I need your help regarding a 63 coupe that I am considering buying.

[iwantac2]

I am a new member and I hope that this forum can lend me a hand. I have been in the market for a 1963 (the year I was born) coupe, for a couple of months. I was visiting my girlfriend the other day and I noticed a 63 coupe, in a garage, one block from her house. I knocked on the door, and this is what I found.....

The car is a 1963 Coupe, AT, Riverside Red, 300hp. It was appearantly originally a Florida car. The owner said that he wasn't looking to sell it but he made it clear that he would consider something "around 35k". He has owned it for 18 years and claims that it is the original paint. There is no obvious body damage and the paint does appear to be original. (And in need of a repaint). The car has AC (not working), PS, PB (finned drums...sintered??), PW, AM/FM and according to the owner, factory original Knock-offs. The engine was just completely rebuilt, as well as the front end.

My questions....

As far as I can tell, AC was extremely rare. Could this be a conversion from a later model? (the last 6 digits are 106xxx, so it's not a late model year car. ) I was under the impression that AC was only offered at the end of the model year. How can I tell if it is originally an AC car? I have also been told that Knock-Offs were not available in 63. Is this true? How can I tell if these are "Factory" KOs?

What would a car like this with these options go for if it had a new paint job? How much am I apt to spend on a quality paint job? My budget is $40k and I am hoping for a very clean car.

Thanks in advance for your help. I am excited about stepping up from my current 2000 c5, to a 1963 c2. (hehe)

Dave

 

[Tom Bryant]

Welcome Dave,

I can help with a couple answers and I'm sure others will know the rest. Air Conditioning was on 274 '63 Corvettes with either 250 or 300 horse engines so your car could be one. I have read a couple articles on the '63 air cars but I'm sure someone else here will know more than I. The KO wheels, option P48, has never been documented as being delivered on any '63 as far as I know.

There has been a lot of cars retrofitted though. I'll let someone else comment on the price. I do think it is plenty high
for a PG car needing refinished.

Tom

 

[JohnZ]

It's generally accepted in the hobby that '63 A/C production didn't begin until #11,000 (which would be VIN #111000 or higher), with very few made between #11,000 and #13,000. Conversion of a heater car to an A/C car with factory parts is a massive undertaking, and is unlikely to have occurred, although many cars have been converted with aftermarket systems (like Vintage Air, etc.).

If it has finned drums, it likely has J65 Heavy Duty Brakes, which were on about 25% of 63's (although J65 had sintered metallic linings, this is NOT the same brake system that was part of the Z06 option).

NO '63 Corvettes left the factory with KO wheels, but many were added later with factory over-the-counter or aftermarket reproduction KO wheel sets; the easiest way to tell what they are is to remove one and look inside. If there is a "WW" or "Western Wheel" anywhere on them, they're reproductions; if they only have a K-H (Kelsey-Hayes) logo cast in them and have either stamped or ink-stamped date codes, they're over-the-counter GM wheels.

The AM-FM (RPO U-69) radio didn't go into production at St. Louis until #11,216 (VIN #111216), although it could have been changed out on this car later.

If this car's VIN is really in the 6,000 range, there's something fishy about it; can you get all the numbers off the trim tag right next to the VIN plate? Also all the numbers stamped into the machined pad on the block just in front of the passenger side cylinder head.

 

[iwantac2]

John,

Thanks for all the info. I didn't get any of the numbers when I was there because I saw that it was an AT and I am looking for a 4 speed. However when I learned how rare some of these options are, I decided it might be worth a purchase. I will go back and revisit and check more thoroughly. What might be a good book for me to get to verify authenicity?

Dave

 

[IH2LOSE]

My budget is $40k and I am hoping for a very clean car.

Sorry I just re-read your post and in the budject you have noted You should be getting not only a clean car but a near perfect car!

I would also be looking toward NCRS fight judged cars.I feel 40 grand is a very generous budjet

 

[dean petrucelli]

dave
I own a very original numbers matching 63 fi coupe with serial number 60**. let me know any numbers you want me to check. My car was built around jan. 3 with most parts dated november/december. ac or fm radio was not available until much later. No 63's have ever been documented with factory original knock offs. I have a set of original KH (kelsey hayes) knock offs on my car (over the counter in 63 or 64 i assume) They are marked on the back of the rim in an oval with the marking KHD49985 inside an oval. some original Kh rims have no markings, but all repro's are marked in some way. As others have said, Western Wheel was a favorite. A good book for you to get to verify authenicity is Noland Adams Complete Corvette restoration & Technical guide vol. 2. Good luck and fire away with any questions/number verifications.
dean