It’s a must-have piece of American automotive history.
The vehicle you see here is an early-production Stingray “Fuelie”. What does that term mean, you may ask. Well, the word “Fuelie” was used when referring to a fuel-injected car or hot rod, especially Corvettes between 1957 and 1965 with the optional factory fuel-injected V8. This stunning 1963 Chevrolet Corvette split-window coupe is currently for sale by Canepa in Santa Cruz, California.
The 1963 model year of the Corvette coupe is often acclaimed to be the high-water mark of the American sports car among ‘Vette enthusiasts. It was the first year of the Stingray and marked the first time hidden headlights were implemented, as well as independent rear suspension and a fixed roof. It was also the only year where Chevrolet designers had their voices hear and put the split rear window into production. There were only about 10,500 sold, which makes the 1963-1967 Stingray coupes especially desirable.
This 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray was built in October 1962 and was sold new by Gene Fiedler Chevrolet of West Seattle, WA. The car was under 43-year continual ownership by a man who kept the car in excellent condition and only drove 23,402 miles since first acquiring the ‘Vette. In 2016, a collector purchased the car from him and prepared the Stingray for its next stage in life. The car was treated to a sympathetic restoration and was brought to the NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) event in show-ready condition.
An award-winning marque expert addressed the concerns of the car to get it to the condition it is in today. The entire chassis was prepared, suspension components were examined, and the complete underside and engine bay were cleaned to a T. The car was carefully prepared and refinished in its original Ermine White color code with the original factory finish levels in mind throughout the entire process.
During the reassembly stage, this 1963 Corvette Stingray had all its original factory glass installed with a new rubber trim and door felt pieces. The window and door mechanisms were rebuilt to ensure optimal operation. The mostly original interior is also in immaculate condition and takes you back to the ‘60s each and every time you get inside.
This Stingray is powered by an L84 5.4-liter V8 engine with fuel injection mated to a four-speed manual Borg Warner transmission. That combination works together to produce a whopping 360 horsepower and 352 pound-feet of torque. Canepa has inspected the vehicle from the front to the back and completed a full mechanical evaluation on it. It’s been given the green light with a clean bill of health and a Concours show-level detailing treatment. Now, this beauty is ready for a new owner. Could it be you?
