C2 Corvettes lost their iconic split-window treatment after just one year in production, which makes the 1963 cars relatively rare and expensive today. So having one in your Corvette collection would be something to be proud of. But one Vette fan didn’t stop at owning a single splittie. He bought one of every available color, and his unique fleet is about to be auctioned off at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale.
Just over 10,000 Corvette coupes were built with the two-piece rear glass and the simulated hood vents that were also unique to the ’63 model. Safety concerns resulting from reduced rearward visibility are blamed for the the change, and according to Hot Rod some owners of first-year cars actually modified theirs with a single pane of glass, eliminating the spine. Probably seemed like a good idea at the time…
As with any car, it’s interesting to see how the different colors in this Corvette collection hide or draw attention to the styling, which was the work of Larry Shinoda, with some help from Pete Brock, both working under the watchful eye of GM design boss Bill Mitchell. The cars vary in both spec and color (though they’re all manuals; no nasty two-speed Powerglide autos here), so which would you take home?
Silver Blue – Estimate $350-400,000
The first C2 in our rundown is one of an estimated 1,300 coupes built that year with the top-spec 360 hp (365 PS) L84 fuel-injected 327 (5.4-liter) V8. It’s also one of 651 to send its power to the ground through steep 4.56 gears that ought to make it feel pretty urgent from a stoplight (and hideous on the freeway). It’s covered just 36,714 miles (59,100 km) from new.
Tuxedo Black – Estimate $325-350,000
Another fuellie Corvette, this time paired with a 4.11 rear end, this stealthy Tuxedo Black car has a matching black interior. It received a body-on resto in 2017 and has 35,668 miles (57,400 km) on the clock.
Sebring Silver – Estimate $250-275,000
One of the more affordable (these things are relative) cars in the collection, this one doesn’t claim an incredible low mileage but it does come in arguably the best color and it still has the 360-horse injected V8 that was only fitted to 10 percent of Vettes in ’63.
Ermine White – Estimate $250-275,000
This car is equipped with a 340 hp (345 PS) L79 327 that featured a four-barrel carb instead of Rochester mechanical fuel injection, but was very nearly as rapid. It’s got a celebrity connection, too, having been previously purchased by TV personality Jesse James of West Coast Choppers and Monster Garage fame for Sandra Bullock.
Riverside Red – $225-275,000
Not our favorite color, perhaps, but this classic Vette also has the powerful 340 hp L79, displays a genuine 47,844 miles (77,000 km) on its odometer and has previously received a body-on restoration.
Saddle – $275-300,000
This C2 is only packing the mild 300 hp (304 PS) 327 and a fairly mellow 3.36 Positraction rear axle, but it has covered only 40,530 miles (65,200 km), had a concours-grade body-off restoration and is finished in rare Saddle paint.
Daytona Blue – $450-500,000
This one’s a bit special for a few reasons. It’s one of only 199 cars fitted with the race-ready Z06 package that was only available with the fuel-injected L84, has a very low mileage of 22,723 (36,600 km), and was converted to right-hand drive when new following its export to Australia.
You can check out the full listing for these Corvettes and the other cars appearing at Mecum’s Kissimmee in January by clicking here.
