1964 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

Beautifully restored, fitted with a few smart upgrades like A/C and a 4-speed, plus a cackling small block under the hood, what more could you want from your mid-year except a split rear window?

There's not much left that I can say about the Sting Ray that hasn't already been said, and since you're reading this, I'll assume that you really want to know about the car itself. Well, the original code 940 Satin Silver paint has given way to vivid Riverside Red, and who can argue with the results? The fiberglass underneath is very good with all of the usual Corvette issues handled properly and obviously they focused on getting it right rather than adding factory-style "imperfections." Gaps are quite even all around and thanks to the miracle of modern urethane paints, it has a deep, vivid shine that highlights all the Sting Ray's wonderful curves. All the brightwork was freshened, including the bumpers and ribbed rocker panel trim and even though the split window was gone, the glass in this '64 is in great condition with few signs of age.

A fresh black interior was installed during the restoration and it still looks quite good today. The standard choice (even called STD on the trim tag) was black vinyl, so that's what went back in, including the seat covers, door panels, carpets, and even the dash pad and center console. The gauges are quite possibly original and show crisp markings and tight spacing that looks very European, and the slender wood-rimmed wheel is perfect for your string-backed driving gloves. The unique vertical radio has modern AM/FM internals and air conditioning was invisibly added during the makeover using new components working behind the scenes. The clock was restored using a quartz movement, making this one of only a handful of vintage cars we've offered with fully functional clocks, and the chrome shifter for the 4-speed gearbox helps with the sleek monochromatic look. Even the package area behind the seats is immaculately upholstered in correct bound carpets that fit right and look great with only light fading, which is to be expected with that much window area.

The real reason this Corvette is so affordable, however, is under the hood. Were it a matching-numbers piece, the price would go up by thousands but the driving experience would be identical. While that doesn't make a lot of sense, the truth is that it's a 1968-vintage 350 that's been completely rebuilt to 1964 L76 specifications, which means 365 horsepower. With a solid cam, 4-barrel carburetor (the 1964 L76 was the first to use a Holley carb), and dual exhaust, it sounds nasty at idle and feels like it could pull forever. It also looks slick with finned valve covers, a chrome air cleaner assembly, and just a splash of Chevy Orange engine paint visible underneath. A wide-ratio 4-speed was installed to make it easier to drive and with 3.36 gears it's a pleasant cruiser with ferocious potential. Disc brakes were still a year away, but the stopping power of the drums is more than adequate for the car's performance and new KYB shocks keep it buttoned down. Knock-off wheels were finally available in 1964 and these wear 215/70/15 whitewall radials to make cruising drama-free.

If you can live without the split window and its 50% premium, this is a truly excellent mid-year Corvette with smart, invisible upgrades to improve the experience. Call today!