Just previewed Mecum Florida January auction listings. Many very rare Corvettes of all years..
Has the world decided 63 split coupes are no longer a good one to own or that prices have hit the top so time to unload? There are lots of choices.

 

Yes, there are now many now to "choose from," but not many at auction are "good choices". It does look like there are a few gems in this auction, though.

 

If someone doesn't mind flying all over the country looking at '63's now is the time I guess. Spend thousands looking all over to save thousands.

 

People have been trying to call the end of the split window market for years now.

Good luck with that.

 

My one friend tells me this is the start of the end of the '63 hype so I should sell him my car now before it goes down more.

 

 

I researched sales of SWC's on BAT going back 6 mos and a total of 18 sold averageing 196K each not counting fees, taxes,shipping etc. Nostradamus may have trouble predicting market so its a crap shoot where they are headed. Hopefully most would agree its the styling that is the attraction and not HOW MUCH CAN I SELL IT FOR! begee22

 

Most of us on here are not in this for the money. If that were so I would’ve sold both of my Split Windows by now. I have had ridiculous serious offers. But they are not for sale. So I don’t care what the value is to me their priceless.

 

Look at a graph of sales prices for C1 vettes from 10-20-30 years ago versus today, and you'll find your answer.

 

Many don't want to except that the baby boomers were most of the buyers of classic cars and they are aging out or dying . Many have just retired and now their incomes have dropped so they are selling instead of buying . Very few of the young generation are even interested in these cars so even less interest in buying them. Some exceptions have still enjoyed easy sales like the split windows but everything has it's limits and I think they too have just about hit the upper level . If you have an exceptional example you will still find someone to take the plunge .The run of the mill classics that are really taking the hits are cars like the general old 1950's Buick sedans , huge Ford LTD's, Plymouth and Dodge sedans , etc. no matter how well restored . Those owners are mostly deceased and the young people won't even give a second look at these cars. I retired and closed my restoration shop in 2013 and was starting to see this trend back then . You can also see a drop in interest in used parts buying. People are asking outrageous prices for parts and the same parts sit there for long times , sometimes years still for sale . You see the same old beat up parts at swap meets year after year at the same price or even higher year after year . You may disagree but I'm just saying I follow these things and that is what I see.

 

Man there are a lot of Corvettes up for auction here
Im liking Lot K135

 

I've been going to auto auctions for over 25 years. I have been reading others opinions of auctions for the same period. I've learned the following:

1. The price a car brings at auction has far less to do with "market" value than it does condition. A desirable car in stunning condition will always bring big money. The same car in lesser condition brings considerably less. The cars are identical on TV. The lesser car might even look better depending on color, detailing and accessories. The buyers are there and know the difference. This is why there is so much chatter about market values - there is so much variability in hammer prices because not all the cars are as good as they look.

2. If your hand is up and the hammer comes down on it you own the car as-is, where-is regardless of what happens to it from that point until it's loaded by your shipper. What happens to it under the tent after you own it is on you not the house (except gross/willful negligence). I wouldn't buy an auction car again unless I arranged to take it with me immediately.

I remember a Mecum auction when no less than 18 Ford Skyliner retractable hardtops went over, some dude must have hoarded heavily on them. I had seen all of them and they appeared to me to be largely equivalent to each other. The first batch went over for strong cabbage and then as it went on prices got lower and lower until reserve wasn't met on the last few.

Dan

 

I love these threads.

As far as 1963 Coupes, I still think they will continue to appreciate. It's one of the few Corvettes that isn't just an American icon, it's a global icon. Aside from a 1957, it's probably the most identifiable Corvette.

There were 2,610 FI cars built. If we assume roughly 1/2 were coupes, that is 1,305 cars. Let's say 25% have been permanently lost--down to 979 cars. How many are collector-grade examples (i.e., verified original engine, good original bodies, no internal rust)? I feel like that's a population of less than 500 examples. There is a lot of money out there competing for a small population of cars.

I have a car condo, and am surrounded by some intense collections of Porsches, Ferraris, Corvettes, etc. Young guys with money who desire a vintage Corvette prize a 63. They want cars that are finished and have pedigree. I just don't see the prices going down.

I look at good FI cars trading ~$300K and think, "I love it but I wouldn't pay that much for one." But if I didn't already have one, and could afford to play at that level, most likely I'd still buy one.

 

BAT just sold Black/Black SWC restamp motor $206,500 + fees..............nuff said! begee22 BTW: know an individual near me that is contemplating selling his '63 SWC Bloomington Gold Black/Red F/I............interesting to see how much that would bring.

 

SWCs are unique in that you can’t counterfeit them. Forty years ago a nice original ‘67 427-435 went for big bucks. Then, every Tom, Dick and Harry with a crescent wrench turned their 300 horse goodwood car into a body-off red / black 427-435. Now, with more 435s still around were ever built, even after 40 years of inflation, those cars have not inflated one iota - I can buy the best in 2024 dollars, for what it cost in 1990 dollars. Perhaps the SWCs will be a better investment, but with the boomers leaving, maybe not…

 

^^ Find me a no excuse black or red on red 67 435 in top of the market 1990 price and I'll be happy to pay you a finders fee.

 

Well, that particular car would’ve brought upwards of $160K in 1990. Maybe I could get you one for not too much more today, but in 1990 that $160,000 had the purchasing power of about $390,000 today. I’d say, if only money were your reason for buying it, it was a pretty bad investment.

 

Feel free to find me a real no excuses black or red on red one in show condition for not much more than 160 and I'll be happy to pay you a finders fee. Best of luck with that. It will make for a great belated Xmas present. Happy Holidays to you.

 

The 63 coupe mystique is just that. If you are determined that it’s the only car for you then you will pay what satisfies your craving. In reality it’s 60 plus years old technology with a classic styling. It was the best of its day and that day is far gone.

Personally I still enjoy looking at them. I wouldn’t own another one. I have moved on.

 

This is word for word what some people have been saying for 10 years . But the fact is, you are answering the wrong question.

Of course the Boomers are dying off and prices in the collector car market will level off. Of course swap meets are gutted by the Internet. No one is arguing that.

But if you have been paying any attention at all to the split window market in that same time frame, you would know theres never been anything like it. Cars that sold for 75 were selling for 100, then 150. 50k NOM cars were suddenly over 100. When I bought my last car in 2021, I felt like I paid top of the market at auction but accepted it because it was exactly the car I wanted. My buddy said, “ha, hell of a time to buy another split window.” I agreed.

Ive been offered 50k over that since.

We arent talking about “the collector car market.” We are talking about an anomaly, a specific item within the market, just like the crazy market spikes for the first gen Ford GTs and the Countach markets. Insane heights as compared to cars considered comps years prior.

If you think the SWC is down, I suggest you buy a handful.