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Hello, Looking for some help. I recently started storing a 63 split window for a friend that got the car that has been in the family for 40+ years (long story). I'm not too familiar with C2s (have a C5 and C6, previously had a C3). I know a little about the car as it is in decent shape, rust free frame, been in storage for last 15 years, non numbers matching 327. I think the car may have originally been a fuel injection car but not 100% sure. One repaint but is original color. I charged the battery, changed the gas and oil last night and it started right up and ran well (just idled in garage as it was raining all night). Gonna see what else I can find out about it but again I'm not an expert on C2s.
One question I keep getting asked is "how much is it worth", and my answer is "I have no idea". So thought I'd start here so give me your questions as to what I should be trying to find out and knowing what I know now - what do you think it's worth? Thanks
Ed
I tend to agree 80k plus, maybe more. I think I see an indication that the car was born with Fuel Injection. I would certainly get a local Corvette FI guy to look at all the places that were drilled/cut to install FI at the factory. It does have some parts that need to be replaced as they are incorrect but that is a discussion for another day.
From: "You may all go to Hell- and I will go to Texas- Davy Crockett
St. Jude Donor '12
Nice car... I really like the saddle leather. You can look up inside the inside of the fender panel to see if there is any evidence of the FI emblem holes being filled, and of course, if it has the FI radiator support. Under the dash there is a relay also I think that is specific to FI cars. Some will tell you that the 60 # oil gage is incorrect, but it's not on early cars, which this appears to be. Good luck.
Last edited by vettsplit 63; Oct 18, 2019 at 09:56 AM.
Thanks vettsplit, I can see three filler/touch up holes under the corvette flag emblems on the fender paint and I'm guessing that is where the original "fuel injection" rectangular badge was. These spots are identical on both sides of fender - but then again anyone could have added a fuel injection badge and then removed as a possible explanation.
Last edited by ed_yellowc5; Oct 18, 2019 at 10:43 AM.
Nice car. It would be nice to get a few of the engine numbers to see if it's a replacement engine. It may have been rodded in its past with the headers and high rise manifold. I would love to own it and restore it. Jerry
As others have said, it would be interesting to track if it was born a fuelie. Remember a lot of these cars have over the counter GM replacement radiator supports and they were sold with the FI hole, so people sometimes mistakenly think they were fuelies. As far as value, if that block was replaced I don’t know that it was originally a fuelie adds a whole lot of value. It’s interesting, but not a fuelie any more. Job one: check the numbers on the block.
It does have PW and PB, with a nice original looking master cyl/booster set up. Very expensive. Can’t see the seat belts, another expensive item. Gauges look right. Nice saddle leather with #932 tan colors- these colors are a little polarizing. Some love them, some not. Wrong shifter.
Assuming the car has a replacement block, I’d say 85ish as it sits. Could go up from there, especially if the engine numbers are a pleasant surprise. The engine compartment has a lot of changes but they could be all bolt on.
490 was used on all VINYL TRIM. 490N means with the U69 Radio, which was the newer AM/FM. Early 63 radio was AM only. 932 Saddle tan paint. F4 is February 4th week of production.5291 body is the 5291st SWC made.
Does the RAD support have the big hole, driver side for the air cleaner S Tube.Need that for a FI car. 340hp also had high RPM tach. Holes in driver inner fender show FI air cleaner mount hole. I need to see the rad support photo from the front to see if it is a service replacement vs original.
Last edited by jimgessner; Oct 18, 2019 at 12:00 PM.
As others have said, it would be interesting to track if it was born a fuelie. Remember a lot of these cars have over the counter GM replacement radiator supports and they were sold with the FI hole, so people sometimes mistakenly think they were fuelies. As far as value, if that block was replaced I don’t know that it was originally a fuelie adds a whole lot of value. It’s interesting, but not a fuelie any more. Job one: check the numbers on the block.
It does have PW and PB, with a nice original looking master cyl/booster set up. Very expensive. Can’t see the seat belts, another expensive item. Gauges look right. Nice saddle leather with #932 tan colors- these colors are a little polarizing. Some love them, some not. Wrong shifter.
Assuming the car has a replacement block, I’d say 85ish as it sits. Could go up from there, especially if the engine numbers are a pleasant surprise. The engine compartment has a lot of changes but they could be all bolt on.
Nice car.
Concur on all points except the market is a bit soft so I'd have said a bit less on the value - but who knows ? A forum buddy sold his split window a few months back with an incorrect frame for $90K in about 30 minutes on eBay!
What these gents said. Very sharp looking car, IMO. I'd bet that if it were put up for sale at 80k, it would sell immediately. Value is probably 85k and up. The market ebbs and flows, but these cars (Split Window Coupes) have been THE hot early Sting Ray for the past several years and the momentum does not appear to be slowing down. Very classy looking car.
My guess is that it is a real fueler. If they were not ordered stripped down with out radio for instance, then they were often loaded up with leather, brakes and windows.
If this one has the oval hole in the core support, and the holes in front fenders are properly located, I would say this is the real deal, and worth taking back to L84, even if it is NOM.
Saddle tan/ Saddle tan is killer, even if not everyone loves it. I'd make space in my garage for it every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.
There are a lot of F/I-specific "clues" if you get the AIM and walk through the options section; if that all checks out restoring it to its fuelie status would the route I would take, but it won't be cheap - not even a little bit...
Your engine was originally in a 1965 Corvette, VIN #17021. 327 cu. in/ 350hp engine assembled on April 23, 1965. The '65 Corvette was a manual transmission car. The VIN is not listed in the C2 registry, but if that car is still around it would be nice to reunite car with engine.
BTW, the Lime Book which decodes these engines is in the "sticky" section at the top of the page.
Last edited by leif.anderson93; Oct 18, 2019 at 04:23 PM.
Your engine was originally in a 1965 Corvette, VIN #17021. 327 cu. in/ 350hp engine assembled on April 23, 1965. The '65 Corvette was a manual transmission car. The VIN is not listed in the C2 registry, but if that car is still around it would be nice to reunite car with engine.
BTW, the Lime Book which decodes these engines is in the "sticky" section at the top of the page.
Might not hurt to read through the thread in the C1/2 Sticky section titled “ORPHAN VIN-stamped Parts”... that’s this forum’s effort at reuniting cars and parts and it’s actually happened a few times.
My first guess on the value was $60k because of the wrong engine and the less desirable color. I read the posts and I’ll admit my initial was low so I’ll say $70k.
ive been looking for a SWC and I wouldn’t buy this one. Color and condition is critical. If maybe a former FI car means nothing without documentation since assembly date.
490 was used on all VINYL TRIM. 490N means with the U69 Radio, which was the newer AM/FM. Early 63 radio was AM only. 932 Saddle tan paint. F4 is February 4th week of production.5291 body is the 5291st SWC made.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
He's got the car everybody wants these days.
63 Split Window
