Beautiful older frame-off restoration with receipts and photos. Potent ZZ4 GM crate engine, 4-speed manual. Power steering, upgraded stereo, newer convertible top. A gorgeous Mid-Year Corvette that’s built to drive!

Finished in the early 2000s, this is a very well-done Corvette. We should note up front that it is not matching numbers, carrying a 350 cubic inch GM ZZ4 crate engine, but it was restored to be the embodiment of all that is great about the Sting Ray. Fit and finish are exemplary in every way and all the usual fiberglass flaws that you find on these cars have been neatly exorcised from its surface and it fits together extremely well. Gaps are tight and even, the panels line up well, and there was obviously a lot more care lavished on the car than the factory could spare back in 1963. Two-stage urethane paint has been color sanded and buffed to a very high standard and the car, as I said, simply glows in the showroom and particularly out in the sunlight. Riverside Red is this car’s original color, and there’s nothing more appropriate on GM’s awesome fiberglass shape. We note no critical flaws in the finish and with as a hobby vehicle that’s been properly maintained, obviously it has not been subjected to the rigors of the real world. The chrome and stainless trim was likewise restored with the rest of the car, and you can see in photos that the bumpers shine beautifully, the ribbed rocker moldings are crisp and bright, and all the lenses are correct reproductions that look brand new. The unique 1963 hood screens are unmarked and not pitted or scuffed, the emblems show crisp enamel, and it appears that even the windshield was replaced because it has that sparkling clarity that you can’t restore back into old glass. Please come see the car—you’ll have to look very hard indeed for any major faults.

The interior is correct STD black vinyl, which is how this car was ordered when it was new. Replacement seat covers are exact replacements and they remain in excellent condition even with some miles of driving behind them. As with the exterior, virtually everything inside the car was new at the time of restoration, including carpets, door panels, dash pads, and the three-spoke steering wheel. All the original gauges were rebuilt and show crisp markings and clear lenses, and they’re all fully operational except the clock. The original vertically-oriented AM radio is gone, replaced by an AM/FM unit that powers an upgraded set of speakers hidden in the cargo bay behind the seats. It includes a white convertible top, which is a great choice here, and that, too, is almost new and in unmarked condition with a crystal clear rear window and no creases or split seams.

The engine is a fresh ZZ4 GM crate engine, which displaces 350 cubic inches and makes 355 horsepower and a stout 405 lb-ft. of torque. Detailed to look very much like the original 327, including painting the aluminum heads Chevy Orange, it looks right and runs the way any small block Chevy should: smooth and confident. Chevy Orange paint, a proper open-element air cleaner, and finned valve covers make it look period correct under the hood. The exhaust manifolds have been coated to keep them looking their best and even the factory-issued ignition shields are still in place. It has the heavy-duty cooling system with clutch fan, and proper GM-logo hoses were used to make things look authentic throughout. The only notable deviation from stock spec is the modern dual master cylinder—not correct for 1963 but a welcome addition that doesn’t take away any of its Corvette-ness. Power steering is a nice find, too, making this ’63 easy to handle and very user-friendly.

A Muncie 4-speed manual transmission is really the only way to go in a vintage ‘Vette. Yes, you could get a PowerGlide, but what’s the point of owning America’s sports car without rowing your own gears? Despite this car’s polish and sophisticated look, it’s still a runner and snapping the chrome shifter through the gears remains one of life’s great joys. The rest of the undercarriage is nicely restored as well, including rebuilt suspension and brakes, a reproduction exhaust system, and satin black paint as a backdrop for the hardware. The floors are fiberglass, so there’s obviously no rust there, but the critical areas of the frame are unmarked and the smoothness of the finish suggests that it was never in a harsh climate. 3.55 gears in back mean it’s downright nasty around town but can cruise on the highway without any drama. There are signs of use, of course, because this is a Corvette that was built to drive, but nothing that should raise any eyebrows—spend more on a show car if collecting trophies is your thing. This car rips through the gears with genuine enthusiasm yet remains docile and easy to drive for just about anyone. And while the original drum brakes are still in place, they’re plenty effective thanks to fresh hardware throughout so don’t get hung up on it. Correct 15-inch steel wheels with knock-off hubcaps are the right look, and they combine with a set of brand new 205/75/15 Diamondback Auburn whitewall radials to give the car a 1963 stance.

Extras include an owner’s manual, restoration receipts and photos, and the NCRS Shipping Data Report.

The quality is exceptional on this Corvette and it has a few invisible, forgivable upgrades to make it more of what it should be. This is one of those cases where the best car may not have a perfect pedigree but the quality and driving experience more than make up for it. If you’ve wanted a Mid-Year Corvette that you can drive and show without worries, this is it. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.