1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 148 Miles Saddle Tan 327 cubic inch V8 4-s

1963 Chevrolet Corvette -- Additional Info:

This is a very pretty car. The Mid-Year Corvettes are a triumph of design and arguably the most significant cars of the 1960s, but this 1963 Corvette convertible is simply beautiful in every way. We have a showroom full of red and black and blue cars, but this subtle Saddle Tan convertible stands out among them, glowing rather than waiting to be noticed. If you're like everyone else and want a garden-variety car because that's the safe choice, well, we... have red ones for you to buy. But if you love the unusual, the sophisticated, and the sublime, this freshly restored convertible Corvette will speak very loudly to you in its own special way. Showing just 148 miles since the restoration was completed, this is a very well done Corvette. We should note up front that it is not matching-numbers, carrying a 1965 327, but it was restored to be the embodiment of all that is great about the Sting Ray. Fit and finish are exemplary in every way and all the usual fiberglass flaws that you find on these cars have been neatly exorcised from its surface and it fits together extremely well. Gaps are tight and even, the panels line up well, and there was obviously a lot more care lavished on the car than the factory could spare back in 1963. Two-stage urethane paint has been color sanded and buffed to a very high standard and the car, as I said, simply glows in the showroom and particularly out in the sunlight. It is not aggressive or in-your-face, but it is a Corvette for grown-ups and it's extremely appealing. We note no critical flaws in the finish and with only a few hundred miles since it was completed, obviously it has not been subjected to the rigors of the real world. The chrome and stainless trim was likewise restored with the rest of the car, and you can see in photos that the bumpers shine beautifully, the ribbed rocker moldings are crisp and bright, and all the lenses are correct reproductions that look brand new. The unique 1963 hood screens are unmarked and not pitted or scuffed, the emblems show crisp enamel, and it appears that even the windshield was replaced because it has that sparkling clarity that you can't restore back into old glass. Please come see the car—you'll have to look very hard indeed for any major faults. The interior is correct 898F Saddle leather, which is how this car was ordered when it was new. Replacement seat covers are exact replacements and they are indeed supple leather, not vinyl, which makes a considerable difference for driving. As with the exterior, virtually everything inside the car is new, including carpets, door panels, dash pads, and the color-matched three-spoke steering wheel. All the original gauges were rebuilt and show crisp markings and clear lenses, and obviously they're all fully operational. A close look will reveal that there's a tilt steering column, which was not on the options list in 1963, but we had to double-check our books to be sure because it looks so right. This car is also equipped with power windows, a $59 option that only about 3700 people bought in 1963. The original vertically-oriented AM radio doesn't work (which is typical) but the clock does (which is not). Color-matched floor mats with Corvette logos help keep the interior tidy and all the soft parts are virtually unmarked, so you know it hasn't seen a lot of seat time. It includes a tan convertible top, which is a great choice here, and that, too, is almost new and in unmarked condition with a crystal clear rear window and no creases or split seams. Even the original tag is still in place! The engine is a HJ-coded 1965 327/300 for use with a manual transmission, so it's not far off what would have been in there originally. Rebuilt and detailed, it looks right and runs the way any small block Chevy should: smooth and confident. Chevy Orange paint, a proper twin snorkel air cleaner, and simple valve covers with reproduction decals make it look quite right under the hood. The exhaust manifolds have been coated to keep them looking their best and even the factory-issued ignition shields are still in place. It has the heavy-duty cooling system with clutch fan, and proper GM-logo hoses and tower hose clamps were used to make things look right throughout. The only notable deviation from stock spec is the modern power brake booster and dual master cylinder, which was used with the all-new 4-wheel disc brakes—not correct for 1963 but a welcome addition that doesn't take away any of its Corvette-ness. Power steering is a nice find, too, making this '63 easy to handle and very user-friendly. A proper 4-speed manual transmission is really the only way to go in a vintage 'Vette. Yes, you could get a PowerGlide, but what's the point of owning America's sports car without rowing your own gears? Despite this car's polish and sophisticated look, it's still a runner and snapping the chrome shifter through the gears remains one of life's great joys. The rest of the undercarriage is nicely restored as well, with nice detailed, a reproduction exhaust system, and satin black paint as a backdrop for the hardware. The floors are fiberglass, so there's obviously no rust there, but the critical areas of the frame are unmarked and the smoothness of the finish (it's powdercoated) suggests that it was never in a harsh climate. The aforementioned 4-wheel disc brakes are powerful and confident and with 3.36 gears out back, it's always a relaxed cruiser with a nice punch available at any speed. Experts will know that exactly zero 1963 Corvettes were delivered with knock-offs (they were on the options list but casting issues prevented them from being delivered until 1964) but they look so right that we see no harm in this car wearing them. These are real knock-offs, not bolt-ons, and they carry recent 205/75/15 gold stripe radials that are exactly the right choice. The quality is exceptional on this Corvette and it has a few invisible, forgivable upgrades to make it more of what it should be. This is one of those cases where the best car may not have a perfect pedigree but the quality and driving experience more than make up for it. If you've wanted a Mid-Year Corvette that you can drive and show without worries, this is it. Call today!