In the October 1962 Road & Track magazine technical analysis, it was concluded that “the 1963 Corvette has come a long way in 10 years – in fact, from a stylists’ plaything to a full-blown, out-and-out dual-purpose sports car.” They also had gotten their hands on a 1963 Corvette for one of their respected road tests and were anxious to see how the handling differed from the predecessors; especially with the advent of a full independent rear suspension. The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette not only provided exciting new styling, its handling characteristics were now considerably different.

Road & Track road test staffers wrote that “In a word, the new Sting Ray sticks! Whether you slam the car through an S-bend at 85 or pop the clutch at 5,000-rpm at the drag strip, the result is the same – great gripping gobs of traction.” There were many improvements elsewhere in the new-for-1963 Corvette, including completely new (production based) front suspension, frame, seats, outside body panels, inside panels, dash, steering wheel and so much more. The car was virtually all new, wisely applying the education gained from building the earlier models.

Road & Track also enthused about the way the new Corvette fit the driver. They said the new layout allowed the ability to drive “Italian-style,” from comfortable seating and the desired legroom. All-new instrumentation was dominated by the proper placing of six-inch diameter speedometer and tachometer. Entertainingly, the now “trademark” split rear window and accompanying raised spine that signifies the 1963 sport coupe as unique and all-the-more beautiful, was the staff’s only interior complaint, where “all we could see in the rearview mirror was that silly bar splitting the rear window down the middle.” For those putting one in their garage, it was a minor inconvenience. Some may have even said, “what’s behind me does not matter.”

Looking great in code 923 Riverside Red with Black trim (matching the attached data tag), this 1963 Corvette Coupe has its NCRS recognition displayed on the front bumper center plate and is driven by one of the 327-cid, 340-hp V-8 engines; there were three different levels of tune. Of the over 21,000 Corvettes built in 1963, (10,594 coupes) 6,978 in both styles received the L76 powerplant at an upcharge of $107.60. The transmission is a four-speed manual and among the factory equipment are the pop-up headlights being utilized in their first year, AM/FM radio (with frequency requirement placard), seatbelts, whitewall tires and factory hubcaps providing the perfect period look for this well-respected and coveted platform. This award winning example has earned an NCRS Top Flight, a 2nd in class at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance and first class at Ocean Reef.

Considerable work for the styling was executed in the field of aerodynamic research at the GM Tech Center and Cal Tech in Pasadena, California. The results were immediately appreciated by the buying public and that has never changed.