1963 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

As with many vintage Corvettes, provenance is critical. Fortunately, this 1963 Corvette convertible has plenty of it: matching-numbers, 4-speed transmission, original color combination, and even A/C, which was offered for the very first time in 1963.

Imagine it's 1963 and this Corvette has just hit the market. Owning one well and truly made you The Man, and save for perhaps the E-Type Jag, there was simply no other car on the road that could upstage the all-new Sting Ray. Painting it Riverside Red, named after the race course, only heightens this car's appeal, and thanks to a comprehensive restoration a few years ago, it looks fantastic. It fits together the way a properly restored vintage 'Vette should and the fiberglass is in very good condition, befitting a car that's probably led a very good life. The details are right, from the crease that surrounds the perimeter of the body and which remains crisp and sharp, to the more subtle things like the fit of the headlight doors and the shiny grilles in the hood that sit flush with the surface. The code 923Apaint looks right with a pleasing shine that only comes from a proper buff job, and the chrome is uniformly excellent throughout.

If there's a more inviting-looking interior than this, it's hard to imagine what it is. No longer perfect and fresh, it instead has a wonderful patina to it that's very hard to resist. The red vinyl buckets are correctly finished with vertical pleats and flank a factory center console, complete with Hurst 4-speed shifter and cue ball knob. The rest of the color-matching interior is just as nice, with correct carpets, a nicely preserved steering wheel, and bright, clear original gauges. There's a rather rare AM/FM radio in the center stack along with the controls for the A/C. Now, A/C was first available in Corvettes in 1963 and cost a whopping $421, making it the second-most expensive option on the list next to the fuel-injected motor. Only 278 Corvettes were equipped with A/C in 1963, including 50 convertibles, and while this is not one of them, the installation looks quite OEM and uses modern R134a refrigerant. Among the other noteworthy options, there's a restored removable hardtop in addition to the black folding top.

The engine is the base 250 horsepower 327, but anything with just two seats and 250 horsepower is a great performer. It is the car's original, numbers-matching engine and as such it has been rebuilt and detailed to an appropriate level. It shows some signs of having been driven, but the finned valve covers, chrome air cleaner lid, and even the blue stripe hoses give it a very authentic vibe. You will note the original ram's horn exhaust manifolds still look great and the A/C uses a Frigidaire A6 compressor, as original. The factory 4-speed still pushes power back to the original rear end, and the underside was finished in basic black, so you won't worry about driving this one. A recent exhaust system growls with authority and it's nice to see a '63 with hubcaps instead of knock-offs, which technically were available but none were delivered due to casting issues. 205/75/15 whitewall radials finish off the factory look.

The '63 Corvette is one of those rare examples of a hardtop being worth more than a convertible, but that doesn't mean this roadster isn't a wonderful car that will only continue to appreciate. Call today!