1963 Split Window Austin
09-05-2018, 11:17 PM
#1
1963 Split Window Austin
Guys,
This is my first post here. Today I signed a contract today at $70,000 for a 1963 Split Window in Bastrop, Texas that is Riverside Red and Black Vinyl. The car is in its right colors according to the trim tag. It might have its original interior based upon the condition but I wont know until I check it out -- the carpet looks like it could be 50 years old. I have not seen it in the flesh but it is a complete car that runs and drives very well according to the prior owner with whom I spoke -- he traded it on a 2018 vette but he only owned it 18 months. The vin tag is correctly welded to the birdcage and supposedly the engine is numbers matching although it could be a restamp. The vin is 30837S109349 and all I can tell is that it was sold by Mershons sometime in 2014 and went to central Texas where it was resold twice since then. This may have been a car lot Vette and there is no paperwork with the car. It is at a Chevy Dealer and from what I have heard from the dealer there are some blemishes in the paint in several areas and they photographed those and sent them to me. My main concern is that the simulated vents in the pillar between the door glass and the rear window are not there -- they are smooth like a 66/67. Obviously something happened there. Also the ***** on the instrument panel are 66 looking *****. Although it could be a 66 paraded as a 63 it does have the right gauges, the correct windshield molding, the short mirror on the drivers door, the split window and fiberglass headlight buckets all of which indicate that it is the real deal. According to the prior owner you can see the bonding strips in the car and it all looked right to him. You can see the car at Covert Bastrop if you look at used cars. I am curious is anyone knows anything about this car or can give me any advice. I am going to inspect the car on Sunday.
This is my first post here. Today I signed a contract today at $70,000 for a 1963 Split Window in Bastrop, Texas that is Riverside Red and Black Vinyl. The car is in its right colors according to the trim tag. It might have its original interior based upon the condition but I wont know until I check it out -- the carpet looks like it could be 50 years old. I have not seen it in the flesh but it is a complete car that runs and drives very well according to the prior owner with whom I spoke -- he traded it on a 2018 vette but he only owned it 18 months. The vin tag is correctly welded to the birdcage and supposedly the engine is numbers matching although it could be a restamp. The vin is 30837S109349 and all I can tell is that it was sold by Mershons sometime in 2014 and went to central Texas where it was resold twice since then. This may have been a car lot Vette and there is no paperwork with the car. It is at a Chevy Dealer and from what I have heard from the dealer there are some blemishes in the paint in several areas and they photographed those and sent them to me. My main concern is that the simulated vents in the pillar between the door glass and the rear window are not there -- they are smooth like a 66/67. Obviously something happened there. Also the ***** on the instrument panel are 66 looking *****. Although it could be a 66 paraded as a 63 it does have the right gauges, the correct windshield molding, the short mirror on the drivers door, the split window and fiberglass headlight buckets all of which indicate that it is the real deal. According to the prior owner you can see the bonding strips in the car and it all looked right to him. You can see the car at Covert Bastrop if you look at used cars. I am curious is anyone knows anything about this car or can give me any advice. I am going to inspect the car on Sunday.
09-05-2018, 11:55 PM
#2
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http://www.covertbastrop.com/Vehicle...-TX/3263477273
Pictures aren’t very good, no underside, no engine shots. Mixed up instruments, shifter looks tall, steering wheel is painted. Was interior originally black? Can’t see tags. Looks like they came down over 10%. Id like to see the engine pics at least.
The missing vents are a little disturbing. Looks like a recent respray with no attention to the hood tins. Is there a spare tire tub there? Are the door handle raised pads present? Should not have a short mirror with that early a VIN I believe.
You signed a contract and you have yet to check it out?
Pictures aren’t very good, no underside, no engine shots. Mixed up instruments, shifter looks tall, steering wheel is painted. Was interior originally black? Can’t see tags. Looks like they came down over 10%. Id like to see the engine pics at least.
The missing vents are a little disturbing. Looks like a recent respray with no attention to the hood tins. Is there a spare tire tub there? Are the door handle raised pads present? Should not have a short mirror with that early a VIN I believe.
You signed a contract and you have yet to check it out?
Last edited by vettebuyer6369; 09-06-2018 at 12:09 AM.
09-06-2018, 12:02 AM
#3
http://www.covertbastrop.com/Vehicle...-TX/3263477273
Pictures aren’t very good, no underside, no engine shots. Mixed up instruments, shifter looks tall, steering wheel is painted. Was it originally black? Can’t see tags. Looks like they came down over 10%. Id like to see the engine pics at least.
The missing vents are a little disturbing. Looks like a recent respray with no attention to the hood tins. Is there a spare tire tub there? Should not have a short mirror with that early a VIN I believe.
Pictures aren’t very good, no underside, no engine shots. Mixed up instruments, shifter looks tall, steering wheel is painted. Was it originally black? Can’t see tags. Looks like they came down over 10%. Id like to see the engine pics at least.
The missing vents are a little disturbing. Looks like a recent respray with no attention to the hood tins. Is there a spare tire tub there? Should not have a short mirror with that early a VIN I believe.
Last edited by eric lipper; 09-06-2018 at 12:09 AM.
09-06-2018, 12:08 AM
#4
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Agree, that’s a major concern.
