Vehicle Description
As with many vintage Corvettes, provenance is critical.
Fortunately, this 1963 Corvette convertible has plenty of it:
matching-numbers, 4-speed transmission, and an awesome color
combination. Still an icon, this Corvette roadster offers a pretty
big bang for the buck and it's impossible to go wrong with a
pedigreed mid-year 'Vette.
Imagine it's 1963 and this Corvette has just hit the market. Owning
one well and truly made you The Man, and save for perhaps the
E-Type Jag, there was simply no other car on the road that could
upstage the all-new Sting Ray. Painting it Riverside Red (original
color was code 916 Daytona Blue), named after the race course, only
heightens this car's appeal, and thanks to a comprehensive
restoration a few years ago, it looks fantastic. It fits together
the way a properly restored vintage 'Vette should and the
fiberglass is in very good condition, befitting a car that's
probably led a very good life. The details are right, from the
crease that surrounds the perimeter of the body and which remains
crisp and sharp, to the more subtle things like the fit of the
headlight doors and the shiny grilles in the hood that sit flush
with the surface. The bright red paint looks right with a pleasing
shine that only comes from a proper buff job, and the chrome is
uniformly excellent throughout.
If there's a more inviting-looking interior than this, it's hard to
imagine what it is. No longer perfect and fresh, it instead has a
wonderful patina to it that's very hard to resist. The red vinyl
buckets are correctly finished with vertical pleats and flank a
factory center console, complete with Hurst 4-speed shifter and cue
ball knob. The rest of the color-matching interior is just as nice,
with correct carpets, a nicely preserved steering wheel, and
bright, clear original gauges. There's a rather rare AM/FM radio in
the center stack and everything seems to work correctly. You'll
love the beautifully finished gauges with their deep-dish stainless
centers and bright, crisp lettering that means they've been
properly restored. Even better, since this is a color change, you
know that everything that's red inside is brand new. And among the
other noteworthy options, there's a restored color-matched hardtop
in addition to the white vinyl folding top.
The engine is the base 250 horsepower 327, but anything with just
two seats and 250 horsepower is a great performer. It is the car's
original, numbers-matching engine and as such it has been rebuilt
and detailed to an appropriate level. It shows some signs of having
been driven, but the finned valve covers, chrome air cleaner lid,
and Chevy Orange paint gives it an authentic look. You will note
the original ram's horn exhaust manifolds still look great and the
original generator has given way to an alternator for better
performance. The factory 4-speed still pushes power back to the
original rear end, and the chassis features new bushings, rebuilt
steering gear, and a clean look with satin black paint. A recent
exhaust system growls with authority and it's nice to see a '63
with hubcaps instead of knock-offs, which technically were
available but never delivered due to casting issues. 205/75/15
whitewall radials finish off the factory look, but a set of
bias-ply tires is included for absolute authenticity.
The '63 Corvette is one of those rare examples of a hardtop being
worth more than a convertible, which means this roadster is a
wonderful car that will only continue to appreciate. Call
today!