Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America’s Auburn Fall event, September 1-4, 2016.
Chassis No.
30837S111680
Estimate:
$ 90,000 - $110,000 US
The story on this iconic 1963 Chevrolet Corvette split-window is believed to have started in Fort Wayne, Indiana where it is thought to have been purchased brand new from the Hefner Chevrolet dealership. From there the story jumps to 1977 when it was purchased by the next owner who lived in Silver Lake, Indiana. When this owner acquired the car it was painted in orange and gold lace like a drag racer. This owner owned the car until 1978. The owner then traded it for another car; then the dealership sold it to a person from Indianapolis, Indiana. This next owner owned it from 1978-1979.
The next stint of ownership lasted from 1979- 1987 in Martinsville, Indiana. This owner recollects buying it and the receiving the title and VIN tag, which was off the car, in an envelope. The car was then taken to Steve Trusty’s Garage to have the engine rebuilt. The restoration was supposed to happen at this garage, but for unknown circumstances it did not happen. At some point the car was pushed outside where it sat under a tarp until the next owner purchased the car April 28, 1987. When it was found under the tarp it was still painted in orange with gold lace.
Before the next owner purchased the Corvette he made sure that the car had a clean history with the State Police and DMV; and it came back clean with no record for this Corvette. As mentioned before, one of the previous owners purchased the car with the title and VIN tag in an envelope. When the next owner went to purchase to car, the gentleman selling the car could not locate the VIN tag or the title. Unfortunately he had misplaced it and it was not located after multiple searches. After purchasing the car the owner proceeded to obtain a new VIN tag for the car. He constructed the VIN from the left frame-rail that was stamped twice with S111680. After obtaining the replacement VIN a Chevrolet Zone person came to Hanna Chevrolet and witnessed the installation of the new tag by Hanna Chevrolet on November 5, 1987. The new owner then applied for a new original title and received it on February 5, 1988. In 1994 the owner transferred the title to include his wife on the name if the title.
This owner continued to complete the body-off restoration which took from 1988 to January of 1996. That owner reported that it took $20,000 in materials and parts to restore the car during this time. The first show that this car was shown at after restoration was at the Greenwood Mall in Indiana.
In June of 1997, the car was taken to a NCRS judging show in Indianapolis where it received the Second Flight Award. A year afterwards in June in 1998, the car was taken back to the NCRS show in Indianapolis where it received its Top Flight Award with a score of 97.8.
The next owners to acquire the car purchased it on September 2, 1999 at the Kruse Auto Auction that took place over Labor Day weekend in Auburn, Indiana. This owner took the car home to Battle Creek, Michigan and completely disassembled the undercarriage and restored it accordingly to the NCRS Fact Book. After completing the restoration the owner placed 2nd at every Super Chevy Event.
The engine powering this Corvette is a L75 327-cid, 300-hp V-8 engine that is backed by a Borg Warner T-10 four-speed manual transmission. The rear differential is a G81 positraction with 3.36:1 gears. It comes complete with power steering (N40), power brakes, knock-off wheels (P48), Silver Blue Paint (912), Dark Blue vinyl interior (490 A); and this car is a radio delete option.
This Corvette is very well documented with a binder of restoration specifics and full ownership history dating back to the 1970s.
