I was browsing around ebay and ran across possibly the best looking Corvette I've ever seen. I don't remember ever actually seeing this color in person on a second gen, it's stunning. Almost perfect, if only it was a split-window....I think I'd sell my soul to get a hold of the ~$50K for it.

 

'63 Vette? Yep, that's a rare and beautiful machine!

 

The issue with cars like that is that they look awesome (at least I think so) but when you get into actually driving the car... to me that's when the attraction fades very quickly.

You can't possibly buy a car like that (old Boss Mustang for another example) and really expect to drive the car hard.

I was at Thunderhill last year and a guy had a very nice 1970 or so Mustang. Hoosier tires and he had converted the brakes to very modern parts. I thought it was cool he was actually using the car, but from the looks of it there were many modern parts on it. The sad thing is I'm sure it still wasn't all that nice to drive.

So I guess what I'm saying is that unless you get off on the fact that you have something old, (sometimes I like old things as long as the function is still there - watches for example) just let someone else maintain the cars and admire them when you get a chance...

Nice car though, I agree!

 

I owned a 1964 Corvette that except for being red inside and out was very much like this one. It had the 327/300/4sp. Wonderbar radio and two tops. Sure there were some differences between the 63 and 64 but they drove the same. It didn't drive like a modern car but out of the well over 100 cars I've owned it stands out as my all time favorite. It's the one I really wish I'd never sold.

Somewhere I've got a picture of my car sitting next to a car that looks just like the one that's for sale, if I had a scanner I'd dig it up and post it.

 

Of course not, if I were to find and purchase a comparable '63 split-window (for me the split-window is the only real reason for buying a '63, if I wanted a convertible I'd most likely look into later 2nd gen models, particularly 65-67) it would likely never see another 15,000 miles during the rest of it's entire life.


That's part of the reason I'd like to get one of these, short of when something like a Super Chevy show is in the area, you don't get a chance. I think other than under the circumstances listed in the previous statement, I've seen a grand total of one '63-67 vette actually being driven down the road in the past year. I used to see them relatively frequently not all that long ago, but they seem to have become true 100% garage queens as of late. I'd be almost as guilty of this as anyone else as my statement about less than 15,000 miles in the paragraph above shows, but I would get it out occasionally on a very nice day....it would just be wrong not to IMO.

 

My father's got a 66 Vette sitting in the garage with over 160k miles, thing was absolutely bulletproof.

I assume that the hardtops did not have the split window, which is why that car does not have it?

My dad told me many years ago that when the 64's came out, lots of guys had their 63's cut up to get rid of the damn split window and replace it with the more modern full window... haha. Hoping I'm remembering that story right..

 

Yeah, the split-window appeared only in 1963 coupes.

I can't remember hearing stories of that before, I'd have to ask my dad if he has, but it certainly wouldn't suprise me. The stupid shit people will do to their cars...if only they had known then what we know now.

 

Wow, that's a nice looking Corvette! That color would look putrid on any other car, but on a Corvette, it looks classy. Very nice.

I don't think I've ever seen a hardtop on a 60s Corvette convertible. I wonder if it's original or a reproduction... That was an extremely rare option. If that hardtop is a factory original, that part alone is probably worth a couple thousand $$.

Andrew

 

Reidconti, you are absolutely correct. Many 63 owners had the rear split window removed and a one piece glass put in. Part of the reason why an original split is worth the coin it is.
Someone else will correct me if I am wrong but....I also think later in the 63 year (or maybe in 64 you had the choice) GM gave you the option of whether or not you wanted the vehicle with the split.
By the way, that colour in those years was very desirable as well and I think quite a few were sold. IMHO one of the nicest colours available ever on that particular body style.

 

Andrew, the hardtop that looked like that one was an option on the 63 -- 67 drop top Vettes. My 64 was red with a white soft top and red hard top. The original knockoff wheels on this car are even more rare than the hardtop. Most of the Vette's you see with wheels that look like these aren't true knockoffs. My car had one option that this one is missing, that being back up lights. You had to manually turn them on and off and they were great to make people on your tail back off.

I've driven 63 split window Vette's and there's a very good reason Chevy axed it after 63. The view out the back was awful. It sure looked and still looks cool though. Like YBS1 if I were to buy another C2 Corvette I would lean towards the 65 - 67 conv. The 63's and 64's were very much alike except for mainly trim items. The split window was the biggest change on the coupe's and the 64's were missing the hood "vents." The seats were a little different as were the guages and the glove box door, but little else changed. After 64 the drum brakes were gone and the cars stopped much better. Also while there was nothing wrong with the 327 engine more choices were added later like the monster 427.

BTW, I saw a red 65 conv. on the highway yesterday and it sure looked sweet.