Lyle at C&S Corvettes talks about 1963 Corvettes and is it still possible to find one under $40,000. Join in on the discussion. www.CorvettePartsCenter.com
When I was 15 years old I worked at a car wash/gas station/convenance store in south Louisiana and the owner had a red 63 4 speed convertible. Sometimes in the afternoons when he had a great day at the car wash ( he worked all day side by side with everyone else in the front towel drying and cleaning windows applying armor all) he would like hang out with the employees and drink beer with them which he provided from his store next door. I had been working there about a 6 months so he knew me and we got along pretty well. Well one Wednesday afternoon I hung out with them and after a couple hours he realized he had to much to drink and didn’t want to risk driving his 63 home ( he had wrecked it twice before from driving under the influence ). His wife had showed up and said he wasn’t driving it home but he absolutely wouldn’t leave there overnight so they asked me to drive it home for him which was about 15 miles away and since I was the only sober enough person who could also drive a stick and get to drive a 63 4 speed vert through town I was all for it( although I was extremely nervous) but he was so cool about it he made me at ease about driving his baby. I’m not very tall and at the time I was a freshman in high school I only stood about 4’8” we had to fold up about 6 or 7 of the big drying towels from the car wash for me to be able to see over the steering wheel. I was a really great experience for a 15 year old kid in 1990 that I’ll never forget.
At least with a ‘63 like this, you could drive it and have fun unlike a 1963 Sting Ray owner who owns a matching numbers car who is afraid to take it out for a drive. And if you keep it clean and maintained, you could sell it 2-3 years down the road and probably get the majority of your money back. By the way, Lyle, was that your C5 Z06 on the back row?
That C2 is gorgeous. Those side exhausts are fire. I would buy it and drive it. Screw all that OG stuff. That's a great car to drive around in. Good video Lyle. Stay Tall sir.
Lyle, another excellent video! To all you folks who think you can restore a mid-year and sell it for big bucks, watch this one! Lyle’s cost estimates are pretty much right on.
Hello again Lyle. My 1966 big block C2 has all of the afore mentioned mods as well. It is fun to drive and take to the shows and just enjoy. A trailer queen would sit in a garage and never be enjoyed the way these cars were meant to be. I would much rather have a car to enjoy, than a " painting on the wall" just to look at. The purest would disagree. Still a beautiful car, none the less. Great video as always my friend. Keep up the great work.
Hi to everyone. My name is Ralf, I am German and I bought a 1963 C2 Convertible in 2018 from Ohio for 37.000 USD. So what did I get when the haulier put the car here in front of my door? At first glance a super-beautiful, very authentic and unmodified and unmolested "low option" vehicle, small block, no matching numbers, all original factory applied GFK-panels (apart from the hood). The colour, however, was an issue. The vehicle was painted in non-original colours both inside and outside. Nevertheless, no bad surprise, neither outside, nor technically, ho hidden defects (the defects were obvious... ;-)..) It took me then in early 2019 about 8.000 USD to get her street legal and I drove the car for the first few months without bigger issues. But of course, after a while, things started to bother me. To cut a long story short, complete new interior, a thorough, technical overhaul of the engine and chassis....so during the last 18 months, another 38.000 USD went in. The exterior color was not touched, as the paint work had been done really nice and the color looks great, even if the color is not an original. Would I do it again (to buy a 37 K C2)? No! Why? One simple truth, the better car is always the better car... although parts availability is very good in Germany, each and every small part needs to be imported from the US. Until a spare part is here with me, every USD of a spare, costs me finally around 1.6 EUR until I keep it in my hands. Plus, I'm not very tech-savvy, I have to go to the workshop for most things. The money you pay a mechanic, you don´t get back (in case you decide to sell the car one day). And a 37K-car like this, is a lot of work for a mechanic to make her as nice as she is now. The last 18 months had been a rollercoaster, the more you work on the vehicle, the more you "find" and the more you want to achieve and finally, I never said "no", when the workshop called me... Am I am happy with the car? Absolutely! 🙂
In the 1970s I bought a 1963 roadster in similar condition to the one you're showing . I brought it back to approximately original condition with a similar motor to original, the correct hood, seats, and so forth. I sold it in 1996 to a dealer for $15,000. I didn't get hurt too badly on it, except in the meantime I might have gotten a lot more. I would say of 1963's, being the first year for the body style, they have a lot of quirks that were worked out much more satisfactorily by 1967. But I didn't pay much for it when I bought it. $2,700.
Breaks my heart to see my all time favorite Vette ( 63 ) butchered like that. I hope someone with unlimited funds at least puts the body back to original shape. Most beautiful car ever built in my opinion
I agree with your assessment of this car. It would just cost too much to return it to original condition. The best course of events is to just drive it and enjoy it as it is. If a potential buyer isn't of that mind set, he would be better off getting a different car.
