Cut out split on '63 coupes

[Ken A.]

I'm sure most of you remember, as I do, that in '64 for a year or so, one of the custom tricks was to cut out the center piece on '63 coupes to make them look like the newer '64. Just wondering, have any of you run accross any of these and were the owners able to put the piece back in satisfactorily?

Ken

[Tom H.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

I remember seeing some center split "remains" at swap meets back in the 80's, but have not seen any since. Always wondered if any of those cars got put back together.

[Sydney G.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

I'm sure most of you remember, as I do, that in '64 for a year or so, one of the custom tricks was to cut out the center piece on '63 coupes to make them look like the newer '64. Just wondering, have any of you run accross any of these and were the owners able to put the piece back in satisfactorily?

Ken

Hi Ken,

I have seen about 5 '63 coupes for sale over the web in the last 8-9 yrs with the split removed. A few reappeared for sale again with the split replaced.
There are many, many cars that were modified and I wish I would have filed the pictures of most including countless with 6 tail lights.

Syd

[Paul Y.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

Mine had the split removed when I found it along side the machine shed on a spud farm in southern Idaho. I thought it was a 64 with the fuely S tube intact until I got the title. Then I was suspicious until the owner showed me where the center ridge was still raised and not flat as the 64-67 coupes were. I met Jimmy Blakely at a swap meet in Denver and bought a roof panel with split and two NOS split window glass in there original carboard GM shipping crate from him. The first fiberglassing lesson I got was from a friend that was a industrial arts teacher in a high school and we put the split back in at an all nighter lesson. I figured out a way to make some new bonding strips and how to bond them so that they would all be done at the same time and then we V'd out the area that met and glassed it in. Roped the glass in and have enjoyed a split ever since. I have a slide somewhere of the three of us right after I had collected enough parts to get it to run and on it's maiden ride. I will try to post it. Although this was almost 30 years ago, I would do it again in a heart beat.

[Jimmy B.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

Hey Paul,

I think you owe me about $2000.00 for all those inner and outer trim pieces I gave you in addition to the fiberglass split itself and the NOS rear windows.

An old 63 fuelie coupe (dark blue with dark blue interior) I still have pictures if you want too see them, had the STATE FARM claim numbers in yellow marking paint on the roof by the windshield.

I removed the dash pads, seat belts, and the original power window doors.

Chucked what was left of the hull of the body and hauled it to the dump.

Oh yeah, I traded straight over an 63 f.i. complete air cleaner for the remains of the car, it was sitting on a 64 or 65 frame. Sold the frame that had complete front suspension, still had shim marks and remnants of a stencil on it -- very nice for $400.00 I was on a roll!!!

This was early 80's when gas was cheap, Corvette's pretty cheap, I had hair and weighed a lot less!

Jimmy Blakely

[William L.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

When we were doing our research on the Mickey Thompson Bonneville ZO6 we asked Doug Hooper if he remembered why they removed the split window? He replied something like, What the hell kid you think they gave us a new car ever year? Chevy gave us a new hood and the parts to change the back window and said now you got a 64...

[Joe L.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

Hi Ken,

I have seen about 5 '63 coupes for sale over the web in the last 8-9 yrs with the split removed. A few reappeared for sale again with the split replaced.
There are many, many cars that were modified and I wish I would have filed the pictures of most including countless with 6 tail lights.

Syd

Syd-----


There are many neophytes that actually think that some mid year Corvettes were factory built with 6 tail lights. I must admit that MANY, MANY years ago (about 45), I was one of them.

[Joe L.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

When we were doing our research on the Mickey Thompson Bonneville ZO6 we asked Doug Hooper if he remembered why they removed the split window? He replied something like, What the hell kid you think they gave us a new car ever year? Chevy gave us a new hood and the parts to change the back window and said now you got a 64...

William-----


I can tell you that back in late 1963 when the 1964 Corvettes came out, the 1963 Corvette coupes looked "instantly dated". There was ABSOLUTELY ZERO appreciation then for the "split window" design. I was a very young man at the time but I remember it VERY well. A 1963 Corvette was "old" and a 1964 Corvette was "new". Folks even thought that the one piece rear window as a lot "cleaner" design. I even recall folks ridiculing the "split window" design. I must admit, I was one of them. At that time, I liked the 1964 rear window design much better than the 1963.

So, it's no wonder that folks with 1963's could update them to 1964's by just redoing the rear window. Of course, there were other styling differences between 1963 and 1964 but they were minor. 99.9% of the folks would think that a 1963 was a 1964 if the rear window was changed. In "image and trend conscious" California, the conversion was a "natural" and many 1963's here were so-converted. It seems very dumb in retrospect but, at the time, it was the "thing to do" if you were a 1963 coupe owner.

[Larry M.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

I knew 3 guys that cut out the bar between the split windows around 1965-67. Also everyone in my area would remove the front bumpers, some had 6 tail lights and some had flared wheel wells. My first Vette ride was a 64 coupe. In 1970 I bought a new LS6 454 Chevelle, the first thing I did when I got it home, was take off the smog pump and put on headers.

[Michael H.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

I knew 3 guys that cut out the bar between the split windows around 1965-67. .

And this is how it was done. A Hot Rod type magazine came out in early 1963 that showed the procedure.
Yup, this was a brand new 63 corvette.

[Paul Y.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

Hey, I don't remember getting any outside mouldings. I remember looking for them for 30 years though. Maybe the inside were there. I can't recall. If you want the 2000 send me all the inside and outside moundings and I'll cut you a check. I sold my last ones for 250 a piece. They got a good deal. The slide that you are in does have you with dark hair and you look pretty svelte. I must get them changed to a digital so I can post them.

[Paul Y.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

Michael, thanks for those photos and script. I tried to print them but got the red X. I was able to save them though. I will keep them for my reference and my wife will enjoy them for her scrapbook.

[Paul Y.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

Mine also had a glass back window instead of plexiglas.

[Daniel K.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

And this is how it was done. A Hot Rod type magazine came out in early 1963 that showed the procedure.
Yup, this was a brand new 63 corvette.

Without fail, every time I have had my 63 Coupe at a car show, someone has told me that: "You know, guys used to cut out that split in the back." Now, I can tell them I have the instructions on how to do the 'surgery.' The other comment that cracks me up is: "No wonder they took out that split. Then you could see out the rear view mirror." Personally, I think they have never driven a SWC in their life. Anyway, I'm always polite when these and other comments are made about this car. I could go on and on about some of the comments we get on the cars and I think too, this is part of the fun with this hobby........

[James G.]

Re: Cut out split on '63 coupes

Hey, I don't remember getting any outside mouldings. I remember looking for them for 30 years though. Maybe the inside were there. I can't recall. If you want the 2000 send me all the inside and outside moundings and I'll cut you a check. I sold my last ones for 250 a piece. They got a good deal. The slide that you are in does have you with dark hair and you look pretty svelte. I must get them changed to a digital so I can post them.

HELP....PLEASE........I NEED A COMPLETE SET OF EVERYTHING TODAY FOR A VERY INTERESTING CAR THAT HAS BEEN IN STORAGE SINCE 1978.