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Is a '63 Split-Window Corvette Really the Best?

Audrain Museum Network

21,942 views

The '63 C2 Corvette "Split-Window" is widely regarded as the best year of the classic Corvettes, but Donald believes otherwise. Has the true prodigal son been living in the shadows? Has it been the '67 all along?

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20 Comments

@miketardy8342 1 month ago

I have owned a 63 split for 54 years which I found about a year after I got back from Vietnam and grateful for the car as well as the the ability to take care of it still enjoy your C2

@tip4theday 1 year ago

I agree with the voice, '67 is the best Vette for me

@bdpopeye 1 year ago (edited)

Donald..You do have the best job in the World! Thanks for posting the great videos!.

@markchiz64 1 year ago

Donald paints a masterpiece with his choice of words.
What a beautiful car!

@Cool_Blue_Ice 1 year ago (edited)

As Donald's buddy Jay Leno is fond of saying, "The last year of a production run is better than the first year of what replaces it" (to paraphrase him). That is certainly true in the case of this C2. By '67, Chevrolet had all the bugs worked out and was far more refined than the '63. I'm envious of Donald being able to cruse those narrow backroads in this beautiful machine.

@bobr511 1 year ago

As far as styling goes, the 63 is the one that gets the attention due to the split window. But the subtle refinements that occurred through those years to the 67 makes that year the epitome of the “Mid Year Corvettes”. Having the improvements of a wider wheel , parking brake handle between the seats, minimal decorations on the body and the offering of headrest seats and shoulder belts were great. Now everyone keeps claiming that the 427 is the best, but if you owned one with no power assist steering, the 327 is truly the better balanced car on the road or parking.
The best setup is the coupe with the L79 327/350 hp with a close ratio 4speed and the 3.70 rear end.
Quick and nimble.

@kesslerrb 1 year ago

The ‘67 big block has always been my favorite too!

@BM-wx9qh 1 year ago

Drum brakes, no big block, and the first year of production, but a 63 fuelie is something special.

@brendas.1374 1 year ago

The 67 is my favorite year Corvette ❤ In my opinion, it’s the most refined and cleanest of the C2’s. I own a restored 67 L79 Coupe with a 4 speed. The car has won top flight three times from NCRS. It’s my pride and joy.

@ForeverDownByLaw 1 year ago

Best looking car of all time imo.

@Anatoli50 1 year ago (edited)

Having lived through the 1960’s as a teenager I can confirm that the Jaguar E type was considered the Corvettes’ prime European competitor. Both were produced in relatively large quantities. I was blessed to own both makes and street raced Saturday nights frequently. The Jaguars all had the same engine in a production year, the Corvettes were fitted with a variety of V8’s, some mild, some wild. The Jaguar was lighter, more aerodynamic, had disc brakes all round, had a more sophisticated chassis, and was 10-25 mph faster. The Corvette had a bigger engine, much stronger clutch and transmission, and after 1966 better brakes. In a street drag race the ability to speed shift the M22 rock crusher transmission negated the Jaguar’s early first gear edge, and would generally lead by a car length or two up until 125 mph or so. Few small block Corvettes would exceed 130 mph due to aerodynamics, the big blocks could touch 140. My stock 1963 Jaguar XKE could see between 145-150 depending on conditions. As Donald noted, Americans were more interested in quarter mile supremacy than top speed. For high speed road work, the small block Corvettes handled considerably better and were safer near the limit. As the 1960’s neared the end, the Jaguar development suffered in comparison to the Corvette because British Motor Car Company lacked the resources and will to effectively meet the new federal safety and emission standards. Their answer, the 1971 V12 E Type, was a much larger and heavier car than its predecessor, and while more powerful and marginally quicker, was ultimately slower top end due to the added weight and poorer aerodynamics. By 1970, Most American manufacturers had developed very powerful big block V8’s and stuffed them into small 2 door coupes. The Corvette remained the fastest due to better aerodynamics vs the pony cars.

@AegeanAqua 1 year ago

With the 427 and the cool hood the '67 rules! On standard motor 327 cars I'll keep the split window.

@richcoleman469 1 year ago

Love the C2 Vette. Little brother had a blue 65 327 4-speed in 72-73. Long gone.

@DJamesSWB 1 year ago

Love this car, love this man 🙏

@BrandonLeeBrown 1 year ago

The 1965 model introduced 4-wheel disc brakes and functional side vents. 1966 had the 427 with a single 4-barrel and the 1967 had the 427 with tri-power 2-barrel carbs on a high rise intake manifold, which was the only year for the tri-power high rise intake.