Maximilien Gagnebin
Senior Specialist
LOT 129
1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/340hp Sting Ray 'Split Window' Coupe Chassis no. 30837S120298
Sold for US$176,960 inc. premium
Lot 129
Property of the Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Cartier International, Bernard Fornas
1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/340hp Sting Ray 'Split Window' Coupe
1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/340hp Sting Ray 'Split Window' Coupe
The Audrain Auction|3 October 2025, 16:00 EDT|Newport, Rhode Island, International Tennis Hall of Fame
1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/340hp Sting Ray 'Split Window' Coupe
Chassis no. 30837S120298
Chassis no. 30837S120298
327ci OHV V8 Engine
Single 4-Barrel Edelbrock Carburetor (see text)
340bhp at 5,600rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
*Fully documented, frame off restoration
*Tastefully uprated with A/C, power brakes, and power steering
*Finished in its original shade of Silver Blue Poly
*A pinnacle of American styling and design
THE SPLIT WINDOW CORVETTE
Introduction of the second generation Corvette, the C2, in 1963 was a watershed moment, not only for its 4-wheel independent suspension but more importantly for a completely new body design. A trend-setting concept, a '63 Corvette was a natural addition to the carefully curated design- and quality-oriented collection of Bernard Fornas.
By 1963 Corvette had the basic goods, primarily its now fully developed and potent small block V-8 and fully synchronized 4-speed transmission. In '63 it got a new, bespoke chassis and , responding to entreaties from years of Corvette owners and racers Chevrolet high performance head Zora Arkus-Duntov freed up the rear wheels with independent suspension.
These technical aspects excited gearheads, but it was the body design that caught the attention of the world, the culmination of design ideas and concepts from the pioneers and auto enthusiasts who then populated General Motors engineering and design. The '63 Corvette, with its bold beltline, popup headlights, low-set air intake and new coupe body evolved like a living organism from years of Chevrolet design.
Bill Mitchell, head of design, fostered the development of the Corvette SS with an eye to contesting international sports car racing. Zora Arkus-Duntov led the engineering of the SS. Peter Brock designed an earlier design concept, the XP-96, which Larry Shinoda further developed into the final Corvette SS. It embodied many features that hinted at marine life, not least the wide air intake that earned it the nickname Stingray. Not surprisingly, Stingray evolved directly into the completely redesigned 1963 Corvette.
With an intriguing twist.
The '63 Corvette Coupe is colloquially known as "Split Window" referring to a styling device the divided the coupe's otherwise wraparound rear window into two panels. Bill Mitchell was adamant that it be included because it gave him the freedom to express a spline element continuously from the top of the windshield through the roof and clear down to the rear deck, like the prominent spine of some sea creatures. Interrupted only by the fuel filler cap the split window became the defining, and identifying, element of the '63 Corvette Coupe.
Zora Arkus-Duntov, a committed driver who had competed at Le Mans before joining GM, hated the Split Window's obstructed view, even on a car fast enough that few would be likely to overtake it either on track or on the highway. Bill Mitchell no doubt savored his triumph but in 1964 the Split Window was gone.
But not forgotten.
The allure of the Split Window has only grown in the years since it became something other than a used car. Its rarity (only 10,594 built, just 325 fewer than the open-top '63 roadsters) and visual distinction make it a premier collector car. Today Split Windows are worth more than double their comparably equipped roadster counterparts, a rare distinction among collector cars where convertibles usually bring a serious premium to similar model coupes.
THE CAR OFFERED
The design aspects make this '63 Corvette Split Window an important element in the refined, thoughtful, design- and detail-oriented collection of Bernard Fornas.
Purchased in 2022 from Corvette specialists Breizh Auto Prestige it is documented with an exhaustive collection of restoration photos that reflect the intricate care and attention that went into restoring the chassis, driveline and particularly the fiberglass bodywork to result in this shining, pristine example of the genre-defining Split Window Corvette.
Like the other cars from Bernard Fornas's collection it is superbly restored, beautiful and assiduously maintained. It is finished in Silver Blue Poly (paint code 912A, the original color called out on its trim tag) with a black leather interior. The 327 cubic inch small block engine breathes through an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, powering the 4-speed manual transmission. It is fitted with air conditioning, power brakes and power steering and has centerlock finned alloy wheels and narrow whitewall tires. An AM-FM radio and power windows complete the long list of options and accessories tailored to make this '63 Split Window coupe a delight to own and drive.
Bernard Fornas selected this Split Window coupe carefully, showing a deep appreciation for its unique position in American car design and performance and making it a special value for its next owner.
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