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He never considered them "ugly", just impractical from a driving perspective. He stayed out of Bill Mitchell's domain (and wanted Mitchell to support his).
When I was a kid they were taking the split out of those windows. By the time the C3's came out the split window coupe was the least sought after of the C2's and that lasted for quite some time. It's only over the last 15 to 20 years that they have been highly sought after and prices have reflected that.
When I was a kid they were taking the split out of those windows. By the time the C3's came out the split window coupe was the least sought after of the C2's and that lasted for quite some time. It's only over the last 15 to 20 years that they have been highly sought after and prices have reflected that.
This is nonsense. I've been in this hobby as far back as the mid 1970s and the SWC has ALWAYS had a premium. In Mike Antonick's Corvette Pricing guide from the early 80s, he shows pricing from the late 1970s that shows 63 SWCs trading hands for as much as 40% more than ANY of the 1967s (including the L71 and L88). The 63 SWC was one of the first Corvettes to take off in value in the mid 1970s and was the "poster" Corvette for the Corvette Black book for probably 25 years.
Edit:
In the 1978 book Corvette - an American Classic, there is a chapter called "In-Vette-ments" that includes a prices guide. Their high estimates: 1963 - $25,000
1964 - $12,000
1965 - $12,000
1966 - $12,000
1967 - $13,000
some verbiage from this book from 1978 - The '63 coupe, with its unique split window rear window, a feature that lasted only that one year, is another standout in Corvette history.
This is nonsense. I've been in this hobby as far back as the mid 1970s and the SWC has ALWAYS had a premium. In Mike Antonick's Corvette Pricing guide from the early 80s, he shows pricing from the late 1970s that shows 63 SWCs trading hands for as much as 40% more than ANY of the 1967s (including the L71 and L88). The 63 SWC was one of the first Corvettes to take off in value in the mid 1970s and was the "poster" Corvette for the Corvette Black book for probably 25 years.
Edit:
In the 1978 book Corvette - an American Classic, there is a chapter called "In-Vette-ments" that includes a prices guide. Their high estimates: 1963 - $25,000
1964 - $12,000
1965 - $12,000
1966 - $12,000
1967 - $13,000
some verbiage from this book from 1978 - The '63 coupe, with its unique split window rear window, a feature that lasted only that one year, is another standout in Corvette history.
I'm 65 and I can remember so many opportunities to buy 63 Split window coupes for much less than that. So much so that I wish I had bought a dozen. I call that book BS! The only 63's I could see selling for that price was a tanker or a fuely. I've been at this a long time now also.
Maybe it depended on where you lived. When I was a kid no one wanted one. Of course I grew up in the 70's when muscle cars were eating Corvettes for lunch!
I can remember 25 years ago looking a completely restored 67 coupe 350/350 with AC, and power everything for 50G's. And a restored 63 split window 327/340 with nothing special for 30G's. Both matching # cars but I didn't buy either one. I made an offer on the 67 of 45G's that was turned down. I remember being shocked at the time that he was turning down 45 cash.
I LIKE the Porsche 356 & the Mustang Mach 1....is the Mach 1 a 1971 with Ram Air painted in "Bright Blue Poly"?...I have a "Highly Optioned" ( $3,088.00 base price with $1,100.00 worth of Dealership added factory options)...a "1" of "1" 1973 Mach 1 351 4V....4 speed according to the Marti Report....
Is the Porsche 356 a 1956 in Sahara Beige?....Rare Color!.....Mark
Last edited by sidepipe seeker; 03-20-2019 at 02:28 PM.
Frankie. You are off on your facts with Shelby information so let me explain it to you. All Shelbys between 1965 and 1967 were produced on Ford's San Jose line and then shipped to an aircraft hangar at LAX. Ford was trying to distance itself from the project. In fact, if you look at a 1967 Shelby you will not find any blue oval insignia's on the car as Ford insisted that they be titled as Shelbys and bear only Shelby logos. As you may know through 1967 the Shelby specific vin tag covered the Ford vin number. As it turns out Shelby's supplier (Plaza Fiberglass) could not deliver fiberglass hoods, front facia, deck lids and scoops in 1967 that met Ford's quality requirements nor could Shelby produce cars at the rate that they were ordered. As a result in 1968 the cars were produced by Ford and Shelby devoted itself back to racing GT40's. While a tanker 63 SWC is a rare car this 67 Shelby is rarer by a lot. It is one of 13. If you learn your Shelby stuff you would be able to tell from the photo why it is so rare. Any guesses?
Dealer installed 427 engine....Okay....What did I win???!!...Mark
I'll just add this performance-wise. This is my 66 Mustang part way through my Shelby-ization of it:
It was a 289 with 351 D00E heads increasing compression and valve size with screw in rocker arm studs and guide plates and a Holley 650 dbl pumper and Hurst shifter; I'd estimate the HP at over 325.. People called this setup a "street Boss" back then. Everything short of a Paxton supercharger and solid lifters
I added the Monte Carlo bar and export brace with the correct firewall bracing, made the sway bar modifications and moved the battery to the trunk. Ran premium shocks (I couldn't afford Konis back then) and lowered the upper control arms 1" (like the early 65 Shelby Mustangs). Installed the quick steering Pitman arm too.
I autocrossed it pretty regularly.
I would do things in that car that I would never even consider in my C2 with a stock setup...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 03-20-2019 at 03:31 PM.
Another Caveat that most may not realize, the name Shelby is now owned by Ford Motor Company as of 12:01 am March 17, 2019, there is no longer a Shelby manufacturing organization building or modifying production cars in the US.
Or Guardsman blue with Wimbledon white stripes - my personal favorite, and Shelby’s too IIRC. A guy in our club has one in that combo with the Paxton supercharger. I think I have first rights of refusal- if his kids don’t want it......
Both types of cars are great, each in their own way. Loved my '67 Corvette, 435 hp, black/black, red stinger sidepipe convertible and my '66 GT350 blue/white stripes and my two '65 GT350 white/blue stripes. All are top level concours judged, original body/drivetrain cars. One of the '65's is a very early model as the first 35 were built by Shelby in Venice, CA. Lucky enough to own some great cars.
I’d love to see this degenerate into an all-out brawl. The c2 was always my pinnacle of attainable cars but I bought one mustang fastback two years ago and just bought a 65 to make a group 2 homage. They are simple and a joy to work on, light, and respond so well to tweaks.
I found a lot lot of people on our side of the forum who have them and many others who are totally dismissive! Let’s fight! Steve?
Last edited by ChattanoogaJSB; 03-20-2019 at 07:58 PM.
I’d love to see this degenerate into an all-out brawl. The c2 was always my pinnacle of attainable cars but I bought one mustang fastback two years ago and just bought a 65 to make a group 2 homage. They are simple and a joy to work on, light, and respond so well to tweaks.
I found a lot lot of people on our side of the forum who have them and many others who are totally dismissive! Let’s fight! Steve?
Benton, do you have any pics of it from 1991 that every one has already seen?
03-20-2019, 12:58 PM
