1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

After 11 model years of the car’s first-generation, during which it transformed from an underpowered boulevard cruiser with no roll-up windows or exterior door handles to a proper two-seat sports car that could hold its own with its competition, Chevrolet surprised the automotive world with the car’s next generation in 1963.

Nineteen sixty-three was the first model year of Corvette available as a coupe or a convertible. This example, like all Corvettes made between 1954 and mid-1981, was manufactured in Chevrolet’s St. Louis, Missouri factory (VIN code S).

The current owner has meticulously maintained this car and it hails from an impressive collection of American Muscle and classic cars. It underwent a frame-off restoration from late 1990 to early 1993 and almost $73,000 has been invested in this rebuild. This restoration adhered to NCRS’s judging guide and achieved Top Flight qualifications at chapter (96.3 points), regional (95.4 points) and national (96.1 points) levels. It comprised a complete engine, transmission and differential rebuild; a complete repaint; and a full interior refurbishment, including carpet and seat covers, gauges and clock, shifter, seat belts, radio and steering column. This car has covered just over 6,000 miles since the restoration and has been maintained against current NCRS judging standards to ensure it remains stock.

The car was stripped and repainted in 1993; the front clip and left rear quarter panel were replaced with press-molded fiberglass. The car’s convertible top was replaced in October 2022 and the engine bay was refreshed in August 2023.

Dressed in Silver Blue (code 912), this curvaceous droptop still turns heads more than 60 years after it left the assembly line. This example’s paint and trim are in overall very good condition. The white vinyl convertible top operates without issues and all panels function correctly during the roof-up and roof-down process. This model year also marked the first year for the car’s hidden or pop-up headlights, which it would retain through the 2004 model year.

This ‘Vette rolls on whitewall bias tires mounted on 15-inch steel wheels, topped with factory hub caps. The tires and wheels are all in very good order. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel drum brakes.

Under the forward-hinged hood is a rebuilt Turbo-Fire 327 CID V-8 engine breathing through dual exhausts and backed by a Muncie four-speed manual transmission. Driver convenience features include power steering.

Inside, the car’s pristine black vinyl interior (code STD). The new vinyl bucket seat covers look great and that appearance extends to the new carpet, inner door panels, dashboard and three-spoke steering wheel. Overall, the interior is in excellent order, showing just minimal signs of wear. The crank windows work seamlessly. The gauges, shifter, seat belts, clock, AM/FM radio and steering column are all rebuilt and restored. The glove box door has been replaced. All interior lights, gauges and other items work well. The Muncie shifter glides between gears and the clutch is excellent.

Odometer at time of restoration was 47,275; vehicle has racked up 6,110 miles since frame-off restoration was completed in 1993.

The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray not only had a new design but also newfound handling prowess. The Sting Ray was also a somewhat lighter Corvette, so acceleration improved despite unchanged horsepower.

For the 1963 model year, 21,513 units would be built, which was up 50 percent from the record-setting 1962 version. Production was divided almost evenly between the convertible and the new coupe – 10,919 and 10,594, respectively – and more than half the convertibles were ordered with the optional lift-off hardtop. Nevertheless, the coupe wouldn’t sell as well again throughout the Sting Ray years.

The closed Corvette did not outsell the open one until 1969, by which time the coupe came with a T-top featuring removable roof panels. Equipment installations for 1963 began reflecting the market’s demand for more civility in sporting cars. The power brake option went into 15 percent of production; power steering into 12 percent. On the other hand, only 278 buyers specified the $421.80 air conditioning; leather upholstery – a mere $80.70 – was ordered on only 1,114 cars. The cast aluminum knock-off wheels, manufactured for Chevy by Kelsey-Hayes, cost $322.80 a set, but few buyers checked off that option. However, almost 18,000 Sting Rays left St. Louis with the four-speed manual gearbox – better than four out of every five.