I have been certified in C2 corvette restoration via Bloomington Gold Corvettes since 1985. Hacking up a corvette with flares and spoiler was never a rage. Only morons did that to these cars. I bought my first corvette 1964 340hp in 1966 and have owned eight mid years not all at once. Have a nice 63 roadster today with LS1 engine. I am 79 years old and don't plan on stopping my love with the corvette anytime soon.
Man, if I wasn't in the middle of closing on a house I'd be interested. A convertible C2 is a bucket list car for me. Maybe if you have something like this again in a year or so lol.
It's a crack up to look back at what COOL was! If you were of car owner age back in the late 60's to 70's this is what happen when you had some extra cash and a buddy at a body shop. Maybe a case or two of beer thrown in to sweeten the deal. Looking back at a car that was $1.000 bucks back then was still a lot of money! That one looks to be a nice deal for what it is. A fun driver with a trippy past! Add some deep-set wheels, fat tires. Maybe some graphic's and away you go. Yup that Brown is a real theft deterrent. Thanks, Lyle, for showing this one off. A Cool car that somebody's really going to enjoy! Not a bad price.
All I'd do to this one would be to strip the paint off the valve covers and go back to the original aluminum color. Then it's time to ride with smiles without having to look at three-day weather forecasts of sun, sun and sun. Just curious Lyle, has the rear exhaust valance been replaced so that there are no longer holes for the exhaust pipes or maybe the factory one has had the holes filled in? Save the Wave 🙋♂
Hey Lyle! Ive got a 05 vette that i just replaced the right parking brake cable on and now the parking brake light is stuck on unless lifted just a hair. Do i have to replace the switch?
Uh yeah. Here in Denver there 2 for $20-25k on base '63's fully finished drivable. because these cars are not really daily drivers , and people are spending lots money now on more modern cars and don't have spare cash on relics to be pulled out in a blue moon. So they are going for cheap when people need money to sell. Corvettes all years are great buys, except the c8, and cheaper than all other sports cars.
HA! Yes, that WOULD be a deal! $40K would get you a body shell with a tree growing through the floor on a '63 coupe. They have gone nuts--beautiful car, no question, but no longer attainable for the working man. Lyle
You could actually enjoy the car , drive almost daily weather permitting and be happy you didn’t empty the bank account or go it debt . To me that’s more fun
It is not. This car had a lot of mods on it that were not "correct" according to NCRS standards, and ANY 63-67 hood can be bolted to ANY 63-67 Corvette...there are FAR more Corvettes with '67 Stinger hoods, for example, than there were '67 Big Blocks (which were the only ones on which that hood would be "correct". :) Lyle
Lyle …In all due respect ..and I mean it…Give me a break…15 or more K …to shoot a car that has all the body work already done ….I’m beginning to question your IQ …or lack of 🤔
Ed, that price came directly from the body shop next door. As we don't do paint & body, I rely on other shops to perform that work. I price out paint jobs for customers frequently, and quality jobs cost $15k or more regularly. If you know of people who do excellent work for less, share it here for everyone to benefit from. If not, please keep your insults to yourself. Lyle
Lyle …Correct me if I’m wrong ..but you said …We …would do the body work and hand them a stripped car ….So they’re getting 15 K..just to do paint a no body work !! And that’s a deal ! I’m in the wrong business Have a good day and try to stay cool young man .😎🌴
When I was 15 years old I worked at a car wash/gas station/convenance store in south Louisiana and the owner had a red 63 4 speed convertible. Sometimes in the afternoons when he had a great day at the car wash ( he worked all day side by side with everyone else in the front towel drying and cleaning windows applying armor all) he would like hang out with the employees and drink beer with them which he provided from his store next door. I had been working there about a 6 months so he knew me and we got along pretty well. Well one Wednesday afternoon I hung out with them and after a couple hours he realized he had to much to drink and didn’t want to risk driving his 63 home ( he had wrecked it twice before from driving under the influence ). His wife had showed up and said he wasn’t driving it home but he absolutely wouldn’t leave there overnight so they asked me to drive it home for him which was about 15 miles away and since I was the only sober enough person who could also drive a stick and get to drive a 63 4 speed vert through town I was all for it( although I was extremely nervous) but he was so cool about it he made me at ease about driving his baby. I’m not very tall and at the time I was a freshman in high school I only stood about 4’8” we had to fold up about 6 or 7 of the big drying towels from the car wash for me to be able to see over the steering wheel. I was a really great experience for a 15 year old kid in 1990 that I’ll never forget.
At least with a ‘63 like this, you could drive it and have fun unlike a 1963 Sting Ray owner who owns a matching numbers car who is afraid to take it out for a drive. And if you keep it clean and maintained, you could sell it 2-3 years down the road and probably get the majority of your money back. By the way, Lyle, was that your C5 Z06 on the back row?
