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Top Flight ‘Vette: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster

This 1963 Corvette Roadster is about as original as they come. It not only wears its original paint but also the majority of its original inspection markings from the factory. I really have to thank Barn Finder Ikey H for referring this beautifully preserved classic through to us. The Corvette is located in Durango, Colorado, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $59,950 for the Corvette, although the option is available to make an offer.

The Daytona Blue that has been applied to this Corvette is not a repaint and is 100% original. The owner points out that this is no trailer queen, and does see use on a regular basis. As a result, it does sport a few marks and chips. However, these are so minor that it has allowed the Corvette to achieve the highly-coveted NCRS Top Flight status. He does concede that the vehicle would benefit from a new top at some point in the future, but that seems to be the only significant problem. The Corvette is solid and rust-free, and all of the original tags, including the one attached to the birdcage, are all intact.

The owner only supplies the one photo of the engine, and as you can see, it’s not a great shot. This is the original 327ci V8, producing 250hp. Backing that is the original 4-speed manual transmission and Posi rear end. That combination gave the Corvette pretty reasonable performance figures, with a 0-60 time of 6.6 seconds, and a ¼ mile ET of 15.2 seconds. The good news here is that this is a car that runs and drives perfectly, as the owner uses it on a regular basis. He also says that he would have absolutely no hesitation in driving it right across the country, so reliable and strong is the Corvette. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the original Dark Blue interior. The owner says that it does show some light wear, but that it is, once again, completely original. Everything works as it should, including the clock and the AM Wonderbar radio.

This 1963 Corvette Roadster might not be perfect, but it is a nicely preserved and original survivor. Its condition is good enough to justify Top Flight status, meaning that it has survived a thorough inspection by some of the country’s most discerning Corvette experts. At the BIN price, it would seem to represent a pretty reasonable buy and could be the most enjoyable investment that you are ever likely to make.

Comments

  1. Avatar photo TimM

    Really a nice looking car and I’ve always loved the 327 engine!! Just a little out of my price range!!!

    Like 3
  2. Avatar photo 86_Vette_Convertible

    Good looking car, but the price is a bit of hinderance to me. Though a lot of people (including me) like the C2’s, they’re out of most of our price ranges.

    Like 5
  3. Avatar photo FarmerBoy

    My father’s best friend since grade school had one of these in red. I was in junior high when “Uncle George” gave me a ride to school at noon (probably in spring of ’64). I asked him to burn rubber when he left, but he insisted he didn’t want to get a ticket. He drove off, and just around the corner, you could hear the Vette rev-up and lay a long patch into the distance. Great for my social status with the cool kids :)

    Like 1
  4. Avatar photo Kenno52

    I am salivating. However I’m also poor. It’s nice to see a “63 ragtop , I see so many “63 split windows (even today) up for grabs , knowing Chevy did not produce that many. Like to add my father was a GM for a Chevy Dealership during the C-2 & C3 era and he always said the fastback without factory a/c were hot boxes . He was right having driven many . A first born’s benefit. I still don’t understand why people who could afford to buy these cars without factory a/c could be so cheap . Give me a convertible without black int..

    Like 3
    • Avatar photo Tom Bell

      In the 60’s, air conditioning was not really a big deal. It was out there of course but not not considered mandatory as it has become. If you wanted fresh air, a convertible was the way to go. I ordered a GTO in 1967 and A/C was never a consideration. The thought was the compressor would bleed off a few h/p and was just not necessary. Power steering, brakes and windows were opptions that were also often ignored.

      Like 2
  5. Avatar photo PRA4SNW

    I think that I would choose this ’63 Convertible over the Split Window that is currently being offered. By the time the bidding is over on that one, it will be over 50K and need another 20 – 30K to bring it up to this one, if you are lucky and the frame / birdcage rot isn’t as bad as it seems.
    This is a Top Flight winner, and to Vette people, that adds a good amount of $$ to the value. Plus, it’s a driver and not a garage queen right now, so can be enjoyed.

    Like 3

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