1963 tail light question
06-26-2011, 10:50 AM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jun 2011
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1963 tail light question
My 63 corvette tailights have 1 clear light and one red on each side. Is this correct or were they all red in 1963.
They dont work any so its hard to say what they do, more curious on what would be correct.
Trim code - std
Thank you
They dont work any so its hard to say what they do, more curious on what would be correct.
Trim code - std
Thank you
06-26-2011, 11:02 AM
#2
All four should be red.
I am wrong about all red. Back up lights were an option, a very rare one.
Greg
I am wrong about all red. Back up lights were an option, a very rare one.
Greg
Last edited by gwalker; 06-27-2011 at 09:38 AM. Reason: wrong information.
06-26-2011, 11:11 AM
#3
Tech Contributor
Normally the configuration you've described means the car has backup lights.
Do they come on when the car is put in reverse? Backup lights were an option starting in 1963.
Jeff
Do they come on when the car is put in reverse? Backup lights were an option starting in 1963.
Jeff
06-26-2011, 04:24 PM
#7
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2000
Location: Washington Michigan
Posts: 38,899
Received 1,856 Likes
on
1,099 Posts
You should have a backup light switch on the side of the transmission, with a rod connected to the reverse lever. 
12-15-2016, 12:50 PM
#8
I know this is an old thread and just read thread for the first time.
Any documented 1963 Corvette's out in the field with this rare option (RPOT86 - Backup Lamps) This was $10.80 option and out of 21,513 cars built only 318 1963 Corvette's had this option or less then 1.5%
12-15-2016, 04:40 PM
#10
You have a rare 1963 Corvette.
Is your 1963 Corvette an early Corvette with depressions under the seats for tool storage.
Also the seat height was adjustable on early 1963 Corvette's and the headlamp buckets were fiberglass.
According to GM Heritage, the 1963 Corvette 37 style was known as the aero coupe.
Early Corvette's with depressions under the seat had different configuration for the exhaust system.
One other item, believe the glove box door had clear plastic film on outer door on early 1963's.
The 1963 Corvette was the most exciting Corvette ever.
I had a brand new 1967 BB with N11 from the factory VIN 194677S100560
Very early 1967 built 09/09/1966.
Is your 1963 Corvette an early Corvette with depressions under the seats for tool storage.
Also the seat height was adjustable on early 1963 Corvette's and the headlamp buckets were fiberglass.
According to GM Heritage, the 1963 Corvette 37 style was known as the aero coupe.
Early Corvette's with depressions under the seat had different configuration for the exhaust system.
One other item, believe the glove box door had clear plastic film on outer door on early 1963's.
The 1963 Corvette was the most exciting Corvette ever.
I had a brand new 1967 BB with N11 from the factory VIN 194677S100560
Very early 1967 built 09/09/1966.
Last edited by Tom McMahon; 12-15-2016 at 04:41 PM.
12-15-2016, 04:59 PM
#11
My 1963 was built in June '63 and delivered July 11, 1963. It does not have the deeper wells in the floor. It is also unrestored and I have all order forms and documents the cars came with.
How were you able to determine that only 318 Corvette's were built with the reverse lamp option in 1963?
How were you able to determine that only 318 Corvette's were built with the reverse lamp option in 1963?
12-15-2016, 05:09 PM
#12
Instructor
You have a rare 1963 Corvette.
Is your 1963 Corvette an early Corvette with depressions under the seats for tool storage.
Also the seat height was adjustable on early 1963 Corvette's and the headlamp buckets were fiberglass.
According to GM Heritage, the 1963 Corvette 37 style was known as the aero coupe.
Early Corvette's with depressions under the seat had different configuration for the exhaust system.
One other item, believe the glove box door had clear plastic film on outer door on early 1963's.
The 1963 Corvette was the most exciting Corvette ever.
I had a brand new 1967 BB with N11 from the factory VIN 194677S100560
Very early 1967 built 09/09/1966.
Is your 1963 Corvette an early Corvette with depressions under the seats for tool storage.
Also the seat height was adjustable on early 1963 Corvette's and the headlamp buckets were fiberglass.
According to GM Heritage, the 1963 Corvette 37 style was known as the aero coupe.
Early Corvette's with depressions under the seat had different configuration for the exhaust system.
One other item, believe the glove box door had clear plastic film on outer door on early 1963's.
The 1963 Corvette was the most exciting Corvette ever.
I had a brand new 1967 BB with N11 from the factory VIN 194677S100560
Very early 1967 built 09/09/1966.
thats why late 63 the depressions disappeared.
12-15-2016, 05:44 PM
#14
My 1963 was built in June '63 and delivered July 11, 1963. It does not have the deeper wells in the floor. It is also unrestored and I have all order forms and documents the cars came with.
How were you able to determine that only 318 Corvette's were built with the reverse lamp option in 1963?
How were you able to determine that only 318 Corvette's were built with the reverse lamp option in 1963?
12-15-2016, 05:46 PM
#15
When you stated this correction I remembered.
12-15-2016, 05:48 PM
#16
I did know at one time the correct answer and forgot.
Last edited by Tom McMahon; 12-15-2016 at 05:48 PM.
01-23-2020, 11:07 AM
#18
Apparently the T86 option was only available late in the production run of 22,000 cars. Does this mean that it was not on the order form at the beginning of the year, or was it on there and you just didn’t get it when the car arrived?
See the picture below. Early window sticker for car 01379 shows the T86 option being selected for $10.80. Car was built Oct 10, 1962. An early car.
I doubt the window sticker is a fake for a few reasons. And the car does not currently even have the backup lights on it, so no money grab being done for having the rare option, so putting it on a fake window sticker would have been a waste of time.
I know that other mid year options like L78 did not show up on the early order forms, so I’m wondering how this got ordered, showed up on the window sticker, and if the car May have originally been delivered with the lights. Thanks for any insight.
01-23-2020, 12:19 PM
#19
I have an original dealer book that pre-dates the arrival of the 63 Vette to the public. It does not list back up lights as an available option but does list knock offs which tells you it did pre-date the arrival of the car
So not sure how that piece of paper has the back up light option that was not listed, especially that early in production. Can't imagine anyone going out of their way to falsify it so perhaps the code for backup was whispered down from GM to dealers and someone tried to order it but never got it?
So not sure how that piece of paper has the back up light option that was not listed, especially that early in production. Can't imagine anyone going out of their way to falsify it so perhaps the code for backup was whispered down from GM to dealers and someone tried to order it but never got it?
Last edited by TC233; 01-23-2020 at 12:20 PM.
01-23-2020, 01:34 PM
#20
Team Owner
I have an original dealer book that pre-dates the arrival of the 63 Vette to the public. It does not list back up lights as an available option but does list knock offs which tells you it did pre-date the arrival of the car
So not sure how that piece of paper has the back up light option that was not listed, especially that early in production. Can't imagine anyone going out of their way to falsify it so perhaps the code for backup was whispered down from GM to dealers and someone tried to order it but never got it?
So not sure how that piece of paper has the back up light option that was not listed, especially that early in production. Can't imagine anyone going out of their way to falsify it so perhaps the code for backup was whispered down from GM to dealers and someone tried to order it but never got it?
