Why? 
1963 Engine ID
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 47,628
Likes: 65
Outside the purchase price, replacement of belts, hoses etc., and general maintenance, I wasn't planning on investing another dime. There is actually some new trim (not sure if NOS or reproduction) that is included (rocker moldings, taillights). I would just sell that stuff.
Otherwise, sounds exciting to buy something like that for pure fun, patina. Good luck.
Last edited by ifitgoesfast; Mar 20, 2013 at 11:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 880
Likes: 161
From: Seville, OH
I do think $18K is on the low side, but just short of insulting so I will stick with that. My gut feeling says $20K and I might go to $22K considering that the car is local so transporting isn't any issue.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 880
Likes: 161
From: Seville, OH
All I did was check that the title matched the VIN Tag. I am going by memory, but I think the VIN tag had rivets. VIN indicates a Sept 62 build date. What should I be looking for? Definitely not interested if VIN has been tampered with.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 889
Likes: 87
From: Montreal
Check the archives here for many pictures.
Sept '62 is a very early car and the body number on the trim tag should reflect that. Do the cars colors match the trim tag?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,367
Likes: 59
From: FL
As many seem to forget in giving "facts" and what several others point out quite clearly, nothing is set in stone on these cars.
What you see today "MAY" be how they were built originally. In the '60s and '70s, lots of things happened to these cars. I have seen '63s and '64s with '65-'67 gauges. You know that didn't happen at the factory. I have seen one '66 with '63 gauges.
Why?
Someone must have either liked them, or needed some and had '63 ones available.
Unless you know the history from the first day, nothing is 100% sure. And even if you know the original owner, it may not be as told. There have been more than one story of someone buying from an original owner, who after lots of questioning, remembers that 6 months after buying the car, the engine was replaced, the transmission replaced, the heads replaced, or something. It was 30 or 40 years ago, somewhat insignificant as warranty covered it all, and they just forgot.
So when buying any of these cars, either plan to make the car the way you think is original, or enjoy it the way it is. It is a mass-produced product of the American workforce. It isn't a hand-crafted masterpiece from Rembrandt.
What you see today "MAY" be how they were built originally. In the '60s and '70s, lots of things happened to these cars. I have seen '63s and '64s with '65-'67 gauges. You know that didn't happen at the factory. I have seen one '66 with '63 gauges.
Why?
Someone must have either liked them, or needed some and had '63 ones available.
Unless you know the history from the first day, nothing is 100% sure. And even if you know the original owner, it may not be as told. There have been more than one story of someone buying from an original owner, who after lots of questioning, remembers that 6 months after buying the car, the engine was replaced, the transmission replaced, the heads replaced, or something. It was 30 or 40 years ago, somewhat insignificant as warranty covered it all, and they just forgot.
So when buying any of these cars, either plan to make the car the way you think is original, or enjoy it the way it is. It is a mass-produced product of the American workforce. It isn't a hand-crafted masterpiece from Rembrandt.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,367
Likes: 59
From: FL
Does $20K sound like a reasonable offer? Aside from the mods mentioned above, it has power steering, 4-speed, and both tops. The car is complete and runs great. There is no body damage beyond minor nicks and scrapes but the red paint is oxidized. Interior is complete and in pretty good shape. All lights and gauges work. Headlights operate smoothly. The car came from the south; there is no rust on the frame. The price guides I looked at put it at around $25K but I am new to Corvettes and I don't know if the guides are considered accurate.
If you want anything of real value in the way of information, you HAVE to have pictures of it so that people can see what you have. The most insignificant details to you can often mean a lot to others.
The guides are there to make money. They are often months behind the market. They cannot take everything into consideration and are generalities.
When you talk about "shaved", this could simply be shaving the parking lights off to a complete custom front end. That has a great impact of what the value is.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,078
Likes: 206
From: Syracuse, NY and Clearwater, FL
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 880
Likes: 161
From: Seville, OH
I checked out the tags closer. VIN tag is welded, Trim tag is riveted. The body date and final build date are consistent (10/62). What was surprising to me is the current red/black was originally saddle tan/saddle tan leather. Also there is no hole in radiator support so not FI. Will go back during daylight hours to look for traces of these colors.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 889
Likes: 87
From: Montreal
I checked out the tags closer. VIN tag is welded, Trim tag is riveted. The body date and final build date are consistent (10/62). What was surprising to me is the current red/black was originally saddle tan/saddle tan leather. Also there is no hole in radiator support so not FI. Will go back during daylight hours to look for traces of these colors.
