eric lipper

I am headed to SoCal on Friday to look at a Silver/Black 1963 SWC at GMDOWNUNDER. I am pretty sure that the car is the real deal with factory AC given its option list PS, PB, PW, Powerglide and the fact that the Seller has lots of original documents, title transfer documents, and photos for when he pulled it out of the garage after long term storage. You can see that the AC vent and compressor were there before the restoration started. There is also a photo of the frame vin when the body was off that he intentionally preserved in a blasted area under clear when they painted the rest of the frame so we can confirm the Vin Tag to the frame. If anyone knows of someone qualified who can verify that the car is the real deal then I would be happy to engage them. I do know that the car has a reproduction interior, new gas door, emblems, and reproduction wheels along with several other items. I know that the car has a Wix Oil Filter and, oddly enough, a dent in the crossmember under the harmonic balancer despite a heavy restoration. All that I really care about is (a) whether it truly is a factory AC car; (b) whether the engine stamp is genuine (looked real to me and is right for an automatic car); and (c) whether the trim tag is authentic (seller says it was never off the car during the restoration and has pics before and after). I checked it and the Trim Tag date and the Vin line up perfectly. I am plenty competent to inspect everything else so its not too much of an inspection.

jbmcrae

desertpilgrim

I'm not sure that I "buy-in" to the concept of a block cast April 8th floating around Flint until July 2nd waiting to be assembled. Shocks should be black, not gray.

SW Vette

Eric, that is a "matching numbers" cylinder case. It is probably not, however, the one this car left the factory with.

The AC looks like it could be legit.

I live not too far from there. PM me if you want another set of eyes on the car.

SupremeDeluxe

In addition, ball joints are bolted and not riveted-in. I do not believe that pad could be original. Looks like a fresh broaching to me.

macster

I could be wrong but weren't there two types of lower A-arms used on 63s. Early w/o reinforcements and late w/ reinforcements. This is a late 63 built in July so it should have the ones w/ reinforcements. I agree with the broach marks being too clean and this possibly being a "numbers matching" block since it was cast April 8, 63 but doubtful its the OE block. Nice rare car though.

Boyan

eric lipper

It is VIN 119120 so it was pretty far down.

jbmcrae

jbmcrae

Boyan

Rick Gower

I agree it would be very unusual for the large time span between block casting and assembly.
Rick

eric lipper

Thanks for everyone's comments. I hired a guy named Jeff Hyman to authenticate the car after I get a good look at it. Although the casting date versus the production date is a real question we have pics that show this stamp on the engine when it was removed. Based upon the engine as removed I feel pretty comfortable that it will be legit. With that said, if it ain't then its off to the next Vette. I have also learned over the last months that there is no need to be in a rush because none of the six figure cars are really moving.

Boyan

1969RAY

The "before" pictures have the oil fill tube towards the passenger side, the "restored" picture has the fill tube towards the driver side. Something was changed. The tach red line in the "before" would be correct for the restored version but no pictures of that tach red line.

desertpilgrim

Which means the "restoration motor" was installed in the '80s or '90s, before the restoration of the car was done.

emdoller

eric lipper

That could be a possibility that it was a restoration motor but given the detail on this car I doubt it. It does give me concern why an engine would be cast in April and not installed until July. My bet is that the stamp is correct and the car totally legit simply because, according to the Seller, the car sat in a back yard in Burbank for nearly 30 years. Of course the fact that its valve covers and intake manifold had been changed at some point prior to restoration certainly proves that the car was not as delivered. If it is a restamp then there is no way that I am buying this car but the Seller says he is certain that it isn't he is an NCRS Judge. Jeff Hyman (the inspector that I hired) thinks the stamp looks legit as well but he has not yet seen it in person. Will let everyone know what I see on Friday.

SW Vette

If he's that certain then I'm sure he wouldn't mind having CCAS/Al Grenning take a look. You could offer to pay (only $50 if it isn't real).

desertpilgrim

It's NOT that the engine was "installed" in July - it's that it was "ASSEMBLED" in July. Which hall closet held the block for 2 1/2 months? What are the dates of the heads?