how early 63 A/C available

[Joe T.]

there is a 63 coupe on E-bay that suggests factory A/C. I believe the production number is in the 3300 range. is that possible?

[John H.]

Re: how early 63 A/C available

there is a 63 coupe on E-bay that suggests factory A/C. I believe the production number is in the 3300 range. is that possible?

Joe -

No, not for an original factory installation; factory A/C started around #13,000.

[Joe R.]

Re: how early 63 A/C available

Joe -

No, not for an original factory installation; factory A/C started around #13,000.

John,

That is a factory installation for a 63 Corvette! Notice the SN on the original engine is in the 18,000 range. Yep, factory AC car alright!!!! Check out the SN Tag under the glove box!!!!
Just the Title is off about 15,000 cars!!!!!!!

JR

JR

[John H.]

Re: how early 63 A/C available

John,

That is a factory installation for a 63 Corvette! Notice the SN on the original engine is in the 18,000 range. Yep, factory AC car alright!!!! Check out the SN Tag under the glove box!!!!
Just the Title is off about 15,000 cars!!!!!!!

JR

JR

JR -

I didn't dig around on eBay looking for it; if there had been a link or item #, I'd have checked it out.

[Sydney G.]

Re: how early 63 A/C available

Do a quick search under 1963 corvette and hit 'Best Match'......it should pop up 1st as it did for me.

JR, I don't see the engine pad photo but do see the serial tag as being #3,373, with Body 9,414.
That body # should indicate a vin right around #!8,625 or so.
One of those tags looks to be swapped out. Is that an early mirror I saw to add to the confusion?

Syd

[Richard M.]

Re: how early 63 A/C available

Link below.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Corvette-1963-Corvette-Split-Window-air-conditioned-4spd-knockoffs-/160745255155?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item256d29f0f3

Vin tag is 3373, engine is 18631. Interesting Trim tag. K1 build date. That puts it first week of July of 1963, aligning with the 18631 vin, apx July 2.

Trim tag 898E code. Saddle Leather. The "E" suffix says it's supposed to be equipped with Air Conditioning.


All of the mechanicals are from apx June '63. Unlikey that the car was built in November of '62 according to the ad.

From the ad.....

Body 9414
Paint 936A
Trim 898E
Style 63 837
Assembly F0618RD
Trans 118631
Rear Axel CJ 6-21-63
Pad 3118631F06I8RD
Date Code F143
Casting 3782870

Vin tag is not typical. Looks like it was tampered with. IMO the AC is real, but not the vin tag. Something fishy going on with this one.

Rich

[Michael M.]

Re: how early 63 A/C available

Be interesting to see what the frame stamp # is.

Mac

[Max H.]

Re: how early 63 A/C available

First air car is 113xxx numbers , in April the car on ebay was 2 cars made into one. The trim tag suggest a july car yet the vin # indicates a Nov production . 2 wrecked cars put together into one . Why would anyone put a July trim Tag on an early car beats me.

[Sydney G.]

Re: how early 63 A/C available

First air car is 113xxx numbers , in April the car on ebay was 2 cars made into one. The trim tag suggest a july car yet the vin # indicates a Nov production . 2 wrecked cars put together into one . Why would anyone put a July trim Tag on an early car beats me.

Maybe the same reason someone would put an early vin tag on a late a/c car? Which might be the case here??
Doesn't explain the early style mirror though.

[Andy C.]

Re: how early 63 A/C available

The first 63 air car was around Vin # 13,200 or so.....Andy