1963...When did A/C first appear?

[Sydney G.]

Hello,
I know that we discussed a while back on the old TDB the time frame of when the C60 option became available in 1963 but I am still not satisfied with the assumption (?) that it only appeared in mid production.

After Roy's thread regarding the addition of small tank vs. big tank Z-06's and it's relation to serial production date for 1963, and also watching the auction on eBay for an early '63 Coupe (#1,491) with what looks to be original A/C components, I still wonder if '63 cars were built with A/C earlier than most believe. (the auction is #140212810481, from Zip Products)

-For the record, Zip originally advertised this car as a rare A/C '63 without the vin, but did reveal the body number. They then changed their ad and said that NCRS experts had stated that it could NOT be a real A/C car because of the early production number. They have now dropped the NCRS reference and state that it could not possibly be a C60 optioned car.-

By the way, I have ZERO against Zip and I think that I have even done business with them in the past and would do so again without a second thought so please don't go that route.

But that is not the point.

Does anyone have release info as to when C60 became available to the general public for 1963 as was provided for the Z-06 small tank example?

As I pointed out the last time this was discussed, the special order '63 Coupe in Cadilac Saddle and custom interior, WITH A/C, for Bunkie Knudson (sp) was, is, serial #55. So A/C was available early.
Who's to say that with a little push, you could not have that option delivered earlier on in production for 1963?
Although, '63 #55 also was reported to have back up lights...but that's a different animal.

Thanks!

Syd

[Page C.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

Hi Sid,
According to the C60 availabilty in the 1963 Corvettes, Noland Adams provided the following information in his Vol 2 book. "The records for C60 indicate that the paperwork was release for production on Dec. 11, 1962." Also goes on to state that parts were still being designed in Dec. 1962. If you have a copy of his book it's on page 116. He provides alot on detail on this option. I believe car #55 which belonged to a GM exc. was run back thru and had the option added when the option became available. This was a 3 speed car when I last saw it.
Regards,
Page Campbell

[Tom D.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

For what it's worth, the first owner of my 1963 Corvette told me he waited most of the model year for an a/c coupe. I believe he had an order in at Glen Campbell Chevrolet in Buffalo, NY. I still have the letter he wrote to me about this.

What happened? He agreed to accept his car as ordered, but without a/c, in MAY-JUNE, 1963.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

I may be wrong, but I believe that the generally accepted first DOCUMENTED A/C cars were in the 14,000 VIN range

[Kenneth S.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?



Dear Nolan:
I am in the middle of restoring a 1963 convertible, VIN 30867S113209. The car has air conditioning and I have found some unusual things.



I am sure the A/C was factory installed, the words A/C are written in crayon on the inside firewall, and all the dates on the compressor, evaporator tag and hoses are correct.



Nolan replied to me and also sent these letters to his Restoration Clinic column in Corvette Fever magazine and they published them.

Dear Ken,
I have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that your '63, serial number 30867S113209, is not the first air conditioned Corvette.

There were a couple of air conditioned 1963 coupes in the 11,000 to 13,000 serial number range. However, they were "production prototypes" with the pre-production parts installed right on the assembly line.

The earliest 1963 Corvette with a factory installed regular production run air conditioning was a coupe, serial number 30837S113224. It was probably built the same day as your #13,209 convertible. So far, that leaves your 1963 convertible as the earliest in my surveys.

Now, the question is; Is your 1963 Corvette convertible the first with factory installed air conditioning using production parts? Or is it a pre-production run car using prototype parts? At any rate, it is a significant car.

Now you need to locate some early 1963 Corvettes with air conditioning and compare those special modifications. And please let me know what you find.

Good luck!
Nolan Adams

[Sydney G.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

Hello,

Thanks all!
Ken, what a great letter. I see the C60 option time frame much clearer now.

Page, I also find it very interesting that the GM exec car would be sent back for the A/C to be added on. I had thought that the car was produced specially with the A/C from the get go and figured that if that car could have it, then others might get the benefit of doubt.
When #55 was written up in Corvette Fever, or Vette Mag some years ago, it was represented as being an auto car. If someone were to change out the transmission I wonder why the 3spd was chosen?

The changeover and differences between early and late options and components in '63 never stops amazing me!

Thanks again.

Syd

[Page C.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

Hi Syd,
It's probably been 25-30 years since that Corvette #55 was in the Richmond, Va. area. It's possible that it was an original auto car and someone changed it to a 3 speed just of get rid of the powerglide and now has been converted back to an auto. Back then powerglides were hard to get rid of. I will ckeck with some of my friends who might remember more about the 1963 Corvette #55.
Regards,
Page

[Jim W.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

Maybe someone here might remember Harley Earl's S.O. '63 coupe (Silver Blue). It was sold here in Florida in the late 1980's and went to California. I always thought it was the first to have A/C. Anyone familiar with that car?

[Sydney G.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

Hi Jim,

Though I have never seen the car personally, I do have a car listed in my '63 file as being serial #14,012, a special order Convertible for Harley Earl that was painted Cobalt Blue with the notation that it was a concept car with 340hp, 4spd and AC.
Though not a Coupe, could that be the car you are talking about?
Interesting that I noted a 340 with AC!

Page, from the last time we discussed the Bunkie #55 car years ago, I seem to remember that someone posted that it was for sale for a long time on some lot in CA (?) with not many takers.

Syd

[Jim W.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

Hi Syd, I think I have seen the 1963 convertible you mentioned. The car I spoke of was definitely a coupe sold by the late Rick Carroll, a well know car collector in Florida, to someone in California in the 1980's who restored the car and later showed it at various events.

[Tom C.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?



Because of the very unique characteristics of many 63 air parts, it is virtually impossible to build one -- unless you actually have a real one to take parts from. Any car below serial number 13000 would be highly suspect to me, but with real 63 parts could be a pre-production unit.





Hope this is helpful to someone out there.

Tom Christmann

[Rich G.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

#55 is still an automatic

Rich

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

..... I’ve owned many 63 air cars including serial #55 and one of the two C60/N03 coupes. ...

Hi Tom; nice to see you drop in on the DB now and then.

When I went to Terry Michaelis' facilities in July of 1978 (both his new building at Maumee Ohio, and his original place at Napoleon), I took this pic from the balcony; you can see Bunky's car in the far corner.

Terry's ad in Sept '78 Vette Vues reads:
1963 Coupe, 327, auto, PS, PB, PW, Ser.no.55 Bunky Newson's (sp ) personal car. ....... $9,500.

No mention of C60; but then in his Fall '78 catalog, he adds "air" and correctly spells Bunky's surname, mentions the "one of a kind -- rare", but no price listed.

[Tom C.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

Enjoyed seeing the pics. The cool thing about it is that I drove it home from Ohio to Virginia. Tom

[Tom C.]

Re: 1963...When did A/C first appear?

Just a quick update to the earliest air car. Ken's convertible at 13209 is the earliest on my list. I have two cars in the 11000 range, one mid and one early. I have not seen either, but did talk to the owner of one, which had a compressor dated November 62 (the passenger car compressor is similar but with a different numbering sequence), but the car is months prior to parts existing (it would be interesting to see the car -- maybe a prototype...maybe!!!!); and the other was given to me in 1984, but has never surfaced nor has it been seen again.

Ken, I've only seen pictures, and would sure like to see your car one day.

Tom