4-Speed Factory Fuelie! 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe
If you’re an avid enthusiast of the Chevrolet Corvette, there’s a good chance the name Mike Vietro is already in your vocabulary, or “Corvette Mike” as he’s better known in the community. Mike’s love of Corvettes goes back to his teen years, and in 1982 he founded the Corvette Mike dealership in Southern California, which has since developed a reputation as one of the premier places in the U.S. to acquire a high-quality rare ‘Vette. One of the company’s mottos is that they sell the best and service the rest, and this Fuel Injected 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe no doubt falls into the former category. The car can be seen here on the Corvette Mike website, and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank Barn Finds reader Larry D. for his great tip on this awesome C2!
While it’s certainly a difficult task to assign a label to the most desirable Corvette, the Split Window coupe has always been way up there in my book of dream cars and for sure one of the iconic designs. The dual rear glass was only around in ’63, due to buyers quickly developing safety concerns regarding visibility, with many cars even receiving a replacement full-width rear window to remedy the situation. The unmolested examples are by far the most desirable, and rare, and when you throw in a 360 HP fuel-injected version of the 327 it significantly ups the ante. But when that engine is the Classic Car Affirmation Service confirmed original factory-stamped powerplant, you’re looking at one of the few cars that have ever received this reputable certification.
Mike traveled to Indiana to purchase this car from its second owner back in 1985, so the Corvette has been on the company’s radar for decades. It recently crossed Mike’s path again and returned to the Classic Mike dealership, with the car currently being offered for sale but with no mention of price, at least not without asking. The C2 has been completely restored, with the Daytona Blue paint stated to be nearly flawless, including the proper amount of metallic flakes in the finish.
There’s nothing disappointing inside either, as the matching blue interior is described as striking, and judging from the photos that sounds like a reasonable assessment. The instrument panel presents beautifully, as does everything else we can see, and the car is equipped with the Delco vertical AM/FM radio. Mechanically, the Corvette is said to run as good as it looks, plus it’s also recently been given attention personally by the company’s Service Manager, who has been with Corvette Mike for 39 years. Everything is stated to be in proper working order, and the car is said to go down the road as you would expect without any issues.
Several photos of the underside are provided, and things on the South Side look just about as good as in the other three directions. Although it’s probably going to take some deep pockets to acquire this one, there are plenty of other Corvettes for sale on their website, including a couple of nice C3s for under 30k. The company also does work on their clients’ vehicles, everything from moderate freshen-ups to off-body full restorations. What are your thoughts on the fuel-injected 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe? Any ideas on how much cash it will take to convince Mike to let go of this one?
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Comments
Beautiful!
It is a beauty and should bring big money.
Talking six figures here, easily.
My guess is $200K+. Mike’s got a stellar reputation and stands behind his cars. I’m one of his satisfied customers and the car I bought from him wasn’t even a vette (69 Mach1 390/4sp)
@JohnfromSC
I received an email from Corvette Mike which included this car. I can’t remember the exact price for sure but I believe it was $375k.
I guess they set the selling price based on your enthusiasm once you speak to them.
Good find Larry!
Thank you PRA4SNW!!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
and maybe a little more will be required to have this enclosed trailered to your museum/gallery because you sure won’t be driving it home.
Who the hell is “Fran” Sumatra??? That should read “Fat-Fingered FranK Sumatra”
Lol🤣
The C 2 is one of the exempt as GM produced nice cars. Bill
Mitchell had a good hand as he designed it upon his prior
design studies mako shark and the manta. Just brilliant!
I would expect this one will go for from 60k $ if equipped
with disc brakes. The auto-gearbox does also drop some
value.
Ad reads 4spd.! Easily WELL over 200k.
Perhaps over $300k…
That should read “for speed”!
The point is C 3 are mass products which lead to 100’000
examples, the tricky F.I. makes this one unable to run
with much cheaper liquid petrol gas. The C 3 is my
machine but for the big buck i get something more.
60k is average and fair value for this one.
For 200k are Rolls Royces Bentley in very few numbers
built, Facel Vega FV 1 or the Excellence – which is really
excellent – Aston Martin race cars Mercedes Adenauer
cabrio the most early Ferrari’s or any other similar cars
who finally have had the better build and material quality
available. Americans cant beat euro cars.
Finally, a Corvette that nobody’s complaining about. How refreshing, lol.
@Lee Wells
I saw the price on this car and I wish I could remember it for sure but I think it was $375k. Cars in that price range don’t usually have too much wrong with them.
I’ll have what Mitchells having
😆 🤣
If you have to ask, you can’t afford it…..
The sad fact is that this car becomes a lawn ornament, the internal combustion version of a Playboy magazine centerfold…it’s great to look at but you can’t touch it
Just like the Cobras.
My guess——–380K, but I would want the knock-off wheels too.
Wow, just wow. This is my dream Vette of all time even down to the transmission and color. But it looks like im only going to have them in scale models