The 1963 model year brought a clean sheet redesign for the Chevy Corvette, which was renamed the Corvette Sting Ray. Available in both a convertible and a coupe variant for the first time, the new Corvette was based largely on the 1959 Sting Ray racer conceived by Bill Mitchell with input from Pete Brock and Larry Shinoda. The coupe featured a center “spine” which bisected the rear window and ran rearward to the rear of the car, giving it the look of a stingray’s backbone. The coupe’s split rear window would last a single year. Fenders were arched and widened, headlights were hidden until flipped up, and the rear end strongly resembled that of the 1961 and 1962 Corvettes. The frame was of a perimeter design, leaving behind the previous generation’s Safety Girder X-Frame. The rear suspension was fully independent with a transverse leaf spring keeping the rear tires planted.
Hoods on 1963 Chevy Corvettes had faux vents toward the leading edge. The outside rear view mirror became taller with a smaller base sometime during 1963 production, allowing better rearward vision over the arched rear fender. Exterior door handles were mounted atop a raised pad, and coupes had stainless trim forward of the side wing windows. 21,513 Corvettes were built in 1963, 10,594 coupes and 10,919 convertibles.
The interior on the new Chevy Corvette was completely revamped, featuring twin dash binnacles. The driver’s side of the dash was home to large, round, black speedometer and odometer, with recessed bright finish centers. Smaller gauges included gas, battery, temperature, and oil pressure, all with similar finishes. Interior door release knobs and the shift knob were made of black plastic. Early in the production, radios were of the AM signal-seeking variety, but AM/FM radios would become available later in production.
The passenger side of the Chevy Corvette dash featured a lockable glove box as opposed to the lockable storage compartment located between the seats in previous years. There was a grab handle integrated above the glovebox door.
Chevy Corvette engine and transmission choices were largely held over from the previous year, save for the fuel-injected units that were modified with larger redesigned intake plenums. The 327 Small Block was available in 250-, 300-, 340-, and 360-horsepower ratings, with two-speed Powerglide automatic, three-speed or four-speed manual transmissions available. During the production year, the four-speed manual transmission supplier was changed from Borg-Warner to Muncie.
Our feature 1963 Chevy Corvette split-window coupe is finished in Ermine White over a red vinyl interior. It is powered by the matching-numbers 300-horsepower, 327 cubic-inch L75 V8 backed by a four-speed manual gearbox. It’s equipped with power windows, heater/defroster, and an AM/FM radio, knock-off three-ear center wheel spinners, along with whitewall bias-ply rubber.
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Comments
Nice car! It is amazing how a single year design, has become so saught after. The spilt window is so popular, that there are few after market Companies, making split window conversion kits for the mid year coupes. Just think how many 1963 coupes, the owners cut out the split! Hot Rod magazine at the time, ran a “How Too” on just that subject. OUCH!!!! Now if the mechanicles of these cars were up to date with todays, WOW. Just watch the auctions when “Resto” rods come up. They sell way over stock Corvettes now. Who would have thunk?
Now that was a steal!
Should have put a reserve of about 200
I have a matching numbers 63 split window Vette, I wouldn’t even think of selling it for less than 250K
Nice appearing car from the photos. Brings back memories of working at the dealership in the ’80s, where I spent 23 years.
Our dealership principal owned several ’60s ‘vettes and two or three of us technicians participated in painstaking restoration of the mechanicals to as new condition in both appearance and function.
My role was to overhaul the aluminum case Muncie transmissions, final drives, suspension and install and/or resurrect period HVAC.
My brother just sold his 1963 Split Window duelie for $200K. I would have bought it if my 1972 Blazer project was more complete. The garage feels empty now.
My brother just sold his 1963 Split Window fuel injected for $200K. I would have bought it if my 1972 Blazer project was more complete. The garage feels empty now.
If I had the money I would pay more
Coolest car ever. Thank you, Mr. Shinoda for the design, and thank you, Mr. Duntov for making it perform.
Since the article mentions the gauges, a fun fact is the oil pressure gauge actually has a copper oil line running into the back of it. I worked in a Corvette shop in the early 80’s and a few of these came in because someone pulled the dash apart and broke the line spilling a bunch of oil onto the carpet.
Great car. Although I was just a kid I distinctly remember when they came out. What I don’t understand is why someone attached the words “split window” to a ’63 Coupe. That started sometime in the 70’s from what I remember. All 63 Coupes have a split rear window unless some dummy changed it. (Don’t say Grand Sport-that’s a different car). ’40 Ford Coupes have a split rear window and 41’s don’t. Never heard anyone call a 40 Ford Coupe a “split window.” So what gives?