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1963 Chevrolet Corvette

$89,997

1963 Chevrolet Corvette

Vehicle Details

Make

Chevrolet

Model

Corvette

Year

1963

Mileage

48,814 miles

VIN

30867S115942

Body Type

Convertible

Transmission

Manual

Engine

327ci V8

Description

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible — Numbers Matching 327/340hp, Muncie 4-Speed, NCRS Documented Why This Car Is Special The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette is one of the most significant years in the entire C2 generation, and that is not a casual statement. The C2 Sting Ray — introduced for 1963 after Chevrolet retired the first-generation C1 — represented a complete reinvention of the Corvette formula. Bill Mitchell and Larry Shinoda delivered a body design that drew directly from the 1959 Stingray racer and the XP-720 show car, giving the production Corvette its first truly purpose-built sports car architecture.

The 1963 model year is also the only year the coupe received its famous split rear window, making it the most discussed single year of C2 production. The convertible, meanwhile, offered a lighter overall package and remains deeply desirable in its own right. This particular 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible is finished in Riverside Red with a matching red leather interior — one of the most requested color combinations of the era and a combination that photographs exactly as well in person as it does on screen.

The car carries its original, numbers matching 327 cubic inch V8 engine rated at 340 horsepower, paired with the correct numbers matching Muncie 4-speed manual transmission. It has been NCRS documented, which means it has been evaluated against factory records and judged to meet the National Corvette Restorers Society's standards for correctness. For a buyer focused on authenticity and long-term value, NCRS documentation is one of the most meaningful credentials a vintage Corvette can carry.

The VIN on this car decodes to a 1963 Corvette convertible built at the St. Louis assembly plant, confirming the body style and model year. The sequence number places it within verified 1963 production, consistent with the NCRS documentation on file.

Features List - Original numbers matching 327ci V8 engine, 340 horsepower - Original numbers matching Muncie 4-speed manual transmission - NCRS documented - Riverside Red exterior - Red leather interior - Convertible body style - New vintage-style air conditioning - New electric power steering - Stainless steel exhaust with dual outlets through the rear fascia - New convertible top - Knock-off turbine style wheels - Radial redline tires - Four wheel disc brakes - Tachometer - Chrome bumpers - Hood vents Mechanical The 327 cubic inch small block V8 in this 1963 Chevrolet Corvette is the 340 horsepower version, which in 1963 was factory equipped with a Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor and a more aggressive camshaft than the base 250hp unit. The 327 in its various states of tune was widely considered one of the best-balanced performance engines Chevrolet ever built — free-revving, responsive, and durable when properly maintained. The fact that both the engine and transmission carry matching numbers to the car is a significant detail.

In the C2 Corvette market, matching numbers cars command a meaningful premium over those that have been re-engined, and NCRS documentation adds an independent layer of verification that casual claims cannot provide. The Muncie 4-speed manual is the correct transmission pairing for this engine output level. Muncie transmissions were built in Muncie, Indiana and were the preferred close-ratio gearbox for performance Corvette applications throughout the 1960s.

Rowing through the gears with an original Muncie is a tactile experience that owners of these cars consistently describe as one of the defining pleasures of driving a C2. Modern drivability upgrades have been thoughtfully applied without compromising the car's authenticity where it matters most. A new vintage-style air conditioning system has been installed — this is a period-correct appearing unit that integrates under the dash without requiring major modifications to the firewall or dashboard.

New electric power steering replaces the manual rack, which meaningfully reduces par

Classic Chevrolet Corvette Buyer's Guide

Full guide
M
Mike Sullivan
Muscle Cars
1953–1982
~6 min read
Updated Apr 2026
Complete buyer's guide for classic Chevrolet Corvette C1, C2 and C3 (1953-1982). Birdcage rust, frame inspection, engine code identification, and current market pricing for split-windows, L88s and LT-1s.
This guide covers
10-point inspection checklist
Common issues & what to avoid
In-person inspection guide
Market pricing by year & condition
5 FAQs answered
History & fun facts

Chevrolet Corvette Market Overview

Based on 616 Chevrolet Corvette listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

616
Listed Now
$39,933
Avg. Asking Price
1953–1999
Year Range
Price Position on Our Site — Above Average
This car: $89,997
Low: $4,000 High: $299,995
Transmission Distribution
Automatic 47%
Manual 37% ◄
Condition Distribution
Excellent 13%
Good 12%
Fair 5%
Poor 0%
Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 616 listings →
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Classic Chevrolet Corvette Buyer's Guide

The Chevrolet Corvette has been America's sports car for over seventy years, but the classic Corvette market splits into three distinct generations, each with its own buyer profile and its own pitfalls. The C1 (1953-1962), C2 mid-year (1963-1967), and C3 shark (1968-1982) cover three decades of evolution from solid-axle straight-six convertibles to small-block legends to LT-1-powered chrome-bumper cars. Knowing which Corvette is yours — and what it actually is versus what the seller claims — is the difference between a sound investment and an expensive lesson.

