1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split-Window Coupe

- One and Only Year of the Split Window Corvette
- Daytona Blue over Blue Interior
- Numbers Matching L75 327ci/300hp V8
- 4 Speed Manual
- Tennessee Car
- Classic Second Generation Corvette

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split-Window Coupe on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 140 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“Corvette is now second to no other production sports car in road-holding and is still the most powerful.” Car and Driver, First Drive: 1963 Corvette, October 1962

The Car and Driver writers continued with the history that led up to the 1963 Corvette Coupe: “Chevrolet was first to offer a genuine American sports car. In its first stage it was strictly a boulevard job. When the T-Bird stole that market, Duntov had the delightful task of making a real racer out of it—and succeeded in producing a car which has earned a respected place on the track. In a pragmatic way, he did it with brute power and a minimum of subtlety. Now the Corvette enters its third era. It is still tremendously powerful (less than 10 pounds per bhp), but now it has suspension to match its speed potential.”

Offered here is an extremely well-maintained example of the one-year-only, split-rear-window Corvette Sport Coupe, here in Daytona Blue over dark blue. This is a numbers-matching, 4-speed, 327/300 car in virtually all-original condition. The car's odometer shows 34,105 miles.

The Daytona Blue exterior paint was a perfect choice to highlight the many unique and appealing design cues on the car. The overall body shape, the sculpted hood with chrome faux vents, the reverse cut-outs on the front fenders, the raised fender tops front and rear, the perfectly graceful flow of the rear glass and roofline, even the b-pillar louvers all show beautifully. While the car looks terrific from every angle, the trademark view (not to be missed in the photo gallery) of the split-rear-window from behind the car is simply spectacular. Paint gloss is very good with only light age-related patina. The color is uniform throughout. There is no body damage. Factory badging—including the crossed flags on the front fenders, and rear gas-filler cover—is all in place, properly located, and in excellent condition. In similar fashion, chrome half-bumpers front and rear retain excellent surface finish; other chrome trim is equally well-kept. The lower front grille and lower bodyside trim is undamaged. Cabin glass and lighting lenses are clear and free of imperfections. Factory 15-inch steel wheels with chrome full-wheel covers (with “spinners” featuring the Corvette crossed-flags identification) retain a showroom-new look. Thin-white-stripe Firestone® Deluxe Champion P195/70-R15 tires are mounted.

Inside, the dark-blue leather upholstery is in near-perfect condition. The vertically pleated design is classic. The matching dark-blue dash perfectly showcases the twin-pod design unique to the C2 Corvette. The original blue steering wheel (with brushed metal trim and Corvette crossed-flags center emblem) frames the driver-focused array of analog instruments, dominated by the 160-mph speedometer and 5,300-rpm-redline tachometer. Between the dash pods, the gracefully designed "center drop" features an analog clock above pull-lever controls for heat and ventilation and the factory Delco® radio with the station settings and pushbuttons arranged vertically. Facing the passenger is the brushed-metal panel on the glove-box cover and the script “Corvette Sting Ray” badge. The center console houses the 4-speed manual shifter for the stock transmission, with the shift pattern displayed on the metal console-top trim (which shows scratches from use) to its rear. Door trim complements the upholstery and includes roll-up window cranks, pull-knob door handle, armrest, and original chrome trim. The lower portions of the door panels are carpeted in blue matching the cabin carpeting (with rubber Corvette-branded protective carpet mats in place). Lower door-jamb “step over” plates are free of damage.

Under the front-hinged hood, the numbers-matching 327 cubic-inch, 300-horsepower, L75 V8 rests under its 4-barrel carburetor and chrome air-cleaner cover. (The air cleaner is the factory two-intake design.) The engine block is correctly painted. Original “Chevrolet script” forged valve covers are in place. The engine bay is extremely clean and tidy with no use of aftermarket shine-enhancing sprays. Hoses and wiring are all properly routed; all auxiliary components are present and correctly mounted. Viewed from below, the car's chassis is complete and undamaged. The underside of the engine and full-length, dual exhaust ending in through-the-rear-valance chrome tips steal the show. Front disc brakes are also visible. Many components have been propeerly treated with rust inhibitor; only minimal surface rust is noted on some untreated metal.

The Corvette's original build tag and identification plate remain properly riveted in place.

While the more than 140 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '63 Split-Window Corvette in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

Like Car and Driver, Road & Track loved the '63 'Vette: “Chevrolet was first to offer a genuine American sports car. In its first stage it was strictly a boulevard job. Now the Corvette enters its third era. It is still tremendously powerful, but now it has suspension to match its speed potential.” This Daytona Blue will almost certainly be the shining star in any Corvette fan's stable.