1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window to be Auctioned
Most Attractive Corvette to be Auctioned. This 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe will be offered at the upcoming Mecum sale in Harrisburg, PA, July 27-30.
Offered only in the first model year of the C2 Corvette, along with the convertible body style, the split window is prized by collectors for its rarity and the visual appeal of the split rear window. However, split windows were not very practical because they obstructed rearward vision.
As a result, the Corvette Coupe was only adopted for one model year, and the C2 was replaced by a single continuous rear window for the remainder of its production run. Nonetheless, the design became iconic and inspired modern replicas. Chevrolet even reportedly considered a split-window design for the C8 Corvette. [The car being auctioned is also one of only 2,610 built, powered by a fuel-injected 327 cubic-inch V-8 engine. The numbers-matching V-8 engine sends 360 hp to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission. The tachometer revs to 7,000 rpm and the speedometer rises to 160 mph.
Finished in Sebring Silver with a black interior, the car has been fully restored with new door panels, carpeting, and headliner, according to the listing. the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) Top Flight award several times and is Bloomington Gold Certified, which indicates the high quality of the restoration.
Mecum has not released a pre-auction estimate, but the combination of split windows and a fuel-injected 327 engine should fetch a high price at the upcoming auction in the Keystone State. For reference, a similar car sold for $190,000 at Bring a Trailer last month.