Whoa... what a BARN FIND this is....
 

I have never been so close to a barn find car before.....
This is an unreal story......., my electrician, a close friend of mine for 15 years, told me of his girlfriends niece lost her dad recently, he was there helping the family clear the area out in order to get into the garage,....She is the executor of his property.

Before he passed, as he had told her many times before, "when I pass on you will have the Corvette". Well, he is gone, and the family has spent many days just clearing the area in order to open the garage to get to the two cars he has in there. He was one of those people who could have been called a hoarder, looks like he never got rid of anything.... he has 5-6 cars there, but only 2-3 were inside as the others were just covered, and not really protected very well.....tons of parts and stuff as I have been told.

(Sorry, I was incorrect as it is only been in the garage for 33 years.)

It has been in there, barricaded in the garage, untouched for 33 years! As I was told the daughter plans to get it running again.


Well, when my electrician told me this story and then showed me this pics, my Jaw Dropped!
This pic was taken on his cell phone as he was there to see the '63 as the door garage door opened for the first time since 1979. The car is 100% stock I believe, but looks like some pin striping on the rear deck, it is a one owner car, as he bought it new back in the 'day, in 1963 at the dealership.

I have asked for more details on the car as my friend only knows that it is a original survivor and that it has an automatic transmission, that's all he took note of. Engine size, or any options on the car he did not know about.

Unbelievable really, what a prize.... I wish I could have been there when they opened the garage on Saturday...... I am still waiting to speak with her as I asked my friend to have her call me regarding this and any other cars and or parts she may want to sell. I want to see if I can get up there before she moves the car.


This is what it looked like when the door was opened for the fist time Saturday!
33 Years of dust.........

I blocked out the license plate number just because the car is not mine...
http://www.santourian.com/corvette_i...indow_www2.jpg

'63 Split Window Vette sees daylight for the first time in 33 years!

WOW! It looks like it will clean up real nice. This car is in CA?

That is one hell of a find.

WOW :yesnod:

Oh my Oh my....love the 'barn' finds. Sadly these cars are only for those who are willing to invest big $$$$$ to restore BUT at least starting with so much OEM original to the time period. I only hope this goes to someone who appreciates the proud times this Vette was when first delivered

Holy XXXX!!! What a find. I hope she knows what she has. Hard to believe someone would let that sit for all of those years. The real shame is that he never shared it with his family while he was alive.

possibly the definition of "survivor" as used by Bloom. Gold. after all, it "survived" how many years of true neglect and non-use?:ack:

like the above, I'd bet it needs a bit more than zaino.

1963 split window has to be a 327 if it is original. Since the car has an automatic (the orignal would be the 2 speed PowerGlide), the motor is likely the 250 hp or 300 hp version of the 327.

Nice find!

WOW indeed!!

And to think there's many more (barn finds) out there!! All I find is an occasional dead rat or chicken in my barn:lol:

Great story, thanks for sharing:thumbs:

:iagree::rock:

:thumbs::thumbs:

For sure Survivor is related to Bloominton Gold, I meant it is a Survivor of the years...

I know, and I agree w. you: it is a survivor of all the years it's been sitting closed away and not used. And I was just saying that this one, if it is all original will make a good candidate for Bloom. Gold's definition of "survivor." :cheers::thumbs:

Turn wolfdogs loose on that with an endless supply of Zaino and he'd be in his 7th heaven. :lol:

Damn.

love it...and it's Carlisle Blue and a split window!

Very nice. :thumbs:

What a find! :woohoo:

I would think that would be worth a considerable sum as it sits.

:rock:

But I have no clue how people could let cars such as this sit in a barn and just forget about them. :crazy:

Cool, hope to see more pics. :cool:

:iagree:

Makes me want to stick a brand new 427 vert in a barn tomorrow and take it out 37 years from now when I'm 81. Well, not really, but a cool thought nonetheless.

:cool:

If I did that, I wouldn't be around when they opened it up!...I'm too friggin' old!

What an unbelievable find!...

Thanks for posting!

If you do, at least put a cover on it.:willy::willy:

Very cool . . . my `64 coupe had the two speed slushbox as well . . .the engine will be a 327/250hp.

