This 1963 Corvette Sting Ray split-window coupe is a factory Sebring Silver that retains its numbers matching 327CI/300HP V8 and has a 4-speed manual transmission. The car was purchased by the seller in 2004 out of Florida as a driver, as his first car was a silver coupe just like it. Upon shipping it home to Texas and adding some miles, he realized that he wanted to improve it mechanically and add A/C, so in 2005 he commissioned a comprehensive body-off teardown and rebuild of the entire chassis, drivetrain, and dash by Mid-Cities Classics in Hurst, TX. Their work is fully photo documented in the 200-pic gallery (link) and supported with a single 11-page invoice totaling over $53k. The car is a great driver and looks great on 70-series Michelin whitewalls and stock steel wheels with correct ’63 hubcaps.

The all-new C2 coupe design was introduced in 1963 and featured hideaway headlights and independent rear suspension. 10,594 spit-window coupes were made, and this one falls in the middle of the production run based on the VIN. Mickey Thompson’s #3 Zo6 was silver/black, and it is one of the best color combinations on the car. This car also retains all the rare 1-year-only parts that make the 1963 coupes so desirable and expensive to restore, like the windshield and rear window trim, the 3-piece center console, the proper parking brake, gauges, seats, and steering column.

Sebring Silver paint is correct for the car per the 941A paint code on the body tag. The finish has a nice uniform shine, though the front fenders and nose exhibit small paint pimpling (see gallery, though it is very difficult to capture in photos). The doors, roof, hood, and rear of the car don’t share the issue. The seller could have had the entire car painted when apart from the frame, but was concerned that then it would be so perfect that he would not drive it, and the whole goal of the mechanical work was to make the car excellent to drive. That decision has allowed hime to add over 4000 miles since the build. Chrome was replated and remains shiny with no marks. The car has only needed oil changes since completion, the seller keeping it seasonally in Santa Fe and Dallas and only driving it in dry weather.

Upon disassembly, it was concluded that the original frame was severely rusted in the rear kick-ups, so a dry genuine replacement frame was sourced. Detailed shots of the old and new frames are included in the gallery. The build of the freshly restored frame and drivetrain is spectacular, and was all done with originality in mind, apart from the A/C system which was added.

The upholstery is too nice to be 52 years old, so is believed to have been redone along with the paint sometime prior to the owners purchase. The dash was throughly disassembled and gone through during the restoration work in 2005, including all new wiring as shown in the gallery. Though not a factory A/C car, the seller had a full air conditioning system with compressor installed during restoration for more comfortable cruising on hot Dallas days. The factory non-A/C heater assembly is included in the sale if someone wishes to revert to stock.

The engine was found to be in very good condition and it was decided not to tear it down and mill off any of the all important matching numbers. All other components including the 4-speed, brakes, and suspension were completely disassembled and rebuilt, but the engine was stripped of its original orange paint, inspected, re-sealed, and then externally detailed to original specs. The block shows the proper 3782870 casting number and the 3107829 F0II6RD stamping numbers match both the serial number and the RD code for 300hp engines (source). Note that the 300hp engine also produced 360 lb-ft of torque at 3200 RPM as compared to less than that at a higher rev in both of the higher spec 327s.

Itemized restoration receipts from Mid-Cities Classics in Hurst, Texas total $53,223.23. The entire engine bay was stripped and restored. The car had formerly worn side pipes as well, so all of the stock rocker trim mounts needed to be welded into place to revert the car back to the proper full-length exhaust for 1963.

Stock springs and KYB shocks offer a smooth ride, and the car retains its stock drum brake setup which got all new lines and master cylinder. New wheel bearings, U-joints, and bushings keep everything tight, and the car also received a new water pump. A throaty V8 exhaust note sounds great thanks to a new exhaust manifold and Magnaflow aluminized mufflers. The seller has shipped the car to his son in San Francisco to handle the sale but it retains a clear Texas title and period 1963 Texas rear plate.