Advice on my first corvette - 1963 convertible
 

I am looking at a 1963 convertible Wednesday. Supposedly a one owner car a guy in his 80's is selling 2 1/2 hours away. Where would I find the VIN and engine HP stamped on the engine? Isn't there a pad on both sides of the block with the VIN on one side and the HP code on the other? Thanks.

The VIN is located on the passenger side of the block just in front of the head left exposed. It's a good chance that if the block has ever been machined that it may have been eradicated. I'm not sure but possibly one of the digits in the VIN would reveal the engine performance code.

When I was doing research for my first corvette purchase, a C3 -1979, I used the website “Corvsport.com” . You enter the generation and it’ll give you an overview of the ( in your case ) C2, and then you can do the specific year your looking at. It will give you location of all Vin numbers and all the serial numbers of engine block, heads, carburetor, alternator, etc…
Its very helpful in researching numbers matching and where to look. Good luck and enjoy

Thanks all. I'll share pictures if I get it

Corvsport.com also tells you what each digit in the Vin # means which is very helpful in determining what your looking at

Looked at 1963 convertible car today. Drove 2 1/2 hours each way. Bummer. Guy asking $50k for his father in law who he said has dementia. I was told excellent shape with matching number engine. Guy lifted up hood to reveal NO numbers, no pad by block. I don't even think it was a corvette engine. No snorkel, wrong distributor, converted to disk brakes, wrong intake manifold, wrong carburetor, etc. Checked out trim tag. Car born triple black. Now red with original black interior. Took me less than 10 minutes to walk away.

Maybe you could make a lower offer.Other than the things you mentioned, how was the rest of the car.

Corvette Magazine's 2021 Buyer's Guide lists a '63 Roadster worth $35,000 for one that needs TLC to $93,000 for show ready. While it doesn't say, I suspect these prices assume original parts, at least in the mechanical realm.

He has rejected lower offers and says they won't go below $50k. Car wasn't worth it and I would want to change everything wrong back to original and put more into it than it's worth

sounds like you did your research, good job.
Don’t give up, there’s a Vette out there with your name on it.

Thanks all. I'll keep looking