Prepared by the experts at

Including Original Road Test from

» Complete Buying and Owning Resource

» Current Market Prices

» Original Road & Track Road Test

» Insider Articles from Sports Car Market

» Factory Options and Color Combinations

» Restoration Costs

» Top 20 Cars Sold at Auction

» Model History

» Resource Directory

www.sportscarmarket.com $12.95#2

Buyer’s GuideKeith Martin

Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends TM

CHEVROLET CORVETTE

1963–67

2

1963-67 Corvette

Buyer’s GuideKeith Martin

Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends TM

History By the Numbers The Market Back in the Day Buying TIps Resource Directory About Us

3 At A Glance

Model Timeline

4 Typical Restoration Costs

Original Prices

Martin Rating

Comparisons with Contemporaries

5 Affordable Classic

8 Sales Tracker

9 Original Road & Track Road Test

10 Original Advertisement

11 Original Sales Brochure

13 Dash Schematic

Colors and Factory Options

14 News, Music, and Movies of 1963

15 What to Look For

Questions to ask the Seller

16 Clubs

Parts

Restoration

General Information

17 Bios

Additional Resources

Table of Contents

4

1963-67 Corvette

Buyer’s GuideKeith Martin

Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends TM

Original Prices Convertible: $4,257 (1963)

Coupe: $4,037 (1963)

Price New Horsepower Top Speed

1964 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe 327/300 $4,252 300 130 mph

1964 ½ Ford Mustang 289 “K-Code” Coupe $3,854 270 117 mph

1964 Jaguar E-Type Coupe $5,908 265 150 mph

1964 Pontiac GTO Coupe $3,420 325 122 mph

1964 Sunbeam Tiger Convertible $3,598 164 118 mph

1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Convertible $6,724 170 115 mph

1963 Triumph TR4 Convertible $2,849 105 110 mph

1963 MGB Convertible $2,658 92 105 mph

1965 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa Coupe $3,245 180 118 mph

1963 Austin Mini Sedan $1,295 37 119 mph

1963 Volkswagen 1200 Sedan $1,595 40 71 mph

Comparisons With Ten Contemporaries

Bill Mitchell’s and Zora Arkus-Duntov’s dream car come alive. Split-Window coupe is the iconic mid-year ’Vette.

Typical Restoration Costs Original Prices Martin Rating Comparisons with Contemporaries

By the Numbers Original Prices, Comparisons and Restoration Costs

Year Serial Number Base Engine

Engine Options

Convertible Coupe

196330837S100001-40867S121543

30837S100001-40867S121543

327/250

L75 327/300, L76 327/340, L84 327/360

fuel injection

196440867S100001-40867S122229

40837S100001-40837S122229

327/250

L75 327/300, L76 327/365, L84 327/375

fuel injection

196519467S100001-19467S123562

19437S100001-19437S123562

327/250

327/300, 327/350, 327/365

fuel injection396/425 Big Block

1966194676S10000-19467S127720

19437S6100001-19437S127720

327/300327/350, 427/390 Big Block, 427/425 Big Block

196794677S100001-19467S122940

194377S100001-19437S122940

327/300

427/390, 427/400, 427/435 Big Block

Tri-Power

Martin Rating—’63 Split-Window Coupe

85 Rarit

y

Bea

uty

Perf

orm

anc

e

His

toric

al

Sig

nific

anc

e

Fun

Fac

tor

14 18 17 18 18

Investment Grade: B

Typical Restoration Costs

Engine Overhaul: $6,000–$7,000

Gearbox Overhaul: $1,500–$2,000

Interior Re trim: $3,000

Bare-Metal Respray:with re-gelcoating:

$10,000$15,000

Total Restoration: $85,000

Total restoration numbers are high because every component major or minor is renewed or refurbished

Details

No. Built xxx 1965 327/375 fuel injection four-speed (1964 327/300 automatic

0-60 Time 6.3 (8.0) sec.

