As with many vintage Corvettes, provenance is critical. Fortunately, this 1963 Corvette convertible has plenty of it: matching-numbers, 4-speed transmission, and an awesome color combination. Still an icon, this Corvette roadster offers a pretty big bang for the buck and it's impossible to go wrong with a pedigreed mid-year 'Vette.Imagine it's 1963 and this Corvette has just hit the market. Owning one well and truly made you The Man, and save for perhaps the E-Type Jag, there was simply no other car on the road that could upstage the all-new Sting Ray. Painting it Riverside Red (original color was code 916 Daytona Blue), named after the race course, only heightens this car's appeal, and thanks to a comprehensive restoration a few years ago, it looks fantastic. It fits together the way a properly restored vintage 'Vette should and the fiberglass is in very good condition, befitting a car that's probably led a very good life. The details are right, from the crease that surrounds the perimeter of the body and which remains crisp and sharp, to the more subtle things like the fit of the headlight doors and the shiny grilles in the hood that sit flush with the surface. The bright red paint looks right with a pleasing shine that only comes from a proper buff job, and the chrome is uniformly excellent throughout.If there's a more inviting-looking interior than this, it's hard to imagine what it is. No longer perfect and fresh, it instead has a wonderful patina to it that's very hard to resist. The red vinyl buckets are correctly finished with vertical pleats and flank a factory center console, complete with Hurst 4-speed shifter and cue ball knob. The rest of the color-matching interior is just as nice, with correct carpets, a nicely preserved steering wheel, and bright, clear original gauges. There's a rather rare AM/FM radio in the center stack and everything seems to work correctly. You'll love the beautifully finished gauges with their deep-dish stainless centers and bright, crisp lettering that means they've been properly restored. Even better, since this is a color change, you know that everything that's red inside is brand new. And among the other noteworthy options, there's a restored color-matched hardtop in addition to the white vinyl folding top.The engine is the base 250 horsepower 327, but anything with just two seats and 250 horsepower is a great performer. It is the car's original, numbers-matching engine and as such it has been rebuilt and detailed to an appropriate level. It shows some signs of having been driven, but the finned valve covers, chrome air cleaner lid, and Chevy Orange paint gives it an authentic look. You will note the original ram's horn exhaust manifolds still look great and the original generator has given way to an alternator for better performance. The factory 4-speed still pushes power back to the original rear end, and the chassis features new bushings, rebuilt steering gear, and a clean look with satin black paint. A recent exhaust system growls with authority and it's nice to see a '63 with hubcaps instead of knock-offs, which technically were available but never delivered due to casting issues. 205/75/15 whitewall radials finish off the factory look, but a set of bias-ply tires is included for absolute authenticity.The '63 Corvette is one of those rare examples of a hardtop being worth more than a convertible, which means this roadster is a wonderful car that will only continue to appreciate. Call today!
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