Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

[Frederick W.]

I'm planning to purchase a matching numbers SWC. The car is located in Ocean Isle Beach, NC, near Myrtle Beach, SC and Wilmington, NC.
I'd like advice on what to look for and would appreciate referrals for a prepurchase inspection in the area.
Thanks!
Fred

[Tom H.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

Hi Fred !

Same rules apply to buying a 63 as any other. Be sure the car is as cpmplete as possible. 63 parts are unique and sometimes hard to find. Be sure frame is free of rust and do a birdcage inspection if you can.

Be sure trim tag and VIN plate are present and appear authentic. Same goes for engine stamp.

The rest is easy. Be sure it runs and drives good and fits the budget.

If the car is not complete or has issues.......... Be sure the project is one you can handle, both mechanically and financially.

Hoping to see another 63 owner here soon ! Feel free to post questions after you see it.

[Michael M.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

Fred besides the obvious things to look at when buying a mid-year, Tom is correct in saying the 1963 model has slightly different parts then the rest of the mid-years. I always like to look under the glove box to see the grinding marks behind the vin. plate. The factory had to grind the bar to bare metal to spot weld the vin. plate.

[Gene M.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

Fred, If you post pictures of the engine pad, the trim, and serial tag the guys on this board can "check it out" for you.

Could save you a lot of time if any obvious problems.

[Bob R.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

You might want to do a little research on 63's. Nolan Adams has several books that might help. There were a lot of running changes in the 63 year and parts may be correct for 63 but not for the the time of year this car was built. The transmissions changed, tool box storage area, type of radio, wheel covers, brace on the glove box and on and on. Some options were only available late in the year such as A/C.

[Jack H.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

'Tool box' storage area?

I thought this detail of the early 63's (floor recesses behind the seats) had been ridden to ground as being there to accomodate the motor for the power seat feature that was cancelled prior to production release...

[Bob R.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

I have a late 63 but have talked to friends with early 63's who say there is a recess under the passengers seat for a tool storage area. My late car does not have this recess and I have not looked closely at early cars.

[Tom H.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

Mine has em. January built coupe.

[Dick W.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

'Tool box' storage area?

I thought this detail of the early 63's (floor recesses behind the seats) had been ridden to ground as being there to accomodate the motor for the power seat feature that was cancelled prior to production release...

Being from the South, I always thought the recesses to be bait wells for storing your fish bait.

[Dan H.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

Or to put twin sump pumps on rainy days!

[Douglas C.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

Fred,

I would make sure that the car has all the interior split window trim moldings ($3000); the correct glove box ($450), clock ($500), color-matched steering wheel ($350), console ($900), shifter ($450), and correct seats ($800). Also make sure the seats have the adjusters - should be 4 per seat - you can't get them if they're missing. Also, you'll be lucky if the car has the correct seat belts ($700). The prices are estimated replacement costs, but should give you an idea of what it costs if just a few pieces are missing or incorrect.

Basically very few of the '63 interior parts carry over to '64-'67. The '63 parts are high dollar if you want a correct car and they're missing. Many '63's I've looked at have these high dollar parts switched with later year, incorrect parts (glove box, steering wheel, etc). The vast majority of the casual buyers don't know the difference.

Hope this helps,

--Doug, #13644
'63 Black/Red Convt.
'63 Daytona Blue/Tan SWC

[Dick W.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

Or to put twin sump pumps on rainy days!

That is what you needed on C-1's

[Frederick W.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

Thanks guys for all the advice, very helpful.

The car was looked at for me by Rick Osbourne, a 35 yr+ Corvetter restorer in North Carolina, and apparently it is the real deal, all numbers matched (engine, intake, transmission, distributor, etc.) The only thing that didn't match numbers was the carb (was correct Carter but presumably was replaced somewhere along the way). There were a few mods that could easily be retrofitted to original. For example, Hurst shifter, finned aluminum valve covers, has Vintage air system with no butchering, along with auxiliary electric fan and flex fan to aid cooling when the AC was added).
Everything else original, no hit body, bonding strips intact, frame exceptional and rust free.

I have heard many people emphasize the glove box. How can I tell if this is an original 63, and why would it have been changed?

Fred

[Michael G.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

Fred,

Glove box doors were made of plastic and obviously didn't fare well over the years. I'm sure this is why GM traversed to door with more metal. Other than the aforementioned differences spare tire tub was slightly different (marginally less tub lip) and exhaust hanger was a staight axle carry over.

[Douglas C.]

Re: Advice on purchase of 63 SWC

Fred,

While you're at it - you may also want to check the steel wheels to see if they are the real deal. Check the archives for details - many discussions over the past few months on correct '63 rims. Later rims won't fit the drum brakes - basically they're a '63-'64 only item.

Correct steel rims are getting very difficult to find.

--Doug