C1 - 1953-1962
C2 - 1963-1967
C3 - 1968-19821963 Corvette
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The 1963 Corvette received a major restyling, new mechanics, and a new name "Stingray". Zora Arkus-Duntov convinced the brass at GM to include independent rear suspension on the 1963 model because he convinced them he could sell 30,000 cars if they had it. The passenger compartment was still kept far to the rear of the car to allow the engine/transmission to sit behind the centerline of the front wheels. This allowed for a better weight ratio (47/53) that improved handling. The 1963 Corvette included new twin headlights that are hidden behind an electrically operating cover. This added to the aerodynamics of the car when the headlights were not in use.
One of GM's patent drawings for the 1963 Corvette by William L.
Mitchell
The fastback coupe was a new body style. The fastback coupe included a fixed roof with a large back window that was split down the center with a body colored bar. This bar was very controversial and was removed in 1964 so it makes the 1963 very unique. The new fastback coupe sales accounted for 49.24% of sales; the highest percentage of the C2 years.
The car now had recessed non-functional hood louvers. Front fender louvers and ribbed rocker panels replaced the large coves on the earlier models but subtly kept the theme. The coupe has louvers at the back of the side windows. The dash has circular gauges with black faces and the earlier models have storage space under the seats. Air conditioning, power brakes and power assisted steering were now available options. The last year for the Borg Warner T10 four-speed manual transmission. For 1964 all four-speed transmissions were manufactured at the Muncie, Indiana.
The 1964 and later Muncie M-series (right photo) 4-speed incorporated
a thicker shifter handle and reverse lockout lever plus a chrome gear
shift ball compared to the 1963 and earlier Borg Warner (on the left)
4-speed with thinner shifter handle and black gear shift ball.
1963 total Corvettes built - 21,513
1963 Fastback coupes -10,594
1963 Convertibles - 10,919
| Corvettes Engines | 21,513 | Percentage |
| RPO L75 - 300-hp engine | 8,033 | 37.34 |
| RPO L76 - 340-hp engine | 6,978 | 32.44 |
| RPO L84 - 360-hp engine | 2,610 | 12.13 |
| base 250-hp engine | 3,892 | 18.09 |
| Serial Numbers | |
| Corvette | 308x7S100001-308x7S121513 |
| Coupe is body style 37 and convertible is body style 67 | |
Engine Identification
| Position | Character(s) | Description |
| 1 | F or T | Flint, MI. or Tonawanda, N.Y. engine assembly plant |
| 2 to 5 | 1025 | Engine assembly date (month/day) |
| 6 and 7 | Code | RD - 327-cid 300-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 10.5:1 cr SD - 327-cid 300-hp, automatic transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 10.5:1 cr RF - 327-cid 360-hp, manual transmission, 11.25:1 cr, F.I. |
| F.I. | Fuel Injection |
Engine Specifications - 327 engines
| Base 327 | RPO L75 300hp | RPO L76 340hp | RPO L84 360hp | |
| Bore (in inches) | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Stroke (in inches) | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Cubic Inches | 327 | 327 | 327 | 327 |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 10.5:1 | 11.25:1 | 11.25:1 |
| Horsepower @ RPM | 250 @ 4400 | 300 @ 5000 | 340 @ 6000 | 360 @ 6000 |
| Torque lb-ft @ RPM | 350 @ 2800 | 360 @ 3200 | 344 @ 4000 | 352 @ 4000 |
| Fuel | 4-bbl 3826003 |
4-bbl 3826004 - manual transmission 3826006 - automatic transmission |
4-bbl 3826004 |
F.I. 7017375 |
Regular Production Options
| RPO | Description | Cost | Units | % |
| 30837 | Coupe | $4,038.00 | 10,594 | 49.2 |
| 30867 | Convertible | $4,037.00 | 10,919 | 50.8 |
| 898 | Leather seats | $80.70 | 1,114 | 5.2 |
| A01 | Tinted windows (all) | $16.15 | 629 | 2.9 |
| A02 | Tinted windows (windshield only) | $10.80 | 470 | 2.2 |
| A31 | Power windows | $59.20 | 3,742 | 17.4 |
| C07 |
Hardtop (convertible only) in place of folding top In addition to folding top |
N.C. $236.75 |
5,739 | 52.56 |
| C48 | Heater delete | n/a | 124 | 0.6 |
| C60 | Air conditioning | $421.80 | 278 | 1.3 |
| G81 | Positraction | $43.05 | 17,554 | 81.6 |
| G91 | 3.08:1 rear axle ratio | $2.20 | 211 | 1.0 |
| J50 | Power brakes | $43.05 | 3,336 | 15.5 |
| J65 | Metallic brakes | $37.70 | 5,310 | 24.7 |
| L75 | 327-cid, 300-hp | $53.80 | 8,033 | 37.3 |
| L76 | 327-cid, 340-hp | $107.60 | 6,978 | 32.4 |
