RARE SPLIT-WINDOW, NUMBERS MATCH, 327/300 HP, POWERGLIDE, PWR STEERING/BRAKES!

Description

The 1963 Corvette 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 the Christmas stocking this year, and this gorgeous dark gray coupe is just the thing to make even a grown man dance in the streets on Christmas morning.Yeah, the Sting Ray was a slam-dunk, 50 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. The trim tag says it was originally Sebring Silver, but when the repaint was done a few years ago, it was treated to a dark gray metallic finish that looks right and gives the split-window coupe a bit of an edge. The fiberglass is in top-notch condition with crisp details, sharp lines, and no signs of stress in the usual locations. All the chrome was shined up, the stainless was polished, and the result is a high-quality piece that's ready to enjoy.The '63 Corvette interior was every bit as ground-breaking as the bodywork, although it tends to get lost in the commotion. Handsome black seat covers have been fitted to the original buckets, and the twin-cockpit design is something that's still echoing in today's C6. A full array of gauges keep a comprehensive eye on the engine, and their bright stainless faces and slender needles are miniature works of art. The PowerGlide automatic transmission was a rather rare option in 1963, and the shifter is just inches away from the 3-spoke steering wheel that's very familiar in its design. A Wonderbar AM/FM radio is a welcome addition and looks cool with its vertical orientation, and this car includes rare power windows as part of its roster, too.Power comes from the original, numbers-matching SD-code 327/300 engine, which was a nice and relatively rare upgrade over the base 250 horsepower version. Standard painted valve covers and that unique air cleaner lid give it an authentic look, although the modern alternator suggests that trophies are not the primary mission here. The ram's horn exhaust manifolds are in good order, and it carries both power steering and power brakes, making this a Corvette that's very easy to live with. Underneath, it's ultra-clean with a mellow exhaust system that gives the potent small block a serious bark. The rear end offers highway-friendly gears and the new all-independent suspension definitely lives up to the billing of improved handling and a decent ride. The car carries knock-off wheels, and while experts will note that they were not available in 1963, you can't argue with how right they look, especially with 6.70-15 bias-ply whitewalls. And yes, those are real Kelsey-Hayes wheels, not repros, so they are worth a big pile of cash all by themselves.Nicely optioned and exceptionally pretty, don't let this split-window Corvette become the ghost of Christmas Past. Call today!