This past weekend, I was down in Florida for the 2022 Mecum Auction in Kissimmee. There were some amazing machines on display, but one caught my eye after a second glance. That’s because, at first glance, I simply saw a 1963 split-window Corvette in a nice shade of blue. But it was with my second glance when I noticed the person backing it into a parking spot was sitting on the right side of the car… what the hell is going on with this one?
Back in the early ’60s, General Motors shipped a Z06 down to Australia to serve as a test case for the country. The vehicle was allegedly sent to attend the 1963 Sydney Motor Show. And to fit in with other Aussie machines, the gorgeous machine was altered and set up for right-hand drive.
Of course, it also sports everything else you’d want on a 1963 Z06. There’s an oversized fuel tank, upgraded brakes, stiffer springs, and that thumping 327 cubic-inch V8 under the hood. You often see these older Stingrays in red, black, or silver. So it helps the car stand out that much more with its excellent Daytona Blue paintwork.
Any 1963 Corvette Z06 is a rare machine. The number I see posted online is that just 199 were built. But add in the paint color, blue interior, and RHD setup, and you basically have a one of one on your hands. The conversion to RHD was done down in Australia while under the care of GM Holden. It was then owned privately in Australia for some time before finding its way back to the States. Once here, it’s won every award you can think of for a Corvette in the high-level auto show world (Amelia, Carlisle, etc).
It’s all numbers matching and has less than 30,000 miles on the odometer. And it was a no sale at $300,000. That’s a hell of a price… but this is probably the rarest example of a split-window Corvette out there.
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