• The Corvette received major restyling in 1963 including a divided rear window for a new "split-window" fastback coupe.
• Thc sides of the front fenders, behind the wheel openings, were decorated with two long, horizontal "wind split" indenta­tions or louvers that were designed to look like brake cooling ducts, although they were not functional.
• The rear deck treatment resernbled that of the previous year's model but the rest of the car appeared totally new.
• The twin side-by-side headlights were hidden in an electrically-operated panel
• This was more then a syling gimmick, as it added to the car's basic aerodynamic design.
• The recessed fake hood louvers were another matter.
• Front fender louvers, vents on the roof side panels (of the fastback split-window sport coupe) and ribbed rocker panel molding were styling features used on the sides of the new Corvette.
• The interior had circular gauges with black faces.
• Thcrc was storage space under the seats of early models.
• Among the standard equipmert was
  • windshield washer
  • carpeting
  • outside rearview rnirr­or
  • dual exhaust
  • tachometer
  • electric clock
  • heater and defroster
  • cigarette lighter
  • safety belts
• Seven interor colors were offered
  • Black
  • White
  • Silver
  • Silver-Blue
  • Daytona blue
  • Red
  • Tan
• For the first time since 1957, a Beige softtop was avail­able
• Seven exterior colors were avalable
  • Tuxedo Black
  • Ermine White
  • Riverside Red
  • Silver Blue
  • Daytona Blue
  • Saddle Tan
  • Sebring Silver
• All were available with a BLack, White, or Beige soft top.

• The serial number (Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN) was located on a stainless steel plate welded to the right side hinge pillar cross-brace under the glove box
• Convertible Serial numbers ranged from 30867S100001 to 30867S121513
• Coupe Serial numbers ranged from 30837S100001 to 30837S121513

  Position	Character	Description
  1	3	1963
  2 & 3	08	body series: Corvette
  4 & 5	67	convertible
  	37	"split-window" coupe
  6	S	Assembled in St. Louis, MO
  7 to 12	100001 to 121513	production sequence

• Engine serial number

  1 to 7	0001001	sequential production number
  8	F or T	Flint, MI or Tonawanda, NY
  9 to 10	Carburetion & transmission	RC = 327-cid 250-hp V-8 with 10.5:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and four-barrel carburetor RD = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.5:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and four-barrel carburetor RE = 327-cid 340-hp V-8 with 11.25:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and four-barrel carburetor RF = 327-cid 360-hp V-8 with 11.25:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and fuel injection SC = 327-cid 250-hp V-8 with 10.5:1 compression ratio, Powerglide automatic transmission and a four-barrel carburetor SD = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.5:1 compression ratio, Powerglide automatic transmission and dual four-barrel carburetors

• Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block next to the engine number
• The body number plate was located on the engine side of the cowl.
• The Fisher Body Style Number 63-0867 identifies a Corvette Sting Ray convertible
• The Fisher Body Style Number 63-0867 identifies a Corvette Sting Ray "split-window" coupe
• The body number is the production serial number of the body.
• The trim number indicates the interior trim color and material.
• The vinyl upholstery was available in Red, Black, Saddle Tan, and Dark Blue
• Two Saddle Tan upholstery options were offered

• Vinyl on Coupes	Leather on Coupes	Vinyl on Convertible	Leather on Convertible
  (STD/BLK) Black	(490E, 490N) Saddle Tan	(STD/BLK) Black	(898B, 898F) Saddle Tan
  (490A, 490J) Dark Blue	(898A, 898E, Q, G, S) Saddle Tan	(490B, 490K) Dark Blue	(R, H, T) Saddle Tan
  (S, XE, XG) Dark Blue		(T, XF, XH) Dark Blue
  (490C, 490L) Red		(490D, 490M) Red
  (Q, XA, XC)Red		(R, XB, XD) Red
  (490E, 490N) Saddle Tan		(490F, 490P) Saddle Tan
  (U, XJ, XL) Saddle Tan		(V, XK, XM) Saddle Tan

• The paint number indicates the color combination.
• The seven 1963 Corvette "Magic Mirror" acrylic lacquer exterior colors were:
  • 900 = Tuxedo Black
  • 912 = Silver Blue
  • 916 = Daytona Blue
  • 923 = Riverside Red
  • 932 = Saddle Tan
  • 936 = Ermine White
  • 941 = Sebring Silver

Series No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
0800	37	2-dr. FstBk Coupe - 2 passenger	$4257	3150 lb	10,594
0800	67	2-dr. Conv - 2 passenger	$4037	2881 lb	10,919

TRANSMISSION

• Standard Manual Transmission: Close-ratio three-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter
• Optional Manual Transmission: Close-ratio four-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter
• Automatic Transmission: Two-speed Powerglide transmission (optional)

