Butcher a 63 Split window
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 751
From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
and i agree about the other body mods too; remember, these cars were a 'dime a dozen' at one time. those of us that have had their cars for a long time can remember when you could buy them for $500 - $1,000....
Bill
Last edited by wmf62; Oct 25, 2007 at 06:42 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 27
From: Monroe Twp, NJ
My thoughts always were ,if you wanted to cut wheel wells, add hood scoops,remove bumpers and drill holes to add lights, couldnt you pick a Ford, Dodge,or another GM car to do such things. Heaven knows there was enough of them out there to chop up. The people at Chevrolet spend many hours trying to make Americas only sports car one of the best performing and handling cars in the world.I always thought chopping up Corvettes was almost criminal.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
From: Houston PA
I dont know that much has changed today, people still want to customise their cars. Having something different to some is what its all about. And hine sight is everything, Im sure if they knew they were destroying this cars value, some, not all, would not have done it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 809
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
I remember the split window was cool. When they took it out, I thought it was a bad idea. (I didnt drive at the time so my opinion was on looks only, the split window sort of was like the Gemini capsule in my mind)
The pressure to make your car look "newer" I guess is a powerful one.
On the other hand that "duck tail" modification to this day still looks pretty awsome.
The pressure to make your car look "newer" I guess is a powerful one.
On the other hand that "duck tail" modification to this day still looks pretty awsome.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,685
Likes: 61
Before anyone had seen a 1964, 'Vette shops in Southern California were removing splits and installing one-piece PLEXIGLASS rear windows. Real glass was not yet available in that difficult compound curved shape. Don't recall what, if anything was used for bright trim around the plexiglass. These early-conversion owners were not trying to look like next year's model, they just wanted rear visibility.
Now if the split window is so overpoweringly cool looking (and I think it is), why haven't I ever seen a '65-'67 with two rear windows installed?
I've thought from time to time about making a center spine kit with feather-edged stainless and rubber trim. An outer and inner piece, held to the glass by powerfull magnets, quick on or off.
I also like the Halibrand/whitewall combo on the coupe getting flared. I think the '63 hubcap was trying to look like a Halibrand wheel with a knock-off hub.
Now if the split window is so overpoweringly cool looking (and I think it is), why haven't I ever seen a '65-'67 with two rear windows installed?
I've thought from time to time about making a center spine kit with feather-edged stainless and rubber trim. An outer and inner piece, held to the glass by powerfull magnets, quick on or off.
I also like the Halibrand/whitewall combo on the coupe getting flared. I think the '63 hubcap was trying to look like a Halibrand wheel with a knock-off hub.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 290
Likes: 1
From: Torrington Ct
Some of you guys are too funny. Like they really cared it was a 63 back then. Just another used car. Functionally, the split window was a stupid idea to begin with so they cut it out. The fenders won't support bigger tires for better handling so they flared them.
Ah the good old Corvette days when it was about making them faster, better, stronger and not about matching numbers, proper over spray, and making every car look the same.
What would you folks have to do today if everyone parked them in their garage when they were new to save them in original condition for future generations like folks do today.
Ah the good old Corvette days when it was about making them faster, better, stronger and not about matching numbers, proper over spray, and making every car look the same.
What would you folks have to do today if everyone parked them in their garage when they were new to save them in original condition for future generations like folks do today.
I guess I am not enough of an enthusiast to have the ferver that some people have. I totally agree with Duntov. If some percent were modified what efffect does that have on the grand scheme of things?? Fewer pristine survivirors / originals makes for greater "investment" value in the ones that remain AND at the same time allows the resto guys something to repair / restore / argue about as noted above.
One could argue that the modified 63 cars are a win win for the BOTH collectors and restorers and not an earth shaking tradegy to be lamented.
Last edited by hpexpatriot; Oct 25, 2007 at 01:10 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 10
From: Fairfield County CT
All this raises a question: Have any of us recently seen a '63 that had it's rear split removed and has survived in that form to this day?
Or, has the premium placed on SWC's driven all back to split status?
Just curious, as I've never seen a '63 coupe advertised as "orignally a split window, but converted to one piece window configuration later."
Or, has the premium placed on SWC's driven all back to split status?
Just curious, as I've never seen a '63 coupe advertised as "orignally a split window, but converted to one piece window configuration later."
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 438
Likes: 1
From: Hunington Beach California
Some of you guys are too funny. Like they really cared it was a 63 back then. Just another used car. Functionally, the split window was a stupid idea to begin with so they cut it out. The fenders won't support bigger tires for better handling so they flared them.
