1963 Pilot Build Photos

[Scott O.]

Interesting photos from Deansgarage.com

http://deansgarage.com/2015/1963-corvette-pilot-build-photos/

[Rich G.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

Link didn't work for me. No response

[Brian M.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

No good here too.

[Scott O.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

Don't know what happened! Worked when I posted it. Can't even get on the site at all now.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

It works for me -- using Google Chrome

[Jeff M.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

Worked fine for me.. Check out all of the blackout on the front and rear suspension area. Very interesting since the current 63-64 judging manual was changed to say NO blackout present on suspension area. Many will say "they were pilot line cars" but remember, up until that time suspensions on c1 cars had blackout anyway. More logical to think that they just continued doing it the way they had been at least for a while in 63 since there are these photos along with other and more evidence to support it. Others have pointed this out before.

[Joe R.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

At the 1981 National Convention in St. Louis a fellow that worked at the St. Louis plant attended. He happened to be one of the fellas that did the black-out on 63's. His comment was interesting. " I was told to black out anything that didn't have paint already". That was the last operation before body drop! Now draw your conclusions based on that statement!

JR

[Rich G.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

Works today. I guess they were just down for a while.

I have seen number 13. Next time I see it I'll check the blackout, although I'm not sure it's still original.

Nice pictures. Thanks. Would that have been serial number one?

Rich

[Ken A.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

Note all the pictures that show the fan clutch, there are NO Eatons, all Schweitzers.

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

I was more interested in the treatment of the coupe doors due to the under-sized roof. All those jigs and dimensional checks and grinding and the fit is still dicey...

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

Note all the pictures that show the fan clutch, there are NO Eatons, all Schweitzers.

Probably because most of those pictures are of a Z06.

[David H.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

Thanks, interesting link.

[Joe R.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

Have seen a few of these cars in person and had the opportunity to take some pics after 50+ years. A lot of changes were made before the next batch of cars were run. Mostly from hand laid to match mold. Please note that this Corvette can be found in the supplied pics.

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[John D.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

I like the pic with the menacing looking foreman with dark glasses standing there with his arms folded...different times.

[Francis F.]

Re: 1963 Pilot Build Photos

"Great pic's, I just viewed BIRTH of a corvette.fantastic photos....fo a 63.