‘63 Split-Window Coupe with Powerglide Transmission
A seemingly original car with many needs that also has potential
It’s still astonishing to me that because of a one year rear window treatment, Corvette aficionados place a huge value premium on the ‘63 coupe. Especially because just two years later, the ‘65 model had so many improvements that made it a better car (I know because I owned one back in the day.) Oh well… I have to accept the vagaries of the car market and accept the peculiarities of it.
There’s no question that the 1963 model year was an important one for the Corvette. Completely redesigned after 10 years on the original platform, buyers liked the completely new design, and sales subsequently increased by nearly 50%, thanks in part to the introduction of a new coupe body style. The ad indicates that this coupe runs and drives, but judging by the photos, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Located in Santa Ana, California, this split-window is available for $115,000.
This C2 is called a “barn find” in the ad, a term that seems to have different meanings to different people. It’s claimed to be a west coast one-owner car in running condition with many uninstalled new parts included in the sale. There were four small-block engines available in 1963, and I assume this one is the base 250 horsepower version.
The one-year-only split-window design made the ‘63 coupe iconic but because of both internal and external complaints about visibility issues, the rear glass became one larger piece in 1964. Therefore, only 10,594 copies of the split-window were ever built compared to many more coupes without this design from ‘64 to ‘67.
The interior looks original to me and seems to be in reasonably decent condition considering its age. This mid-year is touted to be rust-free by virtue of its dry location and has had some work already done. The tires, brake cylinders, windshield, exhaust, and some interior pieces are said to be new. I assume everything else is original at 76,000 miles, including the 2-speed Powerglide transmission.
The seller refers to this coupe as being an “easy restoration,” but how much money over the buying price will it cost to bring it back up to a show-worthy car?
Looks like a great car to restore, but at that price and being an automatic, I think it could be pretty easy to get in over your head :(