¼ Mile Time 14.4 (15.2) sec.

Top Speed 138 (130) mph

6

1963-67 Corvette

Buyer’s GuideKeith Martin

Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends TM

In-Depth ProfileThe Market

y the mid-1960s, Corvettes powered by the immortal 327-ci Chevrolet V8 were regular national winners in the Sports Car Club of America’s B-Production class. This storied 1966 coupe had just such an early history, as Texan Dan Hines ran it in SCCA SW division races at Texas International Speedway and other tracks.

In the early 1980s, Hines decided to sell the old warrior, by now fitted with fender flares, a big block engine, wide wheels, and other SCCA-allowed modifications. Bill Zeiring, a friend of the current owner, purchased the coupe with a view to restoring it for historic racing. The ugly flares were removed and the body was returned to the stock configuration. Blackhawk Engineering built up a race-spec 327, with a Holley four-barrel carb and Hooker headers. A new aluminum radiator, 42-row oil cooler, and road-racing oil pan were added, as was a close-ratio Muncie four-speed transmission.

Zeiring then sent the car to Corvette guru Dick Guldstrand, who installed his own brake and suspen-sion parts and set up the suspension for road racing. American Racing “Torque Thrust” wheels and Goodyear “Blue Streak” racing tires completed the transformation, and the Corvette was now ready for a second racing career.

The current owner purchased the Corvette from Zeiring in 1986 and entered it in the Monterey Historics the following August. For the next 15 years, “Thumper” (as this coupe was now nicknamed) has been a regular fixture in West Coast historic racing.

In 1987, it was awarded Steve Earle’s “Spirit of Vintage Racing” trophy during the Sears Point Wine Country Classic. When Corvette was named as the featured marque at the 2002 Monterey Historics, “Thumper” won the B-Production race, defeating a strong field of Cobras, Shelbys, Ferraris, and a

host of other Corvettes. Adding to the achievement, this car was awarded the 2002 Rolex “Presentation and Performance” award.

Racing newcomer or veteran, this HMSA-legal Corvette is worthy of a determined purchase consideration.

The SCM analysis: This car sold for $88,000, including buyer’s premium, at the RM Auction in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 23, 2004.

If we’re willing to believe that this auction result represents a trend, vintage racing, what was originally an honor to the past, has begun creating a valuable history of its own.

“Thumper” brings up a series of issues important to as-sessing the values of vintage race cars:

1966 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Its recent vintage-racing provenance has completely eclipsed whatever original period history the car might have had

Chassis number: 194376S1170431. What makes a car “real” versus a “bitsa” or even a replica? This varies depending on the marque you’re dealing with. On one extreme would be Ferrari, where

an incorrect number (per the factory records) stamped on the transaxle of a 1954 Monza is considered a serious blemish on the car’s authenticity. On the other pole would be, well… Corvette.

This car is presented as—and generally accepted as—the car that was raced by Dan Hines in Texas in the late ’60s. But how much of this car, as it sits now, actually saw the Chevrolet assembly line in 1966? Read the auction catalog carefully: From the description, the frame and probably the center cockpit bodywork are the only components I’d expect to “carbon date” as older than the mid-1980s. (And of course the title, which is a very big deal.)

I’m not saying that this is bad—for a car of this sort, it’s common. The important thing is to under-stand that the expectations of the market for vintage race cars is different depending on the type of car you are looking at.

2. How much value can be assigned to a car’s provenance? This Corvette is a perfect example to examine how the market values racing history. An authentic

old race car with a real history, it sold for $88,000. I know a West Coast supplier of vintage racing Corvettes who can find a core and build you a nearly identical mid-1960s, HMSA-legal Corvette for about $55,000-$65,000, depending, of course, on the level of chrome, paint, and geegaws desired.

So for about sixty grand, you could have a car identical to Thumper, except for the history. This, in turn, tells us that somebody chose to assign approximately a $28,000 value to this car’s provenance alone.

