Is a C2 Corvette convertible worth more than the coupe?

Cross-reference against the marque registry on every C2 you evaluate — the build sheet is the only way to know what you actually have. I've seen convertibles sold as "numbers matching big-block" cars where every number was correct but the engine had been rebuilt with incorrect replacement castings. The build sheet tells the real story before money changes hands.

Convertible vs Coupe: The 1963 Exception

The 1963 Sting Ray coupe is the only year where the coupe commands a clear premium over the convertible. The split rear window — Bill Mitchell's design decision over Zora Arkus-Duntov's objections — was deleted after one year because owners found it impractical. That single-year design makes every 1963 coupe uniquely collectible. A numbers-matching 1963 coupe in driver quality trades at $75,000–$130,000; a comparable 1963 convertible brings $65,000–$110,000. The spread widens further on show-quality cars.

What Drives C2 Convertible Premiums

The convertible commands its premium from two factors: first, open-air usability that the hardtop coupe cannot match; second, a lower production count than the coupe in most years (the coupe outsold the convertible in 1963 but underperformed in 1964–1967). On big-block cars — 427 ci in any tune — the convertible and coupe values essentially equalize, because the engine specification drives value more than body style at those price points. On small-block cars, the convertible premium is more consistent: approximately $5,000–$15,000 across comparable examples.

"The C2 convertible is often a better driver than the coupe — the open top and the lower cowl make the 427's sound unmistakable. But if you're buying for investment and have to choose one, find a 1963 split-window coupe with documentation. That car holds its value on pure rarity."

— Tom Ramirez