Vehicle Description
There's nothing quite like a 'Lil Red Corvette. Iconic and
beautiful enough to impress Prince himself, the mid-year
convertibles are arguably the best Corvette's ever made, and we're
thankful to sell a ton of them every year. This 1964 convertible
carries a highly desirable 327 V8 fuel-injected motor, a
quick-shifting 4-speed manual transmission, and a beautifully
preserved, survivor Riverside Red body. In addition, the current
owner is a dealer that bought this car from the original owner, so
the paperwork still qualifies this beautiful convertible as a
1-owner car, and the mileage is in fact believed actual with only
46,317 ticks on the clock. That makes this droptop mid-year more
than just a fancy roadster, but rather a special classic with quite
an interesting and valuable pedigree.
This isn't one of those trailer-queen 'Vettes that you're afraid to
drive, either. Preserved to a survivor level we don't often see
(the overwhelming majority of C2s are repainted cars), the Code 923
Riverside Red looks exactly like it should on the open-air
roadster, once again proving the old adage that there's nothing
quite like an original, stock-spec Corvette. The Sting Ray
(separate words up until 1968, 'Stingray' for all the subsequent
cars) was one of the most influential designs of the decade, and
even fifty years later, it remains instantly recognizable and still
resonates with hobbyists. This '64 hits the sweet spot, with a
survivor's patina that shows well and looks great for the car's
age, without the hassles that come from trying to maintain a show
car's finish. Sure, it has some signs of use and age acquired
through the years, and even some minor touch-up spots we'd prefer
not to have found, but the condition is much better than you'd
expect from a 57-year-old finish and if it were up to me, I
wouldn't repaint it. Let those decades-old imperfections tell their
story, the fiberglass is still very solid, there's still a nice
shine and luster that glows in the sun, and the car is much more
interesting than anything it's ever parked next to. At any Corvette
show, you can spot the guys who drive their cars pretty easily;
they're the ones with the giant grins on their faces, and you could
join them without worries in this one, although keep an eye on that
mileage. The chrome and stainless is quite nicely preserved as
well, the rocker panel trim is as beautiful as ever, and the glass
is in great shape all around. Sure, it's a survivor, but look at
those pics! This Sting Ray has tons of curb appeal to go along with
its pedigree.
The body tag says the interior is "standard," but the lovely and
comfortable black leather buckets are anything but ordinary. The
interior features a lovely mixture of new and old, with beautiful
original seat covers with years of comfort marks telling their
stories, matching original door panels at the flanks, and plush
black carpets on the floors insulating the cabin. The swooping
dashboard also shows signs of gentle use, but they make it ever so
inviting to slide behind that upgraded, sporty leather-wrapped
steering wheel. This is one of those cars that fans lovingly call
"worn in, not worn out" for years to come. Of course, there's no
major damage, no split seams, no ugly scuffs on the soft surfaces,
so it only adds to the car's usability and character. Bright red
Simpson harness seatbelts remind everyone that this Corvette isn't
just some slow Sunday cruiser, and when you open up the taps of
that small block you better strap in. The gauges all appear to be
original and they all work like they should, keeping an eye on the
strong-running small block up front, and you read that mileage
correctly, under 50K miles - a reading the seller believes to be
original. At some point the original shifter was upgraded to a
taller and sportier Hurst unit with a cue-ball topper, and it fits
inside the middle console perfectly. The uniquely positioned radio
also appears to be an updated piece, although it's due for an
upgrade if music is to be on the menu. There's a black convertible
top that folds neatly behind the seats and under the factory cover,
but if a more permanent solution to shield you from the elements is
needed, then the matching red hardtop that comes with the sale
should be more suitable.
This survivor is powered by a non-original 327 V8 under the hood,
which decodes to a Code CE block that was more precisely a GM
customer-exchange motor from 1969. Topped with a rare
fuel-injection set-up that makes the lively small block very
responsive, the engine bay is quite a site to see. With that finned
intake cover, finned valve covers, and wide intake tube, it's a
unique set-up not often found under the hood of a Corvette, but it
certainly looks right at home. It isn't over-detailed and doesn't
outshine the rest of the car, instead the conscientious owner was
careful to keep the car's overall look and feel intact while
renewing/maintaining the parts that truly matter. The 4-speed
manual shifts with typical precision and the front disc brakes give
this car impressive stopping power, while the undercarriage is very
clean, with newer suspension parts found throughout. Long-tube
headers help the small block breathe and add horsepower, matching
up with the dual exhaust system that exits through the rear valance
and sounds fantastic. Refreshingly, this one also carries turbine
alloy wheels with knock-off spinners, all of which are wrapped in
right-sized 215/70/15 blackwall radials.
If you've been dreaming of a C2 Corvette, this one is the perfect
combination of driver and pedigree, so you can enjoy it without
worrying about driving the value out of it. Call today!