Ah the good old Corvette days when it was about making them faster, better, stronger and not about matching numbers, proper over spray, and making every car look the same.
What would you folks have to do today if everyone parked them in their garage when they were new to save them in original condition for future generations like folks do today.
Ah the good old Corvette days when it was about making them faster, better, stronger and not about matching numbers, proper over spray, and making every car look the same.
What would you folks have to do today if everyone parked them in their garage when they were new to save them in original condition for future generations like folks do today.
Yea, the good old days of free will, free thinking and free sex.
Hey. I heard some nasty gossip that you just turned 40.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 438
Likes: 1
From: Hunington Beach California
Here Ya Go! A Beauty! Al W.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wickeral...98349303599266
(Someday I'll learn how to post a real photo!).
http://picasaweb.google.com/wickeral...98349303599266
(Someday I'll learn how to post a real photo!).
Cut off the scoop, and it wouldn't be that bad, actually, kinda
in the 70s and 80s.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 13
From: ar
I am one of those guys that bought my SWC in 1970 for 1100.00 and in the next couple years it had small flairs and a big hood to cover a tall intake. And just like today some people loved it and some people hated it.
But when you think about it, the ability to personalize a corvette is what has truly kept the hobby alive and well for all these years. Look at the corvettes that the top designers at GM customized in the 60s and 70s. Bunkie Knudsen and Harley Earl and the rest of them were cutting up and painting midyears ever chance they got.
Jeff
But when you think about it, the ability to personalize a corvette is what has truly kept the hobby alive and well for all these years. Look at the corvettes that the top designers at GM customized in the 60s and 70s. Bunkie Knudsen and Harley Earl and the rest of them were cutting up and painting midyears ever chance they got.
Jeff
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Some of you guys are too funny. Like they really cared it was a 63 back then. Just another used car. Functionally, the split window was a stupid idea to begin with so they cut it out. The fenders won't support bigger tires for better handling so they flared them.
Ah the good old Corvette days when it was about making them faster, better, stronger and not about matching numbers, proper over spray, and making every car look the same.
What would you folks have to do today if everyone parked them in their garage when they were new to save them in original condition for future generations like folks do today.
Ah the good old Corvette days when it was about making them faster, better, stronger and not about matching numbers, proper over spray, and making every car look the same.
What would you folks have to do today if everyone parked them in their garage when they were new to save them in original condition for future generations like folks do today.
Looks like the Mako Shark I.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,049
Likes: 134
From: St. Clair Shores MI
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
2017 C2 of the Year Finalist
I will never find it, but I remember an article where a guy took a 64 and added the split window by bondo-ing over the center of his glass, and then adding the trim
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Ah, found the pic.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 5
From: Valrico Florida
If you like people telling you what you can or can't do to your home, live in a deed restricted community. If you like people trying to tell you what you can or can't do to your car, I guess you should buy a mid-year vette.
Flare it, add tail lights and a whale tail, cut holes in the hood, run exhaust out the fenders, put the lights in the grill, and paint it the most awful color scheme you want. It's your car, just a car, and no one else's business.
Flare it, add tail lights and a whale tail, cut holes in the hood, run exhaust out the fenders, put the lights in the grill, and paint it the most awful color scheme you want. It's your car, just a car, and no one else's business.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 2
From: Fairless Hills PA.
I installed more spoilers, flairs, shark fronts, and mulyple tailights than I care to mention while involved in a Corvette Shop back in the day.
It was a time when you personalized your Vette.
Candy Apple paint, Metalflake( used a Binks #7 with an agitator for that.) Ribbon paint schemes.
Like mentioned before. Who knew what they would be worth today.
I was going to run a guy with a Road Runner one night with my 65 Fuelie, A freind of mine had 15x8s with slicks. I thought nothing of pulling in the garage, uncorked the headers, taking out the Jig saw and cutting the wheelwells to make them fit. I proceeded to smoke the RoadRunner (Grudge race) and with the money I won bought Flairs and installed them the following week. If we only had forthought!
It was a time when you personalized your Vette.
Candy Apple paint, Metalflake( used a Binks #7 with an agitator for that.) Ribbon paint schemes.
Like mentioned before. Who knew what they would be worth today.
I was going to run a guy with a Road Runner one night with my 65 Fuelie, A freind of mine had 15x8s with slicks. I thought nothing of pulling in the garage, uncorked the headers, taking out the Jig saw and cutting the wheelwells to make them fit. I proceeded to smoke the RoadRunner (Grudge race) and with the money I won bought Flairs and installed them the following week. If we only had forthought!