Maybe you can use that as a bargaining chip with your offer. Wrong paint and interior color will cost you to correct. Many, many cars changed colors so no surprise. Most often to Red.
From what I can tell, Saddle Tan seems to be the rarest color for '63 and leather a pretty rare option. Plus for you!
Would be interested to know the serial # etc. so I can add it to my '63 file. Send me a PM if it's no bother.
Syd
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 880
Likes: 161
From: Seville, OH
If it ends up in my garage, I will be happy to share info. I don't think it is my place to divulge VIN of someone else's vehicle without them knowing, but I will ask.
I haven't seen any mention of broadcast sheets. Didn't GM use them in 63? Even my 57 Dodge had one taped to top of glove box. And for the Dodge, with proof of ownership, Chrysler Historical Society will provide a copy of the original IBM punch card that tells exactly how it left the factory. No such thing here?
I haven't seen any mention of broadcast sheets. Didn't GM use them in 63? Even my 57 Dodge had one taped to top of glove box. And for the Dodge, with proof of ownership, Chrysler Historical Society will provide a copy of the original IBM punch card that tells exactly how it left the factory. No such thing here?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 47,628
Likes: 65
If it ends up in my garage, I will be happy to share info. I don't think it is my place to divulge VIN of someone else's vehicle without them knowing, but I will ask.
I haven't seen any mention of broadcast sheets. Didn't GM use them in 63? Even my 57 Dodge had one taped to top of glove box. And for the Dodge, with proof of ownership, Chrysler Historical Society will provide a copy of the original IBM punch card that tells exactly how it left the factory. No such thing here?
I haven't seen any mention of broadcast sheets. Didn't GM use them in 63? Even my 57 Dodge had one taped to top of glove box. And for the Dodge, with proof of ownership, Chrysler Historical Society will provide a copy of the original IBM punch card that tells exactly how it left the factory. No such thing here?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,684
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
I haven't seen any mention of broadcast sheets. Didn't GM use them in 63? Even my 57 Dodge had one taped to top of glove box. And for the Dodge, with proof of ownership, Chrysler Historical Society will provide a copy of the original IBM punch card that tells exactly how it left the factory. No such thing here?
Unfortunately, because of their location, they don't hold up well there, and were usually lost when tanks were removed. Of course today, every 67 427/435 in the country has it's original tank sticker, even though most cars were missing them, 30 years ago!
Unlike Chrysler, Chevrolet has no records available for any cars, built in the 50's, 60's or most of the 70's. GM of Canada, has records for Chevrolet's shipped into Canada as a new cars, and Pontiac has pretty complete build records available also. From all indications, Chevrolet's records were either lost, destroyed, or burned in a warehouse fire.
The NCRS has most of the shipping documents, for Corvettes built between 62 and 75. If your a member of the NCRS, you can buy a report listing the dealer that originally ordered the car, the dealer's address, and the car's build date. These reports have no other information about the car though. GM Historical, does have some build records for Corvettes built in the late 70's, and build sheets and window stickers, can be bought for any Corvette built at Bowling Green.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 47,628
Likes: 65
records
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 880
Likes: 161
From: Seville, OH
I was able to find traces of saddle tan interior (door panels and carpet dyed). I also found a local corvette guy to look at it. He believed everything checked out so I drove it home today. Even though I have no plans to restore it, he thought the Saddle Tan/Saddle Tan leather option would be a plus if I sell. Thanks to everyone for helping me on this.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 889
Likes: 87
From: Montreal
I was able to find traces of saddle tan interior (door panels and carpet dyed). I also found a local corvette guy to look at it. He believed everything checked out so I drove it home today. Even though I have no plans to restore it, he thought the Saddle Tan/Saddle Tan leather option would be a plus if I sell. Thanks to everyone for helping me on this.