How Many 1963 Split Window Corvettes Are Left

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This week on "Rare Finds," we've striking the jackpot of American muscle cars! We spotted this 1963 Corvette Split-Window Coupe, one of the rarest C2 corvettes ever built, for sale in Loveland, CO, correct near TFLcar's headquarters. Its amazing status, low mileage, and impressive originality make information technology probably one of the nearly desirable Corvettes on the electric current marketplace.

The 1963 C2 was a fairly rare car in itself, with simply 21,513 total coupes and convertibles ever built. However, what makes this blackness '63 and so important is its "split-window coupe" trunk. The C2 coupes were the much scarcer than the convertible counterparts – but x,594 examples were ever built. But adding to its appeal is the fact that 1963 was the first year that whatsoever sort of Corvette coupe was available, making this machine the showtime in the long lineage of hyper-functioning Corvette coupes in the future.

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In add-on, the originality and features of this C2 split window are unsurpassed. The current possessor has owned this car since 1985, and information technology is a confirmed numbers-matching car. According to the advertisement, fifty-fifty the original mill ac still works perfectly, an extremely rare feature to find functional in a C2. To stay truthful to factory specifications, the flip-up ability headlights and power windows accept been left unmodified, features that are often upgraded. The odometer shows just over 29,000 miles, though it seems almost likely that information technology reset at 100,000 miles, making the truthful mileage around 130,000. After fifty years of road use, the 130,000 miles is nonetheless ultra-low, showing that this C2 was cared for during its entire life.

As for the pièce de résistance of this Corvette – the 327 cu. in. small-block V8 – it stands in perfect running condition. This machine was optioned with the more powerful small-block V8 producing 300 horsepower, instead of the 250 horsepower found in the standard 327. For reliability's sake, the engine was completely rebuilt in the mid-1990's, a major plus for those looking for a daily commuter split window just a potential drawback for those looking for a concours-fix case. This Corvette is equipped with the original 4-speed manual manual, though information technology is unknown whether it, too, has been rebuilt at any fourth dimension.

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Both the interior and outside of this C2 shine to their full potentials. The black leather looks to be supple and soft, while the exterior gleams with no noticeable paint flaws. The chrome accenting on the door panels, shift knob, and steering wheel all expect to exist in great status, every bit do the decals on the rear and the chrome bumpers. As well speaking to the auto'southward care in the past is that it hasn't been converted from rear-exhaust to the side-exhaust that many later Corvettes featured. The car has remained truthful to associates-line specs in every style possible.

1963 was an extremely important twelvemonth in Corvette history. It was the first year that the "Stingray" designation made its way onto future Corvette models. Due to its independent suspension, the new Corvette was a ameliorate handler, just weighed up to several hundred pounds more than its predecessor. 1963 was too the starting time year for many luxury options in the Corvette, including power brakes, power steering, air conditioning, leather interiors, and aluminum knock-off wheels. Interestingly, only 278 '63 Stingray examples ever left St. Louis equipped with the ac option, and the car nosotros've plant is one of those 278.

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This C2 Corvette is certainly a time capsule worthy of collector auto status. From its excellent condition to its rare body fashion and fifty-fifty rarer options, this carve up window is the holy grail of Corvettes–and it carries a cost tag to friction match, with the owner currently asking a cool $100,000. Information technology'south the collector automobile for the fortunate few, and though well-nigh of us can merely dream of affording 1, it's reassuring to know that original, well-preserved cars are still being institute and enjoyed.

Correction: This commodity previously mentioned the 1963 Corvette as a lighter vehicle than the previous 1962 model. In fact, the 1963 Corvette weighed more than its predecessor.

Delight enjoy this TFLcar video of the brand-new Corvette Stingray, the C7.