1963 air conditioning
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2009
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1963 air conditioning
Hi all, have a question on a 1963 convertible vette I'm thinking about buying. I'm told it was an original ac car, but it was built in Jan '63. I was told that the ac car were started in about March or April of 1963. Also only 58 cars were built with ac and convertible. Is there any way to decipher these cars? The car is mostly compete with all new fiberglass. Just needs detail finish work. What is it worth approximately? Any input would be appreciated. I can buy this car for $25,000.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: St. Marys Ohio
Never say never, but a January AC car is highly unlikely. Are you certail of the build date ? Maybe you could post the VIN or info from the trim tag. A few photos of the car could provide some tips too. You should be able to tell an original AC installation while examining this car. An undetectible AC conversion to a non AC 63 car would cost thousands of dollars. Was this car for sale in Carlisle in August ??
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Tom Hendricks tom@budschevy.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buds-Chevrolet-Buick-Corvette/176730955684255?ref=hl
Corvette Specialist Since 1993
BUDS CHEVROLET
St. Marys, Ohio
800-688-2837
WEBSITE WWW.BUDSCHEVY.COM
HOURS MON-WED 7:00AM - 5:00PM
FFRIDAY AND SATURDAY BY APPT.
OFF THURSDAYS
NCRS # 23758 Miami Valley Chapter ( Ohio )
NCM Founding Member #1143
NADA Classic Car Guide Advisiory Board Member
C5/C6 Registry Corporate Member # 5
My Corvettes. 63, 71, 73, 78.
Team Owner
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From: Washington Michigan
No factory-installed A/C prior to April, although there are several known earlier cars that were converted at Engineering. As Wayne noted, post the "Trim" code on the trim tag; if the tag is original, that will confirm it. 
Drifting
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Cloud 10, Pangea
Hi all, have a question on a 1963 convertible vette I'm thinking about buying. I'm told it was an original ac car, but it was built in Jan '63. I was told that the ac car were started in about March or April of 1963. Also only 58 cars were built with ac and convertible. Is there any way to decipher these cars? The car is mostly compete with all new fiberglass. Just needs detail finish work. What is it worth approximately? Any input would be appreciated. I can buy this car for $25,000.
). There were a total of 278 AC cars (50 or so of them convertibles) built starting around mid-April 1963. Today there are probably 1,000 to 1,500 "original" 63' AC cars... let's just say there are many 64's missing their AC units.
This one sounds like someone trying to build a high-dollar car from spare parts. The problem is the time of manufacture which is too early for AC installation. Supposedly there were some rebuilt on the line for higher ups in GM and some could have been an early test run because AC parts were available early 1963. But... very unlikely this is one of them. There are many unique parts for a 63 AC car that are totally different than the 64 through 67 models.
What is the cars worth?? Don't know without seeing photos... but right now $25K sounds about right for a unfinished 63 vert.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2009
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1963 air conditioning
Ok guys here's all the #'s the owner can give me.
VIN# 308675107628
TRIM TAG:
E463867
490M
3570
923A (red?)
4th week of 1963
Engine #'s
F0114sc (327, 250 hp)
Production# 3107628
hope this helps interpret this car. This car has all brand new fiber glass body, fully new interior, rebuilt guages, seats, door panels, carpet etc. All the chrome has been re-done. The car is red, with red interior. I think 25K is a good price. The owner says he has 30K into it. Thanks for all the help. Steve
VIN# 308675107628
TRIM TAG:
E463867
490M
3570
923A (red?)
4th week of 1963
Engine #'s
F0114sc (327, 250 hp)
Production# 3107628
hope this helps interpret this car. This car has all brand new fiber glass body, fully new interior, rebuilt guages, seats, door panels, carpet etc. All the chrome has been re-done. The car is red, with red interior. I think 25K is a good price. The owner says he has 30K into it. Thanks for all the help. Steve
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to early for factory AC. what do you mean all new fiber glass body? a new front clip and rear quarters to go back to a stock look. is that hand laid glass or press mold glass
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
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Supposedly all the glass has been replaced, has new hood. Cannot tell you if it is press or hand done. Supposedly the body was done 15 years ago and the owner has brought it from there. Mostly complete, he is 79 years old and is selling off everything. I think he should pay someone to finish it and then sell it.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Dover AR
The 490 is red vinyl, the ECL M was used for convertibles with U69 (AM/FM). There are quite a few ECLs for verts with C60 but that isn't one of them.
