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1963 tail light question

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Old Jun 26, 2011 | 10:50 AM
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Default 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
Old Jun 26, 2011 | 11:02 AM
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All four should be red.

I am wrong about all red. Back up lights were an option, a very rare one.

Greg

Last edited by gwalker; Jun 27, 2011 at 09:38 AM. Reason: wrong information.
Old Jun 26, 2011 | 11:11 AM
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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
Old Jun 26, 2011 | 11:15 AM
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Just the clear don't work or all four?
Old Jun 26, 2011 | 12:44 PM
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just the clear
Old Jun 26, 2011 | 12:51 PM
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If it's a manual transmission, see if it has the backup light switch and/or switch connecting rod attached to the reverse shifting arm on the transmission.
Old Jun 26, 2011 | 04:24 PM
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You should have a backup light switch on the side of the transmission, with a rod connected to the reverse lever.
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Old Dec 15, 2016 | 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by stevens03
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
Hi,
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%
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Old Dec 15, 2016 | 04:05 PM
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I have a documented 1963 Coupe with this option.
Old Dec 15, 2016 | 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Wakepowell
I have a documented 1963 Coupe with this option.
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.

Last edited by Tom McMahon; Dec 15, 2016 at 04:41 PM.
Old Dec 15, 2016 | 04:59 PM
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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?
Old Dec 15, 2016 | 05:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom McMahon
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.
the Seat depressions under the seats on early 63's was not for tool storage, it was intended to accommodate Power Seats, this option was canceled before production,

thats why late 63 the depressions disappeared.
Old Dec 15, 2016 | 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Wakepowell

How were you able to determine that only 318 Corvette's were built with the reverse lamp option in 1963?
That's the figure quoted in the Corvette Black Book.
Old Dec 15, 2016 | 05:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Wakepowell
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?
Went into Chevrolet Corvette regular production options for the 1963 Corvette model year and looked at option conditions for both the 37&67 model styles.
Old Dec 15, 2016 | 05:46 PM
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Originally Posted by corvettesander
the Seat depressions under the seats on early 63's was not for tool storage, it was intended to accommodate Power Seats, this option was canceled before production,

thats why late 63 the depressions disappeared.
Yes you are correct and I was wrong.
When you stated this correction I remembered.
Old Dec 15, 2016 | 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted by corvettesander
the Seat depressions under the seats on early 63's was not for tool storage, it was intended to accommodate Power Seats, this option was canceled before production,

thats why late 63 the depressions disappeared.
You are correct.
I did know at one time the correct answer and forgot.

Last edited by Tom McMahon; Dec 15, 2016 at 05:48 PM.
Old Dec 15, 2016 | 09:10 PM
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The T86 back up lamp option for 63 became available late in the model year.

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Old Jan 23, 2020 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Critter1
The T86 back up lamp option for 63 became available late in the model year.
Yes I know this is an old thread. But my question is directly related.

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.


Old Jan 23, 2020 | 12:19 PM
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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?

Last edited by TC233; Jan 23, 2020 at 12:20 PM.
Old Jan 23, 2020 | 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by TC233
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?
Puzzling indeed -- and we'll prob never know how it occurred ...



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