I love the c2 but for the amount they cost i rather have a c6 z06
That C2 is gorgeous. Those side exhausts are fire. I would buy it and drive it. Screw all that OG stuff. That's a great car to drive around in.
Good video Lyle. Stay Tall sir.
Lyle, another excellent video! To all you folks who think you can restore a mid-year and sell it for big bucks, watch this one! Lyle’s cost estimates are pretty much right on.
Good video with some very good info Lyle. Well done 👍
I agree. There is no reason for the avg enthusiast to buy a concourse level car. Buy it, drive it. Thanks Lyle.
Love the honesty about what it would take.
Hello again Lyle. My 1966 big block C2 has all of the afore mentioned mods as well. It is fun to drive and take to the shows and just enjoy. A trailer queen would sit in a garage and never be enjoyed the way these cars were meant to be. I would much rather have a car to enjoy, than a " painting on the wall" just to look at. The purest would disagree. Still a beautiful car, none the less. Great video as always my friend. Keep up the great work.
Right on the money! Literally and figuratively. I doubt a buyer would lose money on it....
Hi to everyone.
My name is Ralf, I am German and I bought a 1963 C2 Convertible in 2018 from Ohio for 37.000 USD.
So what did I get when the haulier put the car here in front of my door?
At first glance a super-beautiful, very authentic and unmodified and unmolested "low option" vehicle, small block, no matching numbers, all original factory applied GFK-panels (apart from the hood).
The colour, however, was an issue. The vehicle was painted in non-original colours both inside and outside.
Nevertheless, no bad surprise, neither outside, nor technically, ho hidden defects (the defects were obvious... ;-)..)
It took me then in early 2019 about 8.000 USD to get her street legal and I drove the car for the first few months without bigger issues.
But of course, after a while, things started to bother me. To cut a long story short, complete new interior, a thorough, technical overhaul of the engine and chassis....so during the last 18 months, another 38.000 USD went in.
The exterior color was not touched, as the paint work had been done really nice and the color looks great, even if the color is not an original.
Would I do it again (to buy a 37 K C2)?
No!
Why?
One simple truth, the better car is always the better car... although parts availability is very good in Germany, each and every small part needs to be imported from the US. Until a spare part is here with me, every USD of a spare, costs me finally around 1.6 EUR until I keep it in my hands. Plus, I'm not very tech-savvy, I have to go to the workshop for most things. The money you pay a mechanic, you don´t get back (in case you decide to sell the car one day). And a 37K-car like this, is a lot of work for a mechanic to make her as nice as she is now.
The last 18 months had been a rollercoaster, the more you work on the vehicle, the more you "find" and the more you want to achieve and finally, I never said "no", when the workshop called me...
Am I am happy with the car?
Absolutely! 🙂
I had two 63 split windows. They were pure junk, rattle traps,crappy brakes, slow but beautiful.
Hi Lyle , very interesting video. Thank you.
Jim Glass Corvettes, Route 32 ,Kingston, New York
Great advice as always!
I would be interested in any C2 in any shape as long as it was mechanical sound and a driver.
In the 1970s I bought a 1963 roadster in similar condition to the one you're showing . I brought it back to approximately original condition with a similar motor to original, the correct hood, seats, and so forth. I sold it in 1996 to a dealer for $15,000. I didn't get hurt too badly on it, except in the meantime I might have gotten a lot more. I would say of 1963's, being the first year for the body style, they have a lot of quirks that were worked out much more satisfactorily by 1967. But I didn't pay much for it when I bought it. $2,700.
I would put tires/rims large enough to fill those fender flares up! Add A/C and drive the wheels off until it is time to swap a LS3 and repaint…
Love it❣It's beautiful & the year I was born👍😁
I saw this car a couple of weeks ago. It is a nice car.
Breaks my heart to see my all time favorite Vette ( 63 ) butchered like that. I hope someone with unlimited funds at least puts the body back to original shape. Most beautiful car ever built in my opinion
I agree with your assessment of this car. It would just cost too much to return it to original condition. The best course of events is to just drive it and enjoy it as it is. If a potential buyer isn't of that mind set, he would be better off getting a different car.
I have been certified in C2 corvette restoration via Bloomington Gold Corvettes since 1985. Hacking up a corvette with flares and spoiler was never a rage. Only morons did that to these cars. I bought my first corvette 1964 340hp in 1966 and have owned eight mid years not all at once. Have a nice 63 roadster today with LS1 engine. I am 79 years old and don't plan on stopping my love with the corvette anytime soon.
Coral Gables 🌴🇺🇸 Hehe. To each his own. Best bang for $ now is my C 6 2008. 🏄
Man, if I wasn't in the middle of closing on a house I'd be interested. A convertible C2 is a bucket list car for me. Maybe if you have something like this again in a year or so lol.
