This 1963 Split Window Corvette is a street-driven vintage race car. This bright red road coarse warrior has been raced all its life, and today it wears the evolutionary remnants as evidence. Back in the day, this was an SCCA terror racing on Midwest coarses throughout the 1960's. But like many race cars, the Corvette was constantly being upgraded and modified to remain competitive.
Looking at it today, the main obvious modifications include the fender flares and the wide tires. According to owner Bruce Tucker, the flares were added during the 1970’s, probably at the same time the car changed from its original green color to the bright red you see here.
These kinds of cars present a unique situation for the owner. We’ve found that these types of vintage race cars with actual racing history are just as much a commodity as they are an old car. Factors such as where they were raced, who they raced against, and what races they may have won all factor in to the overall value of the car.
Another factor is the actual “ownership” of the car… it seems that these vehicles change hands from time to time, so the current owner is really more like the current keeper of the car.
On top of all that, some racing organizations only allow period correct vehicles to run in their series, so a car like this ’63 would have to be restored back to the way it was before the flares, tires, suspension, and engine were upgraded to qualify. Here’s Tucker’s dilemma; he wants to go race in those types of events, but he doesn’t want to go through a complete racecar restoration to do it.
“Besides” Tucker adds, “I like the look of the flares!”
What you’re looking at is a ’63 Corvette powered by a 1970 vintage 350 small block Chevy V8 turning a 4-speed transmission. The suspension has been lowered, and there are cool vintage handling parts on the car from Dick Gulstrand and others on board making the car drive like a race car.
One neat element is the Igloo cooler lodged in the passenger fenderwell… it holds ice and a coiled-up fuel line to keep the gas cool during races. Tucker says it’s been there forever, so he’s leaving it alone.
The look is all race, and the stance backs it up. This ‘Vette rolls on vintage American 200S wheels with wide BFG rubber at all corners. Big disc brakes scrub the speed. Some of the trim is missing; Tucker thinks it was removed to race so it wouldn’t blow off on the track.
The ’63 is street legal, and you wouldn’t belive the looks it gets going down the road. It’s loud, thanks to the open side pipes, and the stiff suspension is all business. Tucker drives the car on the street whenever he can, but it’s not something you’d want to be stuck in traffic in every day.
The 63 number on the door adds to the racy look. Tucker digs the car the way it is, but he's still contemplating making some changes to make it more "correct" than it already is. You see, he's got some workplace friends at JBA Racing that are running vintage cars in the Monetery Historics and the like, and Tucker would love to show them his taillights. But until he de-flares this 'Vette, he'll be up in the stands watching from afar like the rest of us poor slobs. We just hope he'll let us go for another ride next time we're in San Diego.
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