Would love to see it washed in the light of day.

Thanks for sharing- :thumbs:

calling Wayne Carini....

Fantastic picture...and story. Would really like to see the whole car. :hide:Glad its not a 63 Falcon.:flag:


Mike

What a find. :flag:

Just one more thing to be pissed off at my dad for :( I told him last year I was mad at him for not starting his own business and turning it over to me :lol:

Now that's funny! JS-my Dad did start his own business but retired when I was a Freshman in High School...a lot of good that did for me.:leaving:

Mike

So......whats something like that worth in excellent condition?

Finding that car has got to be like hitting the lottery. With a little help it just might run. What a great project.

thats what I was thinkin'

Nice.

Awesome story and fantastic Vette!

:cheers:

What a nice find! :thumbs::thumbs:

:cheers:

Barn finds are fun and can have great historic significance. However, they cost a zillion dollars to restore. I speak from experience, completing a restoration of a 1963 Ford Galaxie convertible in 2010.

Eventually, I'll be in the market for a 1965-67 C2, and I think it's ultimately less expensive to buy one which is finished. Another option, I suppose, is to park this 63 in an extra large garage and not restore it...admiring it as a piece of art.

Wow! A true survivor!

Keep us all posted on this story, please!
:lurk:

Information really needs to be sent to this guy. He documents rare finds and has a couple of books out. I recently purchased one of them.

http://www.jerryheasley.com/?page_id=95

http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=ekZlX7veQMMC

Please tell the owner not to move anything and take lots of pictures.

something we all dream of happening to each of us...

great story, OP...please keep us posted.

OP:

Please have the owner contact Jerry Heasley before the car is moved. His phone number is in the first link I provided.

Wow!

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/junk...ow-219956.html

What's up with the three (3) tail lamps on each side in photo in the above link? Somebody just do some custom work?

i'd be freaked out by all the spiders luiving in it.

:cool::thumbs:

I'll give you $500 over Kbb value for a poor condition vehicle. Don't look into it at all and you'll find the offer fair :D

Yea, 'tow it to a repair shop'.

They will pull off that leaky water pump, and the orginial carb. Find an after market radiator that will fit. Then put on some nice mag wheels to replace those dump looking wheel covers. Throw out all the ignition shielding because they need to put new wires on it and it's such a pain to put all that stuff back on. Maybe use those attractive yellow wires for replacements.

Yep, they can 'get it running'.

This is a hoax!

Hi
Tell then to SAVE ALL parts no matter how bad they look.
Someone will want them if the car gets restored someday
Good Luck

While I generally agree w. the above, here's something I found from a long time ago (8 yrs.) on the CF C2 forum. And to get it to "show level" would be in excess of the (then) $25K-$30K number quoted below:

"11-17-2004, 07:56 PM #10
joec
CF Senior Member

joec's Avatar

My Corvette Photos
Member Since: Jul 2004
Location: long giland.... ny

Originally Posted by 78Vette-SA

Interesting because I got a call from someone looking at a 63 on Long Island, NY that has been in storage since 1968.

I quote:

"Joe, 1963 Split window coupe, 39K, #’s matching, stored since 1968, needs resto, runs well. $29,500 "

Speaking from experience, just to do a driver rebuild, and doing some of the work yourself, it could run in the 15-20k category to make it "nice". To get it to show level, more like 25-30k.

So I'd agree. About 15-20k tops and you're still going to have more into then it's worth when done. But, with all my toys except perhaps my 63, I have more into them then they are worth. Ask my wife!

My .02

Well since I live like 3 minutes away from the guy selling that SWC, I gotta tell you, 15K would be alot in my book... There is NOT one part of that car that won't have to be totally redone... The frame is totally rusted and I don't doubt that it would have to be swapped out. The manifold is an old Offenhauser, I didn't bother checking anything else as it was to depressing.. It is a 3spd car also, which I guess is rare.. The car is a basket case for sure..

/joe"

:cool:

A friend just finished his '64 resto yesterday, looks like it's the same color?

Great story - keep us posted on any updates if you can!

