it a close to stock in appearance but with a big block, trans, rear, brakes. A 425 horse 409 would be best if you didn’t have to pay twice the price of the car to get one! Probably because of the nostalgic drag cars I have become to like the 2dr. Biscayne sedans as much as a Impala 2dr. HT which are beautiful cars.
It’s in Great condition, but the body has been sprayed with a frosty clear coat and the seat is covered better than it was when new!
The small V was on the side front corner for an 8, but the flags above the V was a special 8 of sorts.
It’s covered in material exactly like it had when new.
By covered better I mean the quality of the fit…
Plain “V” signified a 283 V-8. Flags meant “327.”
Looks to be a factory blue car that grandma wrecked, only front replacement clip was from a 327 V8 car… install and paint. 6 cylinder emblems were between the wheel well and front door. Close but no cigar.
The only places I’ve ever seen cars with no heaters are tropical countries like Singapore…I can’t imagine a car would have been sold in the US without a basic heater by the 1960s.
looks like the generator has been switched to a alternator .
I’m not sure if I’d trust anyone from Alabama who’s flipping a car….. just the number of late model rebuilt salvage units coming out of there is staggering.
When I saw the 327 flags I hoped it would be a 300 HP mated to either a 3 or 4 speed manual. My juices were flowing THEN reality. 6 with P glide. Nice grandpa car.
I had a 1963 Bel Air back in 1968. It had a 327 Corvette motor with Muncie four speed and 3.88 gears. Not real fast but 14.5 sec. 1/4 mile. Everyone used to say it reminded them of the line in a Beach Boy song that went “and they say it looked better when it’s standing still”.
My sister had one of these as her first car in 1971. Upholstery and door panels, definitely not factory. The chrome strip on the side looks painted over! Does not have the ‘6’ emblems on the front fenders, instead showing v8. Definitely messed with, but still nice.
It is just the way that it should be Nothing wrong with a very nice clean 6 cylinder car not everything has to be a hot rod
Whoever said front clip replacement with one from a V8 car probably has it dead on. 😎
It’s more likely to have had an engine swap with a 6 car to me. Seeing how they filled the holes for the lower side trim does show they painted at least some of the car makes it more probable to have filled the V8 sign when installing a front clip. Belairs had lower side trim to go with the tail lights surround. Biscaynes had upper trim on the sides and no tail light trim. Just another take on fake here!
If you decode it is a 2 door bel air L6
I love all these chevy experts that think they have seen every combination of interior that chevy used in 63. Any time you say chevy never did this or always did that, you are probably wrong.
The brake pedal pad speaks volumes….looks like hundreds of thousands of miles. Does the VIN tell us whether the 6 banger came with this car? Maybe it lost the V8 along the way and a later 6 with alternator was the only economical replacement locally? Our family wrecked a 64 Corvair Monza in the front enough to require a whole front clip. We sourced a 1963 at the local junkyard and the body shop happily repainted our car with the emblems, trim and front wheel arch moldings from the 63 model.
It’s originally a V8 car, at least the body is. 63-1611 on the Fisher Body tag translates to a Bel Air V8, although which V8 it had, I couldn’t tell you. My guess would be the 283.
63=year
1611= 2 door bel air
If you break down the Vin it is and L6 car! Lots of know it alls!
Lots of people added on the dealer or put it themselves v8 emblems just to make other think they had a bigger engine than they really had, could it be this case?