3. The third issue is what kind of history matters these days. Now that some cars have been racing in “historic” events for far longer than they were ever campaigned in period, which is more important, the original racing provenance or the vintage racing one?

This car clearly didn’t do anything great in period. Twenty years ago, it was just an old Corvette that somebody in Texas raced for a while. Today its significant history is that for the last 17 years, it has been an active and well-known HMSA (read: Monterey Historics) vintage race car. That’s what somebody bought.

So what can we conclude from all this? It should be interesting to collectors that here we have a vintage-racing provenance that has completely eclipsed whatever period provenance the car might have had. More significantly, this “new” provenance is apparently worth something: In this case, about a third of the value of the car.—Thor Thorson

(Background information courtesy of the auction company.)u

B

8

1963-67 Corvette

Buyer’s GuideKeith Martin

Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends TM

The Market Auction Results from the Sports Car Market Database

1967 Chevrolet Corvette SCM # 44819 1967 Chevrolet Corvette SCM # 44805

Car InformationChassis # 194677S115576Engine Cylinders V8Body Type convertibleColor Marina blue & black/black vinyl

Odometer Shows 19,209 miles

Auction InformationAuction Co. Barrett-Jackson, W Palm Beach, FL

Auction Lot # 714.1High Bid/Sold Price $159,500 SOLDSale Date 3/28/2007Condition Rating 2-

1967 Chevrolet Corvette SCM # 44825 1967 Chevrolet Corvette SCM # 44645

Condition Description: 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. An original car, with only one small repaint area to the hood. Original all the way elsewhere, including underhood, chrome, paint, and top. Inside, all carpets, seats, and dash are factory. Seller states miles are original. Protecto-plate, tank sticker.

Market Opinion: This was one of the best buys in Corvettes in a sale that had plenty. Not a car for the owner-driver, this was an investment-quality example that will likely lead the way on any future appreciation. Market-correct for condition.

Condition Description: 427-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Replacement block. Power steering, power windows, F41 suspension, side pipes. Excellent paint with no flubs, largely unmarked brightwork shows a small dent in the rear bumper. Correct and nice interior.

Market Opinion: With a replacement engine, this car should have brought substantially less, especially at an auction where mid-year Corvette prices were generally off. There were much better buys on all years of Corvettes here, so this seller should feel fortunate he was able to sell at this price.

Car InformationChassis # 194677S113139Engine Cylinders V8Body Type convertibleColor Black & Teal/blue leatherOdometer Shows 137 miles

Auction InformationAuction Co. Barrett-Jackson, W Palm Beach, FL

Auction Lot # 659High Bid/Sold Price $170,500 SOLDSale Date 3/28/2007Condition Rating 2

Condition Description: 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. NCRS Top Flight, Orlando, FL, January ‘07. Visually excellent, with only one small divot in paint near the antenna. Excellent chrome, all trim appears new. Inside is just as nice, with well-fitted seats and carpet. Claimed matching numbers, comes with manufacturer’s statement of origin showing factory to selling dealer.

Market Opinion: What’s the opposite of irrational exuberance? Perhaps it’s rational caution. This car in this condition would have brought many thousands more just a few months ago. There were a number of factors at work here, not the least of which was the sheer number of mid-year Corvettes on offer at this one event.

Car InformationChassis # 194377S110370Engine Cylinders V8Body Type coupeColor blue/black vinylOdometer Shows 44,237 miles

Auction InformationAuction Co. Barrett-Jackson, W Palm Beach, FL

Auction Lot # 728High Bid/Sold Price $110,000 SOLDSale Date 3/28/2007Condition Rating 1-

Condition Description: 427-ci 435-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Older repaint still looks good, some wear and light overspray present. Pitted grille, other brightwork very good. Decent panel gaps, nice glass and window rubber. Black stinger hood, side exhaust, factory hard top. Generally decent interior shows split driver’s seat vinyl and a cigarette burn to driver’s armrest.