Just a suggestion, if there’s other pics out there, either capture them and post them or provide some links. Many people won’t hunt down stuff for you online if you are asking questions.
Just a suggestion, if there’s other pics out there, either capture them and post them or provide some links. Many people won’t hunt down stuff for you online if you are asking questions.
09-06-2018, 12:27 AM
#6
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Hmmm... these cars usually have an incorrect master cylinder, most often a cheap ‘64. But this car is using a 65-66 which continues the later model mixup.
It’s a small detail, but it’s weird.
Is it a 340 hp?
It’s a small detail, but it’s weird.
Is it a 340 hp?
Last edited by vettebuyer6369; 09-06-2018 at 12:29 AM.
09-06-2018, 01:28 AM
#7
Team Owner
If its a 340hp then it has the wrong dash tach, the valve covers are 66 and later - possibly just "dressed out" to look like a 340 engine. The louvers behind the doors have probably been "mudded in" to look flat. People also did that with the hood depressions too way back when. That can be corrected by a good body person. It has the four hood blocks which I think are right for the VIN.
Radio and gas pedal are wrong. I dunno. A real 340hp car with a 4 speed in a desirable color with the defects noted would go for more money I'm thinking..
I hope the worst is just the correctable stuff in the photos and no "darker" secrets are lurking about...
Radio and gas pedal are wrong. I dunno. A real 340hp car with a 4 speed in a desirable color with the defects noted would go for more money I'm thinking..
I hope the worst is just the correctable stuff in the photos and no "darker" secrets are lurking about...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 09-06-2018 at 01:57 AM.
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ptjsk (09-06-2018)
09-06-2018, 06:59 AM
#8
If its a 340hp then it has the wrong dash tach, the valve covers are 66 and later - possibly just "dressed out" to look like a 340 engine. The louvers behind the doors have probably been "mudded in" to look flat. People also did that with the hood depressions too way back when. That can be corrected by a good body person. It has the four hood blocks which I think are right for the VIN.
Radio and gas pedal are wrong. I dunno. A real 340hp car with a 4 speed in a desirable color with the defects noted would go for more money I'm thinking..
I hope the worst is just the correctable stuff in the photos and no "darker" secrets are lurking about...
Radio and gas pedal are wrong. I dunno. A real 340hp car with a 4 speed in a desirable color with the defects noted would go for more money I'm thinking..
I hope the worst is just the correctable stuff in the photos and no "darker" secrets are lurking about...
09-06-2018, 07:10 AM
#9
Team Owner
People don't generally go to the trouble to restamp a base motor - but anything is possible..
09-06-2018, 08:00 AM
#10
Will let you know. Once you get down in the $70K range on a split window that is the right colors and numbers matching the acronym NCRS gets pretty far away so nothing would surprise me. My main concern is that this is somehow a 66/63. Obviously it has a lot of the right 63 stuff but the 66 ***** on the instrument panel, the smooth panel behind the drivers door and the 66 master cylinder are suspicious to me.
09-06-2018, 08:52 AM
#11
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The tag says Red interior but it looks like the steering wheel and seats were Tan. Drivers side seat color is showing through the Black dye and you can see what looks like a Tan wheel painted Black. There's also a hole drilled in the dash next to the clock for some reason. If these cars could only talk.
Last edited by Geralds57; 09-06-2018 at 08:55 AM.
09-06-2018, 09:10 AM
#12
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There is nothing in the VIN which indicates what engine configuration the car has (or had when manufactured).
09-06-2018, 09:30 AM
#13
Burning Brakes
09-06-2018, 09:43 AM
#14
Team Owner
That was my take as well.....
Just because a car is a decent color with a numbers matching motor at a low price doesn't make it a great buy....
If there is rot in the birdcage or frame; then its a whole different ballgame...
Just because a car is a decent color with a numbers matching motor at a low price doesn't make it a great buy....
If there is rot in the birdcage or frame; then its a whole different ballgame...
09-06-2018, 09:57 AM
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With the obvious originality issues, I still think the price is reasonable if the frame/birdcage are in good shape. I would be a little nervous about the smooth panel behind the driver's door, though.
09-06-2018, 10:07 AM
#16
Melting Slicks
...all I can tell is that it was sold by Mershons sometime in 2014 and went to central Texas where it was resold twice since then.
This would make me very nervous.
Ed
This would make me very nervous.
Ed
Last edited by emdoller; 09-06-2018 at 10:08 AM.
09-06-2018, 10:30 AM
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Will let you know. Once you get down in the $70K range on a split window that is the right colors and numbers matching the acronym NCRS gets pretty far away so nothing would surprise me. My main concern is that this is somehow a 66/63. Obviously it has a lot of the right 63 stuff but the 66 ***** on the instrument panel, the smooth panel behind the drivers door and the 66 master cylinder are suspicious to me.
09-06-2018, 12:58 PM
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If you look at the side fender as you can see they were cut for side pipes at one time then they put rocker moldings on And did not fix the body. It has the wrong radiator, the wrong clutch fan, the master cylinder is not 66 it has a screw on cap it’s just not corvette.
Last edited by 65 Pro Vette; 09-06-2018 at 01:02 PM.
09-06-2018, 01:53 PM
#20
Anyone got a pic of the 66 crossmember for the big block with the indentation handy? It would be good for my inspection.