Vehicle Description
The 1963 Corvette Split-Window coupe is one of those rare
exceptions to the rule that if the top goes down, the price goes
up. There aren't many guys with a pulse who aren't secretly wishing
for a split-window coupe in their Christmas stocking this year, and
this gorgeous, numbers-matching Ermine White coupe is just the
thing to make a grown man dance in the streets on Christmas
morning. With a 327/340 V8, Muncie M20 4-speed gearbox, and a
redlight-to-redlight dominant 4.11 posi-traction rear end - all of
which are the original, numbers matching units this C2 was born
with - this is the ultimate classic Corvette to own.
Yeah, the Sting Ray is an absolute slam-dunk, 60 years of Corvette
fans have pretty much proven that. Imagine you're walking down the
street in late 1962, and this thing is idling at a red light, twin
pipes burbling, and that astounding shape making you stop in your
tracks and just stare until it disappears over the horizon. That's
what the split-window coupe is all about. And if you have one, you
need to do it right, because there's just too much history here to
do half-hearted. Code 936A Ermine White is this 'Vette's factory
color, and this beauty was faithfully repainted back to that very
shade, because it would be practically blasphemous to take away a
classic car's birthright, and downright heresy to change the color
of an iconic Corvette like this. The respray is fairly recent, so
if you're wondering whether it looks as 'wet' and shiny in person
as it does in our pictures, the answer is a resounding YES. When
you're dealing with a legendary car like this, you don't skimp on
paint and bodywork, so when it came time to respray this beauty,
they did the job right. The fiberglass is laser-straight with no
seams showing through, the gaps and panel alignment is uniform and
exact, and the finish is incredibly smooth, deep, and shines up so
bright you'll need to wear sunglasses after looking at it for a
while. The crisp details, sharp lines, and zero signs of body
stress mean you can show off this Splittie with great pride, and if
anyone finds anything to complain about, they better be wearing an
NCRS badge. With sky-high curb appeal and a revered street presence
that can't be matched by almost any other car on the road, this
Corvette is the ultimate attention-getter. All the chrome was
shined up at the time of the restoration, the stainless was
polished too, and the result is a high-quality piece that's ready
to be shown-off or driven and enjoyed without worry. All the
factory emblems are in place, while out back is where the 'Sting
Ray' badge debuted in 1963, ushering in a new era of American
motoring that made these cars legends.
Okay, so if you do see someone with an NCRS badge, you should go
ahead and tell them that the black interior in this Splittie is not
100% correct. The style and materials are certainly stock, but this
'63 was born with Code 490L Red upholstery. You won't hear many
complaints though, because a black interior is almost always a
welcomed upgrade (especially on a white car), and when the work was
done in 2005, it was professionally completed to a high standard
that left no trace of the original shade. The '63 Corvette interior
was every bit as ground-breaking as the bodywork, although it tends
to get a bit lost in the commotion of the Splittie. Handsome seat
covers have been fitted to the original buckets, and the
twin-cockpit design is something that's still echoing in today's
C8. A full array of crisp, factory gauges keep a comprehensive eye
on the original engine, and their bright stainless faces and
slender needles are miniature works of art that really pop out from
the original bezel. The 4-speed manual transmission is exactly what
every car guy wanted back then and certainly still desires for
today, and the chrome shifter that manages it is inside a bright
factory console, just inches away from the original 3-spoke
steering wheel that's very familiar in its design. A vertical,
retro-style AM/FM/Cassette radio is a welcome addition and looks
cool with its inverted orientation that mimics a Wonderbar. Simple
and stylistic, the black interior is exactly what belongs in a
white Corvette, and the very nice setup inside this cabin is a
perfect complement for this sporty Splittie.
Power comes from the original, numbers-matching RE-code 327/340
horsepower 4-barrel carbureted engine, which was a spirited and
relatively rare upgrade over the base 250 horsepower version found
in most of these. Finned aluminum Chevrolet valve covers and that
unique chrome air cleaner lid give it an authentic look, although
the modern alternator suggests that NCRS Top-Flight Blue Ribbon
awards are not the primary mission here. The original Carter
4-barrel carburetor feeds the feisty small block atop the
corresponding original intake, ram's horn exhaust manifolds are in
good order at the flanks, and the mellow yet throaty dual exhaust
system that gives the potent small block a nice bark. That's the
original Muncie M20 4-speed gearbox managing the gears - the
perfect dance partner to the powerful 327 - and it spins a stock
rear end that came from the factory with a redlight-to-redlight
devouring 4.11 gear ratio. The C2's all-independent suspension
definitely lives up to the billing of improved handling and a
terrific ride, and there are restored/replaced components
everywhere you look in the uber-clean and tidy undercarriage.
15-inch 'turbine' style wheels with knock-offs are a perfect
complement to the Splittie's sporty curb appeal, and while experts
will note that they were not available from the factory in 1963,
it's hard to argue with how right they look wrapped in 215/75/15
Goodyear white-walls.
The King of the Corvettes, this stunning 1963 Split-Window is the
creme de la creme of American motoring. Call today!
