By Staff Writer
Dec 29, 2021
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for sale
Sponsored content presented by Mecum Auctions.
Midyear Corvettes have been big news since their release for the 1963 model year. And odds are very strong that they'll continue to remain fan favorites for decades to come.
And that’s with good reason. First, those timeless lines. A hundred years from now, one of these C2 Corvettes will still turn heads.
Then add in all of the possible combinations: Open car or closed? Docile small-block V8 or a fire-breathing monster? Automatic or four-speed stick? Street cruiser or weekend racer?
Colors? GM offered a range from subdued earth tones to the ’60s greatest hits.
Mecum’s Kissimmee sale January 6-16, 2022, will offer Corvettes from the entire model range. These four examples of the C2 Corvette, however, stand out for their unique specs and history. Short of firing up the time machine, this will likely be your only shot at these rare machines.
A COPO Corvette wearing a one-of-one color combo
GM’s Central Office Production Order system might have been developed to produce fleet vehicles–think taxi cabs and police cruisers–but dealers eventually found a way to leverage it to mix and match from the parts bin in order to create limited-run performance specials.
Famous COPO creations include 427-powered Chevelles and Camaros, high-output variants not normally found on the ordering form.
This particular 1967 Corvette convertible was also created via a COPO order. Its defining feature: a special-order color combination of Elkhart Blue paint with a Goodwood Green hood stinger along with a green interior.
Fully documented and one of just 10 COPO special-paint Corvettes built for 1967, it stands out from its peers as a unique example of the midyear Corvettes.
This Corvette was set up to go, too, receiving an L36 427-cubic-inch, 390-horsepower V8, M21 close-ratio four-speed manual transmission, and 3.36:1 Positraction rear end.
This Corvette comes with the tank sticker, original journal from the selling dealer, owner history, owner’s manual packet, NCRS certificate and judging sheets. Mecum’s estimate: $150,000 to $200,000.
The last split-window Corvette built
When it comes to C2 Corvette coupes, the 1963 cars tend to stand tallest due to their split rear window. The unique feature disappeared for 1964.
From the Mecum listing for this 1963 Corvette coupe:
The example offered here is certainly at the top of the split window lineage as reportedly the last one produced, as evidenced by its body number, 10594, which corresponds exactly to the number of coupe versions built in the Sting Ray’s first year of production.
This isn’t some barn find in need of a redo, however, as it has undergone an extensive restoration and still features its numbers-matching L76 327/340 small-block V8 paired with a “late-production” Muncie four-speed gearbox. A 4.11:1 Positraction rear end wraps up the driveline.
This 1963 Corvette split-window coupe has covered just 90 miles since its restoration and is estimated to bring in $300,000 to $350,000.
A single-owner 1967 Corvette survivor
Not just a single-owner 1967 Corvette convertible but one that lived at the same address until its owner’s recent passing: 1055 Bronson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut.
On April 10, 1967, this Corvette was delivered to Russell Chevrolet of Fairfield, Connecticut, for Joseph C. Callahan. He special ordered the Corvette convertible with soft-top delete, so it came sporting just a hardtop.
Also on the build sheet: a Tri-Power L71 427/435 engine, M21 four-speed transmission, 3.70:1 Positraction rear end and Goodwood Green paint.
Mr. Callahan was born in that very Fairfield house and lived there until his passing in March 2021. He had no direct heirs. The Corvette spent its entire life in the same garage.
According to the listing, this car has never been restored and also has never been shown. Full documentation is included.
A first-year, big-block Corvette
Chevrolet made some notable changes to the Corvette for the 1965 model year, with four-wheel disc brakes becoming standard and an option big-block V8 now available. This 1965 Corvette coupe is just one of 2,157 examples to receive the big-block, 396-cubic-inch engine that year.
The original, numbers-matching engine remains under the hood. Mecum provides the digits, too:
Block casting number: 3855962
Casting date: F95
This Corvette, an NCRS Second Flight winner, is one of dozens from the Don Salmon Collection to be offered during Mecum’s Kissimmee sale January 6-16, 2022. Other greatest hits to be offered from the collection include desirable examples of Thunderbirds, Mustangs and Tri-Five Chevys.
Estimate on this one: $85,000 to $95,000.
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