1963 Corvette Split-Window Partial Shell Hammers for Eye-Opening $70k!

By Brett Foote - February 18, 2026

How’s the 1963 Corvette Split-Window market right now? This auction listing isn’t even a roller, let alone an entire Corvette.

As most Corvette fans are painfully aware already, the prices of vintage models have risen to new heights in recent years – and that’s particularly true of the C2 generation. The C2 Corvette remains incredibly popular, and among that group, few conjure up the same sort of interest as the one-year-only split-window coupe of 1963. These days, we’re just used to seeing 1963 Corvette coupes sell for huge money, but this partial shell of one wound up hammering for a silly sum, too.

In fact, this 1963 Corvette shell sold for a whopping $70,000 at Bring a Trailer recently, which is a heck of a lot of money for what the winning bidder gets – literally half a car, at best. This lot consists of a 1963 Corvette split-window coupe body shell with the roof structure, firewall, doors, floors, and a few interior bits and pieces – but nothing else. The front bodywork and much of the rear bodywork are missing, and the car sat outside for quite some time before the seller acquired it.

Due to damage, the frame was discarded by the previous owner, and the original Riverside Red paint is long gone, too. On the bright side, there are some things still here – such as the driver’s side mirror, door handles, windshield wipers, the windshield, split-window glass, trim moldings, steering wheel, dashboard, clock, gauges, door panels, and AM/FM push-button radio. The lot also included two seats, the rear brake drums and half shafts, the front drums and control arms, a steering box, and a few tail light parts.

Interestingly, the seller of this 1963 Corvette shell also happens to be a CorvetteForum member, and he chimed in on this forum post to inform us that the son of the previous owner wrecked it, which is how it wound up in this sad state.

Most assumed that the new owner would be transforming this 1963 Corvette shell into a restomod, given how much money it would take to restore the car – a sum that perhaps they may not be able to justify, even with current values being as high as they are. However, the new owner instead plans to restore it to its original glory, which seems a bit odd, but then again, maybe the experience, story, and finished product are worth more to them than mere money.