People don't limit storage neglect to just cars. I found a Mooney Mark 21 aircraft that sat in a hangar for over 25 years. The aircraft looked just like this 63 Corvette when we rolled the doors open. I used a push broom to sweep off the wings, sat it out in a rain storm to wash it off. Took a few days to get it ferry able, the fuel control leaked real bad and we had to reseal it. Flew it home with the wheels down. The engine was overhauled, airframe repainted, the interior replaced and the old outdated radioes junked and updated with new. These neglected vehicles don't come back to life without considerable effort/money invested.

Everytime I see something like this I think.....and I'm quoting Florida Evans "damn, Damn, DAMN!!!"

Why can't it be me? :rofl:

Great find!

J.J. says, DYNOMITE!

Good stuff! :thumbs:

I hope he used StaBil. ;)

:bigears

:lol::lol::lol:

Thanks for this great story. Please gives us updates when you hear more.

SWEEEEEET


Keep us posted....would love to see detailed pics.....that and the silver-blue are my fav C2 colors.

Since it has auto tranny, it likely is the 250 hp 327....

Anyhow, keep us posted....:lurk:

Very very cool!

Simply amazing that barn finds like this keep turning up. Really Sweet!!!

That's my understanding....Here is the explanation on the thread:

..Someone took the time to add an couple extra tail lights if I am not mistaken? maybe they could'nt figure out the wiring and gave up the project

Back in the day if you had three lights on each side you had the top of the line model ie Biscayne vs Impala. Maybe he figured he was creating a split window deluxe

"Frame Off" restored 63 coupes, auto, 327, go for $50K in Hemmings, Mecum auctions, etc.

Getting this one redone would likely cost $30-40K. Unless you like doing the work, better to buy one already redone.

'63 split window coupes were one of the most sought after Corvettes. I find it hard to believe that frame off restored cars only go for 50 grand. It's been awhile since I've watched an auction, but could the market have really changed that much?

-Bob George

It appears that the car is only the 327 ci 250 hp version with 2-spd automatic...not a high-powered engine,
even if the car were to be restored.

Heck of a find for sure!

I'm guessing that, if the new owner is not interested in keeping it, he shouldn't disturb the car at all. Take the Wayne Carini approach and pull it out of the garage and sell it dust and all.
That way, it retains all it's "barn find" appeal, and you don't spend money doing things that just might lower it's value to collectors. I shudder to think what the "local shop" is doing to this car.
This guy needs some well informed advice before he screws up the patina that the car took all these years to acquire.
I hope Jerry Heasley, or some other expert, talks to this guy before he does something stupid.

If it's not for sale, as the new owner, I would just clean it up, rehab the parts that need work, and get it running without disturbing that wonderful patina of age.

Guy here in Tampa is selling split-window, frame-off for mid 60s. Fully restored.

63
 

I believe the color in 63 was called Silver Blue in 64 it was changed to Silver Blue Metalic. With the auto as stated it is either 250 or 300 HP.
I have a silver blue 63 auto 300hp. Frame on Resto I would maybe sell for around 75K. The value depends a lot on special options, if AC, if a tanker, if leather interior etc, etc.
Great Find....:rock:

wow lots of attention, lets remember this car was 16 years old when door was closed, 1979.
might not be "survivor" at all. not wanting to throw water on the party but reality.

That is a good point.
After 16 years it could have been ready for the scrap yard when it was put out of service.

I would love to hear what happens to this car! One of the best barn finds i've even heard of!

Maybe of I wish real hard Christmas will come early! Any word on where this is? I love a chance at it!

I was told Corvette Mike was restoring it.

With automatic it will be low on the pecking order for a SWC. However, if 300 (instead of a 250HP), w/AC, and full power it can compensate for the powerglide. Not that the trans is a slouch. Just the idea of a SWC w/auto is a deal breaker for most in the market. The color is nor exciting (silver blue a bit like Carlisle blue).

If U buy do not restore it. It's worth more as a survivor than restoration. Get it running yes but salvage/save all parts in so doing.

Keep us or C1/C2 posted :cheers:

Did not read all pages.

I'll be there in a couple weeks and look in on this, if that's true.

I'd call up BJ and make them fit this car into the upcoming January event even pushing it on stage for effect! LOL I don't think the tranny or hp will matter much in this case, true survivors bring the money! I also did not read the entire thread.