| L84 | 327-cid, 360-hp (F.I.) | $430.40 | 2,610 | 12.1 |
| M20 | Wide ratio 4-speed transmission | $188.30 | 17,983 | 83.6 |
| M35 | Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission (1) | $199.10 | 2,621 | 13.87 |
| N03 | 36-gallon fuel tank (coupe only) | $202.30 | 38 | 0.60 |
| N11 | Off-road exhaust system | $37.70 | n/a | n/a |
| N34 | Woodgrain plastic steering wheel | $16.15 | 130 | 0.6 |
| N40 | Power steering | $75.35 | 3,063 | 14.2 |
| P48 | Cast aluminum knock-off wheels | $322.80 | n/a | n/a |
| P91 | 6.70 x 15 nylon blackwall * | $15.70 | 412 | 1.9 |
| P92 | 6.70 x 15 rayon blackwall * | $31.85 | 19,383 | 90.1 |
| T86 | Backup lamps | $10/80 | 318 | 1.5 |
| U65 | AM Radio | $137.75 | 11,358 | 52.8 |
| U69 | AM/FM radio | $174.35 | 9,178 | 42.7 |
| Z06 | Special performance equipment | $1,818.45 | 199 | 0.9 |
* Images may be representations of the option >> The 327-cid, 250-hp engine, 3-speed manual transmission, vinyl interior, and a soft top (convertible) were included in the base price. >> RPO Z06 was first a coupe-only option. Revision to $1,293.95 but excluded knock-off wheels and 36-gallon tank for convertibles. >> The 5,739 C07 quantity included 1,099 in lieu of soft tops at no extra cost. >> The 2,621 M35 quantity was split 1,116 with 250-hp and 1,505 with 300-hp. (1) Since the Powerglide was not an option with the 327/360 engine, its total was deducted from total Corvette sales numbers leaving only 18,903 Corvettes the Powerglide was available with. > Tachometer redline→ |
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1963 Exterior/Interior Colors
| RPO | Color | Interior Color Choices | Units | % |
| 900 | Tuxedo Black | Black - Red - Saddle | ||
| 912 | Silver Blue | Black - Dark Blue | ||
| 916 | Daytona Blue | Dark Blue - Red - Saddle | 3,475 | 16.2 |
| 923 | Riverside Red | Black - Red - Saddle | 4,612 | 21.4 |
| 932 | Saddle Tan | Black - Red - Saddle | ||
| 936 | Ermine White | Black - Dark Blue - Red - Saddle | ||
| 941 | Sebring Silver | Black - Dark Blue - Red - Saddle | 3,516 | 16.3 |
Convertible top available in black, beige, and white with any exterior color
Interior Trim Codes
| RPO | Color/Material (body style) |
| STD/BLK | Black vinyl |
| 490A | Blue vinyl (837-coupe) (490XG) (490J) |
| 490B | Blue vinyl (867-convertible) (490K) |
| 490C | Red vinyl (837-coupe) (490L) |
| 490D | Red vinyl (867-convertible) (490M) |
| 490E | Saddle vinyl (837-coupe) (490N) |
| 490P | Saddle vinyl (867-convertible) |
| 898A | Saddle leather (837-coupe) |
| 898B | Saddle leather (867-convertible) |
* Suggested interiors shown. Other combinations were possible.
* When whitewall tries were ordered, the standard wheels were painted
black; with blackwall tires the wheels were painted body color (except
white which may have had black wheels regardless of tire type).
* With the exception of "STD" or "BLK" for black
vinyl, codes had three numbers followed by a one or two alpha-character
suffix. This was the first year for coding trim tags and inconsistencies
exist.
* The codes found in parentheses are actual trim tags.
1963 OEM Supplier Paint Colors
| Color | Valspar Code | PPG Code | DuPont Code | RM Code | SW Code | WA Code |
| 900 - Tuxedo Black | K090 | 9300 | 99 | 946 | n/a | n/a |
| 912 - Silver Blue | L1663 | 12546 | 4250 | 1481 | 2161 | 2973 |
| 916 - Daytona Blue | L696 | 12696 | 4395 | 1539 | 2221 | n/a |
| 923 - Riverside Red | R2329 | 70961 | 2931 | 1138 | 1883 | n/a |
| 932 - Saddle Tan | B1095 | 22269 | 4382 | 1537 | 2219 | 3111 |
| 936 - Ermine White | W612 | 8259 | 4024 | 1199 | 1911 | 2661 |
| 941 - Sebring Silver | N1974 | 32312 | 4027 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Honduras Maroon * | R2252 | 50568 | 4034 | 1221 | 1917 | 2670 |
Note the trim code on this Ermine White coupe is 490L (red vinyl)
Note the trim code of 490N on this Saddle Tan coupe.
Mechanical Specifications
| Wheelbase | 98.0 inches |
| Track Front/Rear (inches) | 56.3 / 57.0 |
| Overall Length | 175.3 |
| Width | 69.6 inches |
| Height | 49.8 inches (folding top & coupe) 49.3 inches (hard top) |
| Curb Weight | 3,037 pounds - convertible 3,043 pounds - convertible with hardtop 3,015 pounds - coupe Powerglide - add 19 lbs. 4-speed - add 1.9 lbs. |
| Coolant Capacity | 16.5 quarts with heater/15.5 quarts without |
| Fuel Capacity | 20.0 gallons |
| Oil Capacity | 5.0 quarts |
GM Heritage PDF file of specifications/options/etc.
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