CHASSIS

Feature	Convertible	Coupe
Wheelbase	98 inches (2.489 m)	98 inches (2.489 m)
Overall length	175.2 inches (4.450 m)	175.3 inches (4.453 m)
Overall width	69.6 inches (1.768 m)	69.6 inches (1.768 m)
Overall height		49.8 inches (1.265 m)
Front tread	56.3 inches (1.430 m)	56.3 inches (1.430 m)
Rear tread	57.0 inches (1.448 m)	57.0 inches (1.448 m)
Frame	Full-length ladder type with five cross members and separate body
Ground Clearance	5 inches (12.7 cm)	5 inches (12.7 cm)
Front suspension	Independent; upper and lower A-arms; unequal-length wishbones; coil springs; anti-roll bar;tubular shocks
Rear suspension	Independent with fixed differential; nine leaf springs; lateral struts and universally-jointed axle shafts; radius arms and direct-acting shock absorbers
Steering	Saginaw recirulating ball, 17:1 ratio, 3.4 turns to lock
Rear axle type	Hypoid semi-floating
Brakes	Hydraulic, duo-servo, self-adjusting with sintered iron linings and cast iron drums
Front Drum diameter	11x2.75 inches
Rear Drum diameter	11x2.0 inches
Total swept area	134.9 square inches
Wheels	15" 5-lug steel disc
Standard rear axle ratio	3.70:1
Optional rear axle ratio	4.11:1, 4.56:1, 3.08:1, 3.38:1, 3.55:1, 4.11:1, 4.56:1

OPTIONS

• RPO 898 Genuine leather seat trim ($80.70)
• RPO A01 Soft-Ray tinted glass, all windows ($16.15)
• RPO A02 Soft-Ray tinted glass windshield ($10)
• RPO 431 Electric power windows ($59.20)
• RPO C07 Auxiliary hardtop for convertible ($236.75)
• RPO C48 Heater and defroster deletion ($l00 cred­it)
• RPO C60 Air conditioning ($421.80)
• RPO F40 Special front and rear suspension ($37.70)
• RPO G81 Positraction rear axle, all ratios ($43.05)
• RP0 G91 Special 3.08:1 "highway" ratio rear axle ($2.20)
• RPO J50 Power brakes ($43.05)
• RPO J56 Sintered metalic brakes ($37.70)
• RPO K66 Transistor ignition system ($65.35)
• RPO L75 327-cid 300-hp V-8 ($53.80)
• RPO L76 327-cid 365-hp V-8 ($107.60)
• RPO L84 327-cid 375-hp fuel-injected V-8 ($538.40)
• RPO M20 Four-Speed manual transmission ($l88.30)
• RPO M35 Powerglide automatic transmission ($l99.10)
• RPO N03 36-gallon fuel tank for coupe only ($202.30)
• RPO N11 Off-­road exhaust system ($37.70)
• RPO N34 Woodgrained plastic steering wheel ($l6.15)
• RPO N40 Power steering ($75.35)
• RPO P48 Special cast ­aluminum knock-off wheels ($322.80)
• RPO P91 Nylon tires, 6.70 x 15 black sidewall ($15.70)
• RPO P92 Rayon tires, 6.70 x 15 white sidewall ($31.55)
• RPO T86 Back-up lamps ($10.80)
• RPO U65 Signal-­seeking AM radio ($137.75)
• RPO U69 AM-FM radio ($174.35)
• RPO Z06 Special perormance equipment for "split-window" coupe ($1,818.45)

• The Corvette Sting Ray evolved from a racing car called the Mitchell Sting Ray.
• William L. Mitchell had replaced Harley Earl as head of General Motors styling in 1958
• Mitchell thought it was important for the Corvette to be associated with racing. so he per­suaded Chevrolet general manager Ed Cole to sell him the chassis of the 1957 Corvette SS "mule" for $1 (to get around the corporate racing ban) so he could build a race car.
• Mitchell had designer Larry Shinoda create a body for the Sting Ray race car inspired by the sea creature of the same name.
• Shinoda came up with the "split-window" coupe design which Mitchell loved although Zora Arkus-Duntov was against its vision-blocking look
• The "split-window" was offered only one year and has become a very collectible item.
• Corvette "firsts" for 1963 included optional knock-off wheels, air condilioning snd leather upholstery
• Air conditioning was a rare option in 1963 because it was introduced late in the year.
• Only 1.3 percent of the 1963 Corvettes were so equipped.
• However 83.5 percent came with four-­speed manual transmission.
• The 184-powered Corvette could go from 0-to-60 mph in 5.9 seconds and from 0-to-100 mph in 16.5 seconds.
• Five historic Corvette Grand Sports were constructed in 1963 before all GM racing programs were canceled.
• Grand Sports weighed 1,908 pounds and had a 377-cd ver­sion of the small-block Chevy V-8 equipped with an aluminum cylinder block and aluminum hemi-head cylinder heads
• They also featured a twin ignition sys­tem and port fuel injection.

		Click here for Corvette books	Books on other automobiles
		Dictionary of over 15,000 Automotive Terms	Cadillac History

Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook

a@motorera.com

1956	1957	1958-62 overview	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	1963-67 overview	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971