What to Check Before Buying

Verify dashboard VIN against trim tag and engine partial VIN — All three must agree. Engine partial VIN is on driver-side block deck near cylinder head.
Demand original tank sticker for any car over $60K — Glued inside top of gas tank. Lists all original options. Gold standard for premium Corvette verification.
Order NCRS Shipping Data Report ($50) — Available from National Corvette Restorers Society. Confirms original equipment from GM records.
Inspect birdcage at door frames and cowl — Pull door panels, lift carpet at windshield base. Perforation = $8,000-$25,000 structural repair.
Probe frame at kick-up and rear cross-member — Solid steel resists; rotten metal flakes. Frame replacement is $15,000-$30,000 if needed.
Examine fiberglass under raking light — Stress cracks at body mounts, headlight buckets, rear panel. Deep cracks = impact damage or chassis flex.
Check T-top seals and headliner (C3) — Water staining indicates failed seals. Leaks rot birdcage from inside.
Verify Big Block valvetrain on cold start — Solid-lifter L72/L78/L88/ZL1 should tick and subside with oil pressure. Continuous noise = valve adjustment or worn lifters.
Compression test all eight cylinders — Should read 145-185 PSI uniformly across the bank. Variance >15% = head gasket or ring problem.
Test all electrical and pop-up headlights (C3) — Vacuum-actuated headlights commonly fail. Hidden leaks in vacuum lines drop the lights at speed.

Common Issues

Corvette "birdcage" rust is the structural killer for C2 and C3 cars. The birdcage is the steel inner structure that supports the fiberglass body — windshield frame, A-pillars, doglegs, and roof. When the birdcage rots, the body flexes, glass cracks, and door alignment goes off. Birdcage repair on a C2 or C3 is $8,000-$25,000 depending on extent. Frame rust on C1 (boxed steel) and C3 (X-frame) Corvettes is the second major concern. The kickup behind the front wheels, the rear suspension mounting points, and the rear cross-member all rot in salt-belt cars. Probe the frame with a screwdriver — solid steel resists, rotten metal flakes. Mechanical issues vary by generation. C1s commonly have weak Powerglide automatics and tired solid-lifter 283 fuelies. C2s have strong drivetrains but the leaf-spring rear suspension wears bushings and the differential carriers crack. C3s suffer from sloppy T-tops that leak, failing radiators, and worn front coil springs that sag the front end. The L88 cars (1967-1969) had aluminum heads that crack from heat cycling — a deal-breaker if not previously addressed.

What to Look For

VIN authentication is the first stop. The C1 and C2 cars used the dashboard VIN plate; the C3 added the windshield-pillar VIN starting in 1968. Cross-reference the VIN against the trim tag (riveted to the body brace under the glovebox or on the firewall depending on year) and against the engine block partial VIN. Big Block cars (1965+ 396, 1966+ 427, 1970+ 454) and Z06/L88/ZL1 specials must have all numbers matching to claim premium prices. For C2 and C3 cars, inspect the birdcage. Pull the door panels and look at the inner door structure. Lift the carpet at the windshield base and look at the inner cowl. Pull the headliner if practical and look at the roof structure on coupes. Surface rust is acceptable; perforation is structural and expensive to repair. For any high-dollar Corvette claim — L71 427/435, L88, ZL1, Z06, LT-1 — demand the original tank sticker (the build sheet that was glued to the inside top of the gas tank). Tank stickers are the gold standard for verification. Cross-reference the tank sticker codes against the VIN and the engine block partial VIN. Fiberglass condition is uniquely Corvette. Look for stress cracks at the body mount points, around the headlight buckets, and at the rear panel where the bumpers attach. Surface gel-coat cracks are cosmetic; deeper structural cracks indicate impact damage or chassis flex.

Price Guide

C1 (1953-1962) Corvettes range from $45,000 for solid 1958-1962 driver-quality 283 V8 cars up to $300,000+ for documented 1957-1962 fuelie cars in concours condition. The 1953 launch year (only 300 built) is a special case — documented original 1953s sell for $200,000-$400,000. C2 (1963-1967) is the most coveted Corvette generation. The 1963 split-window coupe is the icon — $95,000-$200,000 for drivers and survivors, $300,000+ for documented L84 fuelie cars. 1965-1967 396/427 Big Blocks are $85,000-$180,000 for drivers, with documented L71 Tri-Power cars at $140,000-$280,000. The 1967 L88 is the holy grail — only 20 were built — and documented examples bring $2.5M-$5M at auction. C3 (1968-1982) is the bargain entry to Corvette ownership. Driver-quality 1968-1972 small-blocks run $22,000-$42,000. The 1970-1972 LT-1 (small-block, solid-lifter, 350-360 hp) is the underrated gem at $45,000-$85,000 for documented numbers-matching cars. 1973-1977 cars are the bargain era at $15,000-$28,000. 1978 silver anniversary and 1982 Collector Edition cars trade for $22,000-$35,000.

Did You Know?

The Corvette name was suggested by GM PR director Myron Scott — named after the small, fast warship class. GM trademarked "Corvette" in May 1953, just one month before the car's June launch. The 1963 split-window coupe was a Bill Mitchell design that survived for only one model year. Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Corvette's chief engineer, hated the split window because it killed rearward visibility, and he successfully lobbied to remove it for the 1964 model year. The one-year-only design is now the most iconic Corvette body style ever produced. Only 20 L88 Corvettes were built for 1967, and Chevrolet deliberately under-rated the engine at 430 horsepower to keep insurance companies off the buyer's back. The L88 actually produced approximately 540 horsepower in road-going trim and was conceived purely as a homologation special for road racing — Chevrolet refused to install a heater, radio, or AM/FM in any L88, telling buyers to special-order them at the dealer if they actually wanted comfort features.

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