1963GrayGray

Was this silver blue coupe from SC before it went to FL?
I remember a similar 63 from the Columbia area.
Dave

midyear

great reference pics, and at least this 63 has an STV valve (as it should) and not a 67 up style POA like the other two in this thread....

TheSaint

62Jeff
Have a look on the second line under C2
http://www.rogerscorvette.com/history.htm

rich5962

Owner told me it was originally sold in Texas, then came to FL in 1980.

gold63

I believe the '63 referred to is Coupe #55 which would put it in the very first day or two of production, in September.
#55 is the special order Knudson car with Cadillac Saddle paint. It was once featured in Corvette Fever magazine.

Syd

62Jeff

Being a Knudson car, it very definitely would not be in the same domain as "production A/C" cars. Granted the article notes it was sent back for A/C but this certainly does not establish the beginning of Production A/C deployments in Production cars.

jimmies63

The statement referred to above comes from here. http://www.rogerscorvette.com/history.htm

Then there are various comments on the web that Harley's 63 swc #55 was taken back to Chevrolet engineering for ac in oct 62. Same exec? Could be. At least there are numerous mentions of an oct 62 ac car online and in print (including Nolan Adams book). Nolan says car #55 - earls car we later learn- had air retrofitted in oct 62.

It makes sense, he lived in fl and the press release on the car says he had ac on his car because of that. It also says he had' '65 parts', but he sold it in '65. So, did his car have or not have air in 63? Were they 65 parts? Is there a difference in the *****?

Then I come into the picture. For 30 years my now dead brother in law is saying how his car was a 63 coupe with prototype air. It was all disconnected as the car was set up for racing some time in the 70's. The dash was unmolested and the evap and condensor parts were left there. The under dash parts and compressor were in a box. He had no idea it was made in oct 62. He knew it was rare cause it had air and the previous owner said it was a prototype.

Now I come along restoring it. It looks like a knock off from a donor card by vin, but at the same time Harley's car is getting ac, mine is coming out of the factory. The parts all look the exact same as the Harley car. Did they make one set of parts just for his car in oct 62? Did they install them on that car and that car alone and then wait 6 months and make the parts all over again for production in may of 63?

What if the story my bil got was actually true? What if they put out a bunch cars with prototype parts before they did Harley's car? My car was in a garage in Ontario canada for 30 yrs. well beyond a lot eyes. Do I not owe it to the corvette community to figure it out?

I am in this for the truth, not the money. I promised my sister i would give her daughter away in it. The car isnt being set up to be resold. I have a seriously good fake or a real prototype. All help figuring it out is appreciated.

Nowhere Man

You say the car was in Canada for a while. Was it sold new there If your not sure do a NCRS shipping report. If it was go to GM of Canada and see if they have any records of it. If they do it will settle this once and for all

jimmies63

Car came from Chattanooga tn.i found the name of the guy who found the car for my bil, and I am trying to find previous owners, but this is a US car that was squirreled away for a while

jimmies63

Somewhere I confused Harley earls car with car #55. Harley's car was like car #4012. Well before Nolan Adams car 11,000+ starting air. Car #55 and the gm exec with air in oct 62 remain unknown, but still a well published story

gold63

Jim,

According to my '63 file, #4,012 is a White FI Coupe and I don't think it is known to be a Harley car.
If I remember correctly, car #55 was built for Knudson's wife and also had a special cross pattern cloth interior. I had thought that it was sent back to GM later in the production year to be refitted with ac but I could be wrong. Others know more about this.

I would love to know more about the Silver Blue #16,1xx car as I only have 1 car recorded in my file in the 16,100 - 200 frame and that is a White Coupe.

Syd

gold63

Meant to say 1 (one) AC car in that vin range.

Syd

jimmies63

Heres Harley's #. I missed the '1'. http://www.proteam-corvette.com/cars/Hearl63.htm

They were still working with air in oct 62.

I got Nolan's book today from paragon. It is full of stuff to look for. Clear shots of dashboards (light switch placements), ser nos for evaporators and compressors. I'll find the donor car if I can't find where mine came from.
I'll get it sorted out!

jprop

I have some pics of my early 64 (Oct 63) car with air. Its not the same as a 63 but its probably the same basic layout.

jimmies63

Thanks for the offer, but I am good for now. The Adams book has all I need right now to figure out where my ac came from. It is a factory set up, just need to figure out when. I can get that off a few component serial numbers

TheSaint

No this is a one off car since it was a GM boss wifes car
Also does not say that if it is a AC car on the suffix on 1963 according to my Corvette Black Book

gold63

Exactly

The Bunkie car #55 was sent back to the GM Tech Center where it received it's A/C. It also received am/fm radio and back-up-lamps, both well ahead of the release dates for those options as well.
That to go along with the special Saddle paint and leather/cloth interior that wasn't available for Cadillac's before 1965, IIRC.

Syd

Procrastination Racing

Here are some pictures.








A shot most never see, this is under the front fender in the right side fresh air plenum. An AC car has this box that seals to get inside air which a standard heater car doesn't have.

hook626

The evaporator is wrong on this car, adding to it the low vin definitely not a factory air car.

TheSaint

A question when converting factory AC to more modern freon
I have seen replacement for the STV valve so you can use modern freon

When comparing the STV valve to the left and the STV valve eliminator kit(small picture to the right)i really can not see how that will fit?

The STV valve eliminator kit must be much bigger than i imagine i guess but i still can not see how that will fin on the STV valve bracket?

Anybody here that use the STV valve eliminator kit?