Few Corvette hobbyists ever think of this fact, but model-year 1963 marked the first time in history that two distinct body styles were offered in the Corvette lineup. The fastback Sports Coupe always seems to get the lion’s share of attention for two reasons. First, it was the new body style. Second, it had the one-year-only “split window” treatment that supposedly makes it a “rarity.”Truth be known, the 1963 Convertible (actually described in some places as a “Convertible or Hardtop” because it could be had with a removable fiberglass roof or a soft top for the same price) was almost as rare as the Sport Coupe. Chevy made 10,594 Sport Coupes and 10,919 Convertibles. So if you talk about only ‘63s, both cars are nearly equal in popularity. However, if you think in terms of all “midyear” ‘Vettes, then a split window Coupe is really rare.
Larry Shinoda — a real enthusiast who once competed in a tag-team race with me (Boy, he could drive!) — created the Sting Ray body for design chief Bill Mitchell. Shinioda’s boss had seen one of the sea creatures in Florida and found its shape inspiring. “Give me a car in that shape,” he told Shinoda and that led to the new Sport Coupe. The Convertible also used the Sting Ray name, but really had its own unique image. It didn’t look as much like the “fish.”
Zora Arkus-Duntov once told me he actually favored the Convertible over the split window. He felt that the Sport Coupe’s two-section backlight limited the driver’s vision towards the rear. Duntov was a functionality freak and felt the bar running down the center of the tiny window served no real function.
Both models had two long, non-functional louvers that resembled brake cooling ducts molded into the front fender sides. The hood had recessed, decorative “grates.” The rear deck lid of the Convertible resembled that of the ‘62 Corvette, even though the rest of the car was all-new. Hide-away headlights operated by electric motors improved the ‘63 Corvette’s aerodynamics.
Inside was a restyled interior featuring circular gauges with black faces. New-for-1963 features included air conditioning, power steering, power brakes and saddle colored leather seats ($80.70 extra). According to contemporary Car Fax listings, the Corvette Model 867 two-door Convertible had a dealer cost of $2,858.25. Excise tax was $286. The dealer cost including Excise Tax (but not dealer prep charges) was $3,144.24. And the Factory Suggested Retail Price was $4,038. This compared to $4,252 for the Sport Coupe.
Car Fax also listed the following standard equipment for the Corvette: Tachometer, electric clock, directional signals, chrome wheel discs, single four-barrel carburetor, dual exhausts, electric windshield wipers, carpets, outside and inside rear view mirrors, inside sun visors, arm rests, a manually-operated soft top, an oil filter, a cigarette lighter, a heater and defroster, windshield washers, courtesy and parking brake lamps, and safety belts. Buyers could get the removable hardtop in lieu of the folding top at no extra cost.
The Corvette had a 98-inch wheelbase and overall length of 175.3 inches. Front headroom was 35 inches and it had 43.7 inches of legroom, a lot more than imported sports cars of the era. It had an overall height of 49.8 inches and overall width of 69.6 inches. There was 7.8 inches of ground clearance. The front tread was 56.3 inches and it was 57 inches even at the rear. Vehicle weight, needed in some states for registration purposes, was 2,959 pounds.
The handling performance of all ’63 ‘Vettes was a great improvement over the past thanks to the introduction of a new independent rear suspension system. This had a 3-link design with double-jointed open drive shafts on either end, control arms and trailing radius rods. A single transverse rear spring was used and the differential was attached to the rear crossmember. This gave improved 48 front/52 rear weight distribution. Up front was a new re-circulating-ball steering gear and a three-link ball-joint front suspension.
Corvette convertibles for 1963 were numbered 30867S100001 to 30867S121513. The first symbol 3=1963. The second and third symbols 08=Corvette. The fourth and fifth symbols 37=coupe. The sixth symbol S=St. Louis, Mo. assembly plant. The last six symbols were digits representing the sequential production number.
Four small-block 327 V-8s were offered with 250, 300, 340 and 360 hp. The 300-hp engine teamed a regular cam with a larger four-barrel carb and added $53.80 to the car’s price. The 340-hp option included the large four-barrel carb, a high-lift cam and mechanical valve lifters. The hottest option carried a Rochester fuel-injection system, plus the hotter cam and solid lifters.
A 3.08 ratio rear axle was optional for just $2.20 with the base or 300-hp V-8s when teamed with a four-speed manual transmission. The Convertible was not available with the hot Special Performance option, which was essentially a coupe-only racing package.
Other individual options listed by Car Fax included the auxiliary hardtop in addition to the folding top (enthusiasts call this the “2 tops” option) for $236.75, a special Powerglide transmission for $199.10, a four-speed close-ratio transmission for $188.30, a signal-seeking transistor radio for $137.75, electric windows for $59.20, a Positraction rear axle (stick shift only) for $43.05, five 6.70 x 15 4-ply tires for $31.55 extra, five 6.70 x 15 black nylon tires for $15.70 extra, heavy-duty brakes with metallic facings for $37.70, power brakes for $43.06 and power steering with the standard or 300-hp engines only for $75.35. If you wanted your ’63 Corvette painted Sebring Silver, it was $80.70 additional.
Car Fax listed 15-inch knock-off type wheels as a $322.80 option. These wheels, RPO P48, were seen on several show cars (some with two-bar spinners and some with three-bar spinners. The wheels were installed on about a dozen cars at the St. Louis Corvette factory, but the wheels were porous and leaked air. When the cars with the wheels suffered flat tires, they were replaced with standard steel wheels. No cars were delivered with the knock-off wheels.
Two accessory groups were listed by Car Fax. Electric window lifts, a radio, Powerglide and whitewall tires were grouped for $427.60. A radio, four-speed manual transmission, whitewalls and heavy-duty brakes were grouped for $395.30. These were the same as the options cost individually.
Today, the ’63 Convertible is the “Rodney Dangerfield” of Corvettes, it “doesn’t get no respect” in comparison to the attention lavished on the split window Sport Coupe. However, as Convertible owners know, it’s a great car —and a great deal nicer to go cruising in on a warm summer’s evening!
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’63 VETTE FACTS
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VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
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30837S100001 through 30837S121513 Coupes. 30867S100001 through 30867S121513 Convertibles. The first symbol 3 indicated model year. The second and third symbol identified the body series 08 = Corvette. The fourth and fifth symbol indicated the body style 67 = convertible; 37 = coupe. The sixth symbol identified the assembly plant S = Saint Louis. The last six symbols indicate the sequential production number.
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ENGINE
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BASE ENGINE
Type: V-8
Bore and stroke: 4.00 x 3.25 in.
Displacement: 327 cid
Brake hp: 250 at 4400 rpm.
Induction: Carter Type AFB 4-bbl
OPTIONAL ENGINES:
327-cid/300-hp w/Carter AFB 4-bbl
327-cid/340-hp w/Carter AFB 4-bbl
327-cid/360-hp w/Ram-jet fuel injection
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VITAL STATS
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Coupe
Original Price: $4,252
Production: 10,594
Wheelbase: 98 in.
Length: 175.3 in.
Tires: 6.70 x 15
Convertible
Original Price: $4,037
Production: 10,919
Wheelbase: 98 in.
Length: 175.2 in.
Tires: 6.70 x 15
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