1963 Chevrolet Corvette

1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE  Fuelie 327/360HP COUPE
Chassis no. 30837S104422
Engine no. 3104422 FI128RF

327ci OHV V8 EngineRochester Fuel Injection360bhp at 6. 00rpm4-Speed Manual Transmission4-Wheel Independent Suspension4-Wheel Drum Brakes*Iconic Split-window 'Fuelie' Corvette
*Desirable 4-Speed Manual 
*Striking Sebring-Silver paint
*Well-documented example
*Offered with books. jack and comprehensive history file


THE STING-RAY CORVETTE

1963 was an exciting year for Corvette enthusiasts. For the first time. 'America's sports car' was available as a coupe as well as a Roadster - and what a Coupe! The new Stingray design credited to Bill Mitchell and Pete Brock was a true fastback. notable for the unique divided rear window which added a lot to the car's dashing looks. but in real life proved detrimental to rearward vision. After just one year. that feature was replaced with a single-piece backlight. but would also make the 1963 one of the most desirable models for collectors. The new Stingray Coupe also featured beautifully raised fender peaks. disappearing headlamps. and aircraft-type doors that cut deeply into the roof to ease entry and exit.  

Underneath the sleek fiberglass shell. there was a new independent rear axle with transverse leaf springs. control arms. multiple links. double-jointed half-shafts. and trailing radius rods. Even base-model Corvettes were nicely equipped. and buyers had a wide range of engine choices based on the new 327-cubic inch V8. The most powerful option was the 360hp engine with Rochester fuel injection. making this the first American car with a higher horsepower figure than engine displacement. A three-speed manual transmission was standard. but options included a four-speed manual. a Positraction rear end. and a variety of rear axle ratios. The Stingray could be ordered in any of seven exterior colors. The new Stingray was an impressive performer. capable of 0-60 in 5. 9 seconds and 0-100 mph in 16. 5. The 1963 Stingray proved a sales hit. and Chevrolet sold 10. 94 coupes and 10. 19 convertibles.  


THE CAR OFFERED 

Chevrolet's second generation 'C2' Corvettes. especially the first-year. Split-Window Coupe with the optional fuel injected 327 V8 engine. are among the most collectible of GM's Corvette model-range. Production records indicate that 10. 94 Corvette Coupe's were built in 1963. and just 2. 10 of them were completed with option code L84. which gave the fortunate owner a solid-lifter. 11. 5:1 compression ratio. 360bhp V8 engine with Rochester Ram-Air Fuel-Injection.  

This particular Split-Window Coupe is a very early example. completed in December 1962. and therefore has many early production features. The original order for the car came from Paul McGlone Chevrolet. He was a volume Chevrolet dealer based in Detroit. Michigan and had earned high quotas and was able to secure vehicles the smaller retail Chevrolet agents could not get. The original order specified a 1963 model-year Corvette Coupe equipped with the $430. 40 optional fuel injected 327 engine. a 4-Speed manual transmission. a posi-traction rear axle. cast aluminum knock-off mounted wheels and a Wonderbar radio. The new Corvette was finished in Sebring-Silver and trimmed in Black vinyl. and the total price. before destination and delivery charges. came to a whopping $5. 40.

The new Corvette was purchased by a retired gentleman and his wife named William M. and Tanya E. O'Bryan. who took the car with them to Long Beach. California. They enjoyed it over the years and later were active in the local Corvette Club. During one of the SoCal meets in the mid 1980s. they were introduced and became well acquainted with Corvette author and historian. Noland Adams. Adams was very pleased to be able to thoroughly inspect this Corvette given its highly original and well preserved nature. He references the vehicle specifically by chassis number. engine number. fuel injection unit number amongst others in his documentation bible on these vehicles "The Complete Corvette Restoration & Technical Guide - Vol. 2 1963 Through 1967" on pages 185 and 187.

By the mid-1980s. the O'Bryan family found themselves not able to enjoy the vehicle and began advertising it for sale in both the Sunday Los Angeles Times as well as Hemmings Motor News. Their asking price was $26. 00 and they described the vehicle as follows:

CORVETTE 1963 fuel injection. split window coupe. Sebring silver black int. all numbers match. knock-offs. mint original cond. never hit. California car.

Thomas G. Kimble eventually agreed to the purchase of this Corvette in April. 1987. After his purchase. he did some work to the car. but it is believed to have been taken off the road in the early 1990s. and then placed in long-term storage until a few years ago. Today. this desirable Split-window Fuelie remains in beautiful condition. and the odometer reading of less than 40. 00 miles is in fact believed to be the cars mileage since new. Casting codes. date codes. stampings and numbers are present all over the car. and match the build date of the trim and chassis plate. A repaint in the cars original Sebring-Silver was recently performed by California Dream machines of Lancaster. California. assuring the Corvette looks its best. Equipped with period-looking white-wall tires on knock-off wheels. the Corvette looks just right. A jack. owners guide and protection plan. as well as a wonder bar radio manual are included with the sale of the car. A look through the comprehensive history file also accompanying this fine Corvette reveals great documentation. including old California registration cards. the old Hemmings ad. bills of sale and many receipts.

For more information call Mark at 949-335-7474 ext 1.

 

Also published at eBay.com

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