‘63 Convertible with a Five-speed Manual
This super-clean C2 with a couple nice modifications presents very well
This first-year C2 has been well maintained and is available with an asking price of $59,900. Included in the sale is a log of every detail about the car since 2000.
1963 was one of the most pivotal years in Corvette history. After ten years riding on a sedan-based chassis, designers and engineers used a clean-sheet approach to finally create a world-class sports car with space-age styling and a new independent rear suspension.
This well-kept Corvette is mostly original but has had minor modifications. Under the hood, the factory 327 cubic inch V-8 was rebuilt in 2000 when the car had just 44,000 miles. It’s difficult for me to understand why an engine rebuild was needed at that low mileage. Sadly, there is no information disclosed in the ad as to the original engine and transmission combination. The car has just 53,000 miles on it now, and the transmission has been replaced with a TKO 600 five-speed manual. The car was also repainted in 2018 to an attractive shade of blue that was not a 1963 color.
The five-speed fifth gear is a 0.64:1 ratio, whereas a stock four-speed offers only a 1.00:1 ratio. Coupled with a 3.08 rear axle ratio, this combination does make this Corvette a very capable open-road cruiser (but at the expense of spirited acceleration). I think it’s unfortunate that the original transmission is not mentioned in the ad and therefore presumably will not be included in the sale.
The interior looks spotless and original but the ad description doesn’t provide any information regarding options. I believe the console is that of a four-speed car and the fender badging implies that this was a 360 horsepower fuel-injected car. But looking under the hood, there is no fuel injection unit on the engine and the decals on the aluminum valve covers indicate that this is a 340 horsepower engine. The car does appear to have power steering, but has no power brakes, air conditioning, or other options.
Customers could choose from six engine and transmission combinations, ranging from a sedate 250 horsepower backed by a two-speed Powerglide automatic to a fire-breathing 360 horsepower fuel-injected powerplant with a four-speed manual transmission. The ad description indicates only that the engine is a 327; there is no mention of horsepower.
The undercarriage looks unbelievably clean. I think at some point it must have been completely refreshed and either painted or powdercoated. I don’t think it would be more pristine if it had been sitting in a dealer showroom for the last 62 years.
It’s clear to me that a lot of effort was expended to make the car as presentable as possible. All of the lights, gauges, and other mechanical and electrical bits and pieces still work without issue.
In summary, I think that the presentation of this ‘63 is excellent, and it’s obvious that it has received an amazing amount of care over the last few decades. I love the color (although the ad doesn’t disclose the color name) and, although I put a premium on originality, the changes that were made are impressive.
https://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/d/brightwaters-1963-corvette-convertible/7853689632.html