You didn't mention it but these numbers add up to a base HP car with a powerglide.
It's value is greatly diminished by so much fiberglass being new, 25k sounds about right. Could be a nice vert with A/C, just not original!!
You didn't mention it but these numbers add up to a base HP car with a powerglide.
It's value is greatly diminished by so much fiberglass being new, 25k sounds about right. Could be a nice vert with A/C, just not original!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13
The 490 is red vinyl, the ECL M was used for convertibles with U69 (AM/FM). There are quite a few ECLs for verts with C60 but that isn't one of them.
You didn't mention it but these numbers add up to a base HP car with a powerglide.
It's value is greatly diminished by so much fiberglass being new, 25k sounds about right. Could be a nice vert with A/C, just not original!!
You didn't mention it but these numbers add up to a base HP car with a powerglide.
It's value is greatly diminished by so much fiberglass being new, 25k sounds about right. Could be a nice vert with A/C, just not original!!
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From: Washington Michigan
Drifting
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From: Cloud 10, Pangea
JohnZ, in your many travels... have you ever seen a 63' or any midyear converted to AC by Chevy Engineering that could be verified? I keep hearing the rumors... and have seen some questionable/amateur AC installations. Something else... would Engineering have changed the trim tag to reflect interior changes? Thanks for the info!
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From: Down on the bayou in south Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '10
25K for a 63 convertible with air, all new chrome, new interrior and rebuilt gages sounds like a decent price. Much better if the new glass is press molded and be sure to check the frame.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Washington Michigan
JohnZ, in your many travels... have you ever seen a 63' or any midyear converted to AC by Chevy Engineering that could be verified? I keep hearing the rumors... and have seen some questionable/amateur AC installations. Something else... would Engineering have changed the trim tag to reflect interior changes? Thanks for the info!
Cruising
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63 swc AC
I checked the battery location and it is sitting between the fender well and the fire wall and a hole cut in the fender well with a panel over it, I put a battery in it about four years ago and it is a pain in the rear the battery tray looks just like any other 63 vette I did not check were it mounts to the frame if it was a reversed from the standard tray maybe they will mount either way I don't know, the rest of the installation looks like typical GM work, tapes and the goop they used back then. I bought the car from a guy in Columbia SC I tried to get all of the info from him that I could but his memory was very short he had the car for several years and he said the reason he held on to it was because of the AC. he ownes the NAPA parts store and machine shop in Columbia and he did not have the time to work on it. It is a matching #'s car Black on Black 340 HP four speed 411 rear end I will try to get some pictures when I get back I am not very good on the computer.
Thanks Later.
Thanks Later.
Safety Car
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From: FL
I checked the battery location and it is sitting between the fender well and the fire wall and a hole cut in the fender well with a panel over it, I put a battery in it about four years ago and it is a pain in the rear the battery tray looks just like any other 63 vette I did not check were it mounts to the frame if it was a reversed from the standard tray maybe they will mount either way I don't know, the rest of the installation looks like typical GM work, tapes and the goop they used back then. I bought the car from a guy in Columbia SC I tried to get all of the info from him that I could but his memory was very short he had the car for several years and he said the reason he held on to it was because of the AC. he ownes the NAPA parts store and machine shop in Columbia and he did not have the time to work on it. It is a matching #'s car Black on Black 340 HP four speed 411 rear end I will try to get some pictures when I get back I am not very good on the computer.
Thanks Later.
Thanks Later.
Battery trays were different, not just switched side to side.
Le Mans Master
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From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13
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From: Washington Michigan
Cruising
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Later OG