Market Opinion: Those of us who have been attending auctions recently have noticed the weakness in sales of some big block mid-year cars. I think this is more of a supply has met demand issue than a sign of a large market retreat. When a formally $75,000 car grows an additional 50% or more in value, many owners are tempted to cash in... and it looks like a few too many did just that in early 2007.

Car InformationChassis # 194677S105004Engine Cylinders V8Body Type convertibleColor Rally Red/black vinylOdometer Shows 22,725 miles

Auction InformationAuction Co. RM, Amelia Island, FLAuction Lot # 246High Bid/Sold Price $125,000 NOT SOLDSale Date 3/10/2007Condition Rating 3

11

1963-67 Corvette

Buyer’s GuideKeith Martin

Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends TM

Back in the Day Original Road & Track Road Test

17

1963-67 Corvette

Buyer’s GuideKeith Martin

Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends TM

Back in the Day Original Sales Brochure

20

1963-67 Corvette

Buyer’s GuideKeith Martin

Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends TM

12345678910

Go Away Little Girl Steve Lawrence

Walk Right In The Rooftop Singers

Hey Paula Paul and Paula

Walk Like a Man The Four Seasons

Our Day Will Come Ruby and the Romantics

He’s So Fine The Chiffons

I Will Follow Him Little Peggy March

If You Wanna Be Happy Jimmy Soul

It’s My Party Lesely Gore

Sukiyaki Kyu Sakamot

Top 10 on the Radio

Top 10 On the Big Screen

123456789

10

Cleopatra

The Longest Day

Irma La Douce

Lawrence of Arabia

How the West Was Won

Mutiny on the Bounty

Son of Flubber

To Kill a Mockingbird

Bye Bye Birdie

Come Blow Your Horn

12345

The Beverly Hillbillies

Bonanza

The Dick Van Dyke Show

Petticoat Junction

The Andy Griffith Show

The Lucy Show

Candid Camera

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Danny Thomas Show

My Favorite Martian

6789

10

Top 10 TV Hits

When It was New...The Kennedy assassination cast a pall over nearly everything in the last few months of1963 and early 1964. The arrival of the Beatles in February and the Beatlemania thatensued offered Americans a brief respite before social turmoil and the escalation ofthe war in Southeast Asia turned the country’s mood sullen again. Urban legend or not,nearly everyone has heard the story of the low-mileage Corvette in the barn, left therewhen its owner went away to Vietnam but didn’t return.

1963 In the HeadlinesPresident Kennedy Assassinated

Back in the Day Music, Movies, and News Stories from www.HistoryCentral.com

21

1963-67 Corvette

Buyer’s GuideKeith Martin

Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends TM

Body and Frame

Corvettes don’t inspire sedate driving, and the newest Sting Rays are going on 40 years old. So, the most obvious thing to look for first is evidence of accident damage, and the most obvious place to look is the front end. Feel around underneath the panels for rough or poorly finished fiberglass. Original front clips are made up of four separate pieces that are bonded together (on cars with original paint, you should be able to see faint “ghost lines” where the seams are). The seams are reinforced from behind with “bonding strips,” which are roughly two-inch wide fiberglass strips. A single piece replacement/reproduction front clip will be missing these. Feel behind the wheelwell on top for this bonding strip. Headlamps should go up and down smoothly together. Another quick way to check for accident damage is to open the fuel filler lid. The gas cap should be centered. If the frame has been tweaked at some point, the tank and the filler neck will have shifted, moving the cap off center. Panel fit on Corvettes should be reasonably good. Doors and hoods were often ground or trimmed to fit when the cars were being assembled. Finally, a certain amount of waviness is acceptable on the sides of the car. They are, after all, plastic rather than steel. While Corvette bodies don’t rust, chassis certainly do. The most likely places are just in front of the rear wheels and where the frame curves up over the rear suspension. Always have an expert check the condition of the chassis.