It's a crack up to look back at what COOL was! If you were of car owner age back in the late 60's to 70's this is what happen when you had some extra cash and a buddy at a body shop. Maybe a case or two of beer thrown in to sweeten the deal. Looking back at a car that was $1.000 bucks back then was still a lot of money! That one looks to be a nice deal for what it is. A fun driver with a trippy past! Add some deep-set wheels, fat tires. Maybe some graphic's and away you go. Yup that Brown is a real theft deterrent. Thanks, Lyle, for showing this one off. A Cool car that somebody's really going to enjoy! Not a bad price.
Sweet to just look at.
Nice change of scenery, they let Lyle outside!
Far out... & cool 😎...
If it wasn't brown I would love it. The tan top and interior look great.
Still love my C6 though
All I'd do to this one would be to strip the paint off the valve covers and go back to the original aluminum color. Then it's time to ride with smiles without having to look at three-day weather forecasts of sun, sun and sun. Just curious Lyle, has the rear exhaust valance been replaced so that there are no longer holes for the exhaust pipes or maybe the factory one has had the holes filled in? Save the Wave 🙋♂
Put a A/C and leave like it is .
maybe paint it but not body work .
Greetings from North Texas the land of smoked brisket!!!
OG or not, sweet looking car
What would it cost to do a complete suspension restoration on a 1991 C4 corvette?
Don't touch it! Gorgeous car!
9 months later so I'm sure this one is gone but that would be what I'd go for - a "driver" in good shape. Got any now?
Nothing C2 in our corral at the moment. :) Lyle
Hey Lyle! Ive got a 05 vette that i just replaced the right parking brake cable on and now the parking brake light is stuck on unless lifted just a hair. Do i have to replace the switch?
My first guess would be that adjustment is needed on the new cable itself...tough call from here, though. Lyle
Uh yeah. Here in Denver there 2 for $20-25k on base '63's fully finished drivable. because these cars are not really daily drivers , and people are spending lots money now on more modern cars and don't have spare cash on relics to be pulled out in a blue moon. So they are going for cheap when people need money to sell.
Corvettes all years are great buys, except the c8, and cheaper than all other sports cars.
LS3. Today!
I would buy it, install a/c and fuel injection, change out rims and tires.
I want 1
Wonder if a 64 would be even cheaper!? Same condition.
Driving imperfect and beater vettes is much more fun..
I like that C2 Corvette. Would you take a trade?
Sorry, that car is sold! I'll have more in the future, tho! Lyle
well yeah. I thought u was talking about a split widow.
HA! Yes, that WOULD be a deal! $40K would get you a body shell with a tree growing through the floor on a '63 coupe. They have gone nuts--beautiful car, no question, but no longer attainable for the working man. Lyle
You could actually enjoy the car , drive almost daily weather permitting and be happy you didn’t empty the bank account or go it debt . To me that’s more fun
I’m looking to trade my 2006 c6 for 1980 c3, any recommendations?
There is a wide body on facebook market place needs some work, check it out..
Let's face it. Parts for that year car are priced outrageous. Convertible is no good.
Fun little car, but we all know the coupe is the only 63 that matters though..
Wrong hood too
I would pass, and look for a stock c2 rather than go for that customized look…
That not a 63 engine hood?
It is not. This car had a lot of mods on it that were not "correct" according to NCRS standards, and ANY 63-67 hood can be bolted to ANY 63-67 Corvette...there are FAR more Corvettes with '67 Stinger hoods, for example, than there were '67 Big Blocks (which were the only ones on which that hood would be "correct". :) Lyle
@@cscorvetteify 63 corvette had vents on the hood. Right side and left side of the engine hood. That why I said it was the wrong hood.
😂 what are dewy slopes
rag tops r not that Expensive as a split window 63 or just a COUP
Yeah, just put in AC… and your done
Do I get a box of cracker Jack's for being first.
I can’t get past the poopy brown color
That's just about the ugliest color I have ever seen on any car, much less a corvette!
Lyle …In all due respect ..and I mean it…Give me a break…15 or more K …to shoot a car that has all the body work already done ….I’m beginning to question your IQ …or lack of 🤔
Ed, that price came directly from the body shop next door. As we don't do paint & body, I rely on other shops to perform that work. I price out paint jobs for customers frequently, and quality jobs cost $15k or more regularly. If you know of people who do excellent work for less, share it here for everyone to benefit from. If not, please keep your insults to yourself. Lyle
Lyle …Correct me if I’m wrong ..but you said …We …would do the body work and hand them a stripped car ….So they’re getting 15 K..just to do paint a no body work !! And that’s a deal ! I’m in the wrong business Have a good day and try to stay cool young man .😎🌴