Deciding to do a frame-off restoration of a vintage Corvette is a very expensive proposition.  This is even more expensive when you farm the work out or drop the whole car off on the doorstep of a professional restorer.  What happens when the money dries up?  That scenario seems to be the hard luck story behind this partially restored 1963 Corvette coupe for sale on eBay in Richmond, Kentucky.  This desirable split window is almost across the finish line minus a few parts and pieces and some finishing work.  With bidding at $86,600 and a Buy It Now price of $98,999, is this a worthwhile project to finish?

The 1963 version of the Corvette is almost legendary among enthusiasts of the sports car.  This was the first year of the radically advanced second generation of the Corvette, and chief engineer Zora Arkus Duntov managed to deliver a world-class sports car with independent rear suspension.  The head of styling Bill Mitchell was equally enthusiastic about the car, and the styling was just as impressive as the mechanicals.  With one exception: Mitchell insisted on a split rear glass that obscured the center of what could be seen from the rearview mirror.  Duntov and Mitchell went to war over the split with Mitchell winning because, frankly, he was a more powerful figure at GM.

The feature lasted just one year.  Legend had it that Mitchell had it removed when he actually sat in a Corvette so equipped and tried to look out the rearview mirror.  By 1964 the split was long gone, but 1963 Corvettes have always been special in that regard.  Amazingly, several 1963 Corvette owners cut the split out themselves and replaced the two rear windows with a single 1964-1967 piece and the required chrome trim.  Once the cars began to be restored to stock the problem was finding the parts to switch back.

That fabled split window is why Corvettes like this 1963 model demand a premium over most 1964-1967 models even though C2 Corvettes got progressively better over time.  This premium is one reason why such an extensive restoration was started on this car.  While it is not the fabled fuel-injected model, it is a 327/340 equipped car with a four-speed manual transmission.  That engine, which was said to be running when removed, was painted and put back in the car.  The seller tells us that it will likely need to be rebuilt despite appearances.

To this point, there has been a lot of restoration work done.  A frame-off restoration was started.  The frame and suspension work has been completed.  The body was painted the original Saddle Tan using a base coat-clear coat process.  It has that “dime store shine” to it because it has not been buffed out properly after the finish was applied.  There is no mention of when the car was repainted or to what depth it was stripped down beforehand.

On the inside, the car has benefitted from a new set of carpets.  The rest of the interior is advertised as complete, with a dash and gauges in good condition.  There is no mention of the headliner panels and the somewhat fragile plastic trim that surrounds the back glass on the inside.  Window trim is said to be with the car.  The seller does mention that the seat covers, which look good in the pictures, will need to be replaced.

While the car looks pretty well put together in the photos, that was done to present the image of what a complete car would look like.  You can see that it makes for a very attractive Corvette.  The seller is very upfront in adding that the car will still need a complete exhaust, exhaust manifolds, spare tire cover, jack, air cleaner, fuel lines, and “pilots.”  I am not sure as to what they mean by that.  Anyone who can chime in, please let us know in the comments.

The fact that bidding is creeping towards the six-figure mark on an unfinished car gives testimony to the appreciation of these special Corvettes.  A few years ago this was reasonable for a fuel injected 1963 Corvette in a similar condition.   Split windows are still climbing in value.  The obvious reason is that they have always been desirable.  Another possibility may be that buyers are flowing into this segment of the Corvette market as an investment to shelter money from turbulent financial times.  Regardless, there may be an opportunity here for someone who can finish this car out to a high standard.

As with any Corvette, do your homework, hire an expert, and be careful in making your decision.