Interior

Corvette interiors present no particular restoration issues. There are no expensive wood veneers to refinish or wool carpet to replace. A complete interior can be purchased for less than $2,000 from one of the specialists listed in the Resources section of the Insider’s Guide. An advanced do-it-yourselfer is capable of installing it. You should never walk away from an otherwise sound Corvette simply because it needs interior work.

Mechanicals: Engine, Gearbos and Suspension

Corvettes are notoriously robust mechanically. Cast iron pushrod engines are tough as nails. Mechanical fuel injection is the only exception. It can be tricky to set up and requires a specialist. If the C2 Corvette has an achilles heel, it is the rear suspension. Hubs, half shafts, wheel bearings and differential mounts should be looked at carefully, especially in bigblock cars. Brake calipers were also trouble some in the post-1964 cars; however, by now, most if not all have been rebuilt with modern stainless steel calipers.

-Colin Comer

What to Look for in a 1963–67 Corvette

Questions to Ask the SellerYou can learn a lot from a telephone call before you make a trip to see a car.

• Do you have clear title (no outstanding liens) to the car in your name? • How long have you owned the car? • What major work have you done on the car? Any receipts? What other records do you have?• Did the car come with a tool kit? Is it still present? What, if anything, is missing?• Why are you selling the car? • Has the car ever had problems with rust? If so, what has been done to address it? • Has the car ever been repainted? If so, was the color changed? Are the engine compartment,

trunk, and doorjambs the same color as the rest of the car?• Has the car ever had body repairs? • Does the engine smoke?• What is the oil pressure when cold and warm?• Does the car pull on braking or wander going down the road?• What are its immediate needs?

Finally, some types of cars (mainly muscle cars and Corvettes) are much more valuable with their original components, such as engines and transmissions. If you are paying a premium for this originality, you must have an expert inspect and “decode” the car to ensure that you are getting what you are paying for. Counterfeits, clones, or incorectly restored cars can sometimes be hard to detect by non-experts.

Buying Tips What to Look For

22

1963-67 Corvette

Buyer’s GuideKeith Martin

Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends TM

Keith Martin on... Car Collecting Collecting Porsche Collecting Jaguar Collecting Ferrari Collecting Austin-Healey, MG and Triumph Collecting Alfa Romeo

Clubs and Information

National Corvette Restorers Society www.ncrs.org

Corvette Club of America www.corvetteclubofamerica.com

Bloomington Gold www.bloomingtongold.com

Parts

eBay Motors www.ebay.com

Corvette America www.corvetteamerica.com

Mid-America Motorworks www.mamotorworks.com

Muskegon Brake www.muskegonbrake.com

Restoration

British Auto Works, OR www.britishautoworks.com

MG Motorsport, UK www.mgmotorsport.com

Nepean Classic Cars, AUS www.nepeanclassic.com.au

Worldwide MG specialist garages www.mgcars.org.uk/garages/garages

Note: The above is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered an endorsement of the services of any of the above restorers

General Information Transport

Blue Highways www.bluehighways.net

FedEx Custom Critical passport.fedex.com

Intercity Lines www.intercitylines.com

Finance

Hagerty www.hagerty.com

JJ Best www.jjbest.com

Premier Financial Services www.premierfinancialservices.com

Putnam Leasing www.putnamleasing.com

Insurance

Hagerty www.hagerty.com

Appraisal and Inspection

Automobile Inspections LLC www.automobileinspections.com

USAppraisal www.usappraisal.com

Car Care and Protection

Hagerty www.hagerty.com/hpnpublic

Additional Keith Martin Publications

Sports Car Market Magazine Available in one, two, and three year subscriptions Digital subscriptions and back issues also available

Sports Car Market Pocket Price Guide Current market values, investment ratings, event calendars, and more...

Keith Martin Buyer’s Guides New titles being released regularly

Resource Directory