Split Window In The Trash Pile: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette
This holy grail barn find showed up on eBay back in May. Jesse wrote about it then and bidding got up to $75,100, you can read his post here. The split window Corvette has become an almost religious icon, so it wasn’t all that surprising to see it get bid up so high. What is surprising is that it’s popped back up on eBay, but there’s no word on why it’s still for sale. Hopefully, the seller can clarify what happened. Bidding here on eBay is approaching $50,000 this go around, so we thought it was worth another look rather than just a quick update. It’s a 327, automatic car with factory air. It was silver but the original buyer had the dealer paint it green before delivery. The car is advertised as original and untouched, although time seems to have had vigorous contact. The exterior is said to have “amazing patina”, proving patina can be more than rust. Some mechanical restoration has been performed so it does run, drive and stop.
Here it is in all its glorious patina. The original silver is peeking out from under the green paint and red primer. If you look closely at the pictures, it appears the emblems were painted over in green. Would this really be acceptable to the owner of a new Corvette? Perhaps it received a cheap paint job later in its history.
The interior appears complete and does need more than just a little restoration work. The dash pad has seen some hard times, the upholstery is crispy and the carpets are really faded. Could it really get this bad after only 10 years on the road? It couldn’t get this bad from being stored indoors, even for decades, could it?
The new alternator and master cylinder stand out amid the rust. The seller did save the old parts, though. With this much rust under the hood. one has to wonder what condition the frame and birdcage might be in. One might also wonder how it got this rusty.
This peek under the car shows just surface rust. There might well be more rust hiding in some expensive to repair places.
There are few enough of these split window Corvettes that finding one is exciting. Looking at this car, one might hope just new paint and a fresh interior would make this car really nice but one has to be skeptical of any car, especially with a story like this one. It is being sold by a dealer in Washington who bought it from the original owner who is from Miami. People don’t just park a perfectly good car, especially one like this Corvette, in a garage for no good reason and forget about it. These were very desirable cars even in 1973. Any car should not look this weathered after only 10 years on the road and then stored indoors, even after 48 years. It appears to have sat outside in a very sunny place (like Florida?) for a long time. Any car can be restored for some price. These haven’t yet reached the point that Porsches reached during that craze, but folks are willing to spend big money on split window Corvettes. The purchase and restoration costs could still be within the $150,000 these are supposed to be worth but are there folks with deep enough pockets willing to spend that much for a car with an automatic transmission and in this condition? I look forward to reading what you Corvette wise readers have to say about this puzzling treasure.
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Comments
Even though it’s a 63 SWC, it’s going to take some deep pockets to make this one right. Unless you have the expertise, time and money, this one may not be your best choice IMO. Back in the late 60’s, worked with a guy that owned one. Incredible car, just didn’t stop that well. There are ways to fix those drum brakes today, but in it’s day it was a hair raiser.
“I build my cars to go, not to stop” – Z. Arkus-Duntov.
No, that was Ettore Bugatti…
Holy grail? I don’t think so.
Looks like someone is trying to show it like a barn find, but condition of the “barn” with a clean cooler and some clean tools on the side and clean boxes on top.
I like it…..
Not factory air, aftermarket….My old ’63 split window is sitting in a barn in Bristol, Tennessee as far as I know still…..sold it in 1977.
I would think if the original owner lived near the beach even stored in doors the salt air would cause the rust. Many people I knew when I lived for a year in Florida had nice cars in their garages but the doors in the winter were wide open.
this poor car had paint once.
to me, it seems, someone tried to give it an orbital sander “patina”. there should be green somewhere besides the door bottoms.
63 vette is my favorite car since I was a kid..I couldn’t and wouldn’t pay this price for this car..ever
There are several out there for sale for less money and in better shape
Many good sharp photos really show the car clearly, probably better than 99.9% of listings on Ebay. But…..
The car might have been in the garage under piles of stuff for a while, but from the looks of the paint and the interior it also looks like it sat in the hot Florida sun for a large chunk of its life. The topside paint and the interior shot of the parcel shelf behind the seats tells me that, and says the car needs lots of resto work including a new repro interior……unless you are into vintage Vettes with a grunge theme.
And I would definitely want to get new hoses for the fuel system, and maybe also carry a fire extinguisher, before making any trips into town for cars ‘n coffee.
Other than that it’s an amazing, apparently complete, original Split Window. But like some commenters have already said, there are better cars that don’t have the needs this car has.
In my dreams I would freshen up the interior make it mechanically as perfect as possible, and only clean up as necessary and what you can’t see. Then drive it like I stole it, with it looking exactly like it does. Of course in that dream I am also super rich and can do whatever I want
Paint shows that this was stored outside under a cover. That’s what causes that wear. Also the surface rust on the engine and underneath is from humidity or salt air in Miami. Doubt it was moved into the garage till much later.
It’s back up for sale cuz it was a BS sale,a bunch of the seller’s buddies bidding !
YES,splitties are smokin hot ,but this one is an easy $100 k from being the $130k car that a mint ,low spec one brings.
This has nothing to do with the subject at hand, but looking at the rear of the car, I can see how Buick Division stole the rear end design for their Boat Tail Rivieras.
Look at both cars and see the similarity………
Both cars had the same head of design. Bill Mitchell who was head of GM Design from 1959 until 1977.
Looks like it has been for sale all over the internet since it was pulled out of the garage. Maybe a case of inexperienced excitement asking a lot more than it was worth. The people that had the monies to get the job done didn’t want to start with such a high priced high need car. Maybe now it has finally come down to a semi-reasonable price and someone with deep pockets will finally get to start the restoration.
I love the patina look on a lot of cars…this is not one of them. The lines are so perfect that a beautiful paint job is the only way to do this car justice.
Another garage full of garbage, not talking about the Corvette, I wouldn’t want to see inside their house, bad enough my buddy’s house which is like that.
As Jimmy said maybe a reasonable price,but still has a day to go. Like the other guys said salt air etc for the rust But I wonder if this was a flood damaged car?? Buyer beware but this sure is complete.
Hope it goes to someone who can appreciate its beauty.Good luck to the new owner..
I like properly built Rat Rods, but “Patina” and a 63 Split Window really doesn’t go together,
Reminds me of this one down the road from me.
“Not for sale”, need to get ‘er a new fuel pump.
IMO relisting this car again after all the hype from when it came onto the market it almost never brings a higher bid. Should of taken the money the first time as now the sellers greed will never pay off the lost monies.
The VIN plate was removed at one time, notice the grind marks that are fresh and go under the plate!
Patina really!!! Patina just another word for lazy and not wanting to do it properly and leaving it ugly.
Is the old school Air- Hydrolic lift including?
Those were great for the garage
I am inclined to agree with you about the VIN tag. considering how roached the car is overall, the VIN tag is in remarkably new condition.
Aside from that, the furthest thing from my mind if I had the money to buy a car like this, or even my dream car 1970 Roadrunner Superbird, would be to hot rod the hell out of it and drive it like I stole it. the Superbird would be taken to Pettys garage with the instructions to make it awesome. The vette? I am seeing one bad ass pro touring car to run the Silver State Classic in.
Staging for profit ?
&75k? Give me a ‘63-‘65 Riviera any day over this thing! Good grief!
Ended: Jun 17, 2018 , 11:15AM
Winning bid:US $66,615.00
[ 93 bids ]