1963 Corvette Stingray - Jay Leno's Garage 

What amazes me most about this car is that, after 51 years, it still looks futuristic. A truly timeless design.

In a way, Jay is like a rare art dealer. He buys rare and beautiful cars and pays out of his own pocket to have them restored. He's rescuing them, really.

Jay is saving these cars for future generations to appreciate. I agree, stock is the best way to restore a car like this.

One of the most beautiful cars ever designed.

Best looking Corvette ever made.

This is easily one of the most iconic and beautiful cars ever made by any company.

That body is timeless, it doesn't seem old at all.

My dad was in love with the Corvette C-2's and was finally able to get one in 1967 ( coupe 427 side pipes) . Needless to say, he never got over it. Once you owned one you never get over it. My dad is 73 now still talks about it. Corvette is a true American icon.

When I was a kid, my dream was to own a 1963 Corvette Coupe. 20 years later, my dream came true.

I never really had an opinion of Jay until I received my Hagerty magazine and started reading Jay’s articles. His automotive stories are riveting and informative. His own personal stories are priceless to any real car guy. Thanks Mr. Leno.

Car design definitely reached a high point in the 1960's and this car is near the peak

THE SPLIT WINDOW IS TOTALLY MAGNIFICENT ON THIS!

It’s so nice to listen to a knowledgable guy who appreciates specific automobiles and can communicate in a clear and concise manner the history of them.

I had the greatest mom. She signed for me and we ordered a split-window coupe. Pretty exciting day when it arrived at the dealer and I went to pick it up. I was definitely the coolest nineteen year-old in my neighborhood.

The '63 split window Corvette was the best and everyone wanted one. Thanks for the great tutorial on your car and of course the ride! Beautiful restoration.

I remember exactly when I first saw a Sting Ray in 1963 or 64.. The street it was on, the time of day. It blew me away. It was a beautiful bronze color. I'll never forget the moment.

My gosh, the '63 Vette is an absolute work of art. Just beautiful!!

Such a beautiful American car. Now that's a man who enjoys what he does. Thanks Professor Leno.

FYI from Corvette expert: The emergency brake didn't go to the middle of the seats until 1967. The two speed power glide was only std on a corvette after 1953-1954 and this was before manuals were available as an option. Once manuals were available they were std with a 3sp Manuel until 1970 when the 4sp was finally std! 1963 Corvettes Sebring Silver paint had real silver in the paint and was a $92+- dollar option. Route 66 used a 1961, 1962 and 1963 corvettes and never a 1960. The corvette was supposed to have been sentimental to Todd's and the last possession from his dad who died just before he left the east coast for his searching for what town him and Buzz want to settle down in. This is why its a little confusing when he shows up with a 1962 the third season or so. Finally found a category of car I know more about than Jay! Love this channel & think Jays & his show is a National treasure!

This car, the XKE, the Gull-wing are as timeless as it gets.

This is one discussion that is not boring.. My first husband had this same style Corvette split window.. I washed and waxed it.. and thought I would never drive it.. until he sprained his right ankle on a waterskiing trip and I had to drive it home.. it had a 5-speed and I drove it in the fast lane.. he was surprised.. so I got to take it on errands around town occasionally.

1967 Corvette fastbacks and 1971 Corvette convertibles are the most BEAUTIFUL and GREAT Corvettes ever made!

My dream car! My older Brother actually had a 1963 ‘Vette convertible. Had the red interior with a white top. Also had fuel injection, but I believe he told me that it had been modified because the ‘Verts didn’t come that way. It purred just like this one! My Brother had a hidden toggle switch installed in the inside top driver side of the glove box for the ignition circuit. He came out one morning to find the doors open, good open, but no damage. That extra ignition switch had saved the day!

1963 brought us the Corvette and the Jaguar XKE, two of the most beautiful cars ever made.

Just a perfect American icon, the car too! We miss you Jay, don't stop doing these videos, a new generation is learning to appreciate American manufacturing.

Looks wise, it's a perfect car. I'm glad he restored it like that. I wouldn't change a thing

I had one. The wheels did come up off the ground. This is the first time I've ever heard this. Now I have proof when I tell somebody. I remember I looked over at my friend and said, "Cause if It had a set of wings, man, I know she could fly." from the Beach Boys. We both had wide eyes and goosebumps. Incredible, after 55 years, I have proof. 👍 Thanks, Jay

that guy is too cool. it's amazing how knowledgable he is when it comes to corvettes. a lifetime of passion and it shows

When it comes to cars Jay is a unique in a couple of ways: 1) he's that rare rich guy with genuine interest in cars beyond their status or investment potential and 2) he's that rare hot rodder who actually has good taste.

I like it so much more when Jay shows his own cars. He has so many amazing vehicles.

Now they're 60 years old...time flies like that Sting Ray.

What a beautiful piece of American automobile history. We own # 30 which has never been restored and still looks new and drives like a dream. I think it should be in a museum myself.

Loved the talk. I had a 1964 in college. Memories.

This is a historic Corvette. I can imagine in the future this is a car that will keep the correct history of the Corvette alive for generations to come! Thank you Mr. Leno for your dedication to automotive history and the entire industry!

This is one of those cars that is, and always will have, a classic and beautiful look.

The '63 is one of the most beautiful and one of my favorite Corvette models. Gorgeous car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Always loved this split-window model. I also absolutely love the '71 buick riviera "boat-tail", that is one sexy car imo

Huge shout out to Jay Leno for allowing us to share in his amazing collection and meet people like Mike. I appreciate the effort involved to make all these.

My brother in law had a 62, I loved the look of the dual head lights. One year he took it all apart to restore it, a great running car then and looked good too, but he never put it back together, and later sold in in boxes and the body that was down to bare fiberglass.

Kudos Jay to bring back this Icon to its original condition. Just as you'd do on a Jag, Maserati, Lambo, or any priceless Art object, name it. I did exactly as you did when I saw it when I was 11 years old: froze right there. Couldn't believe what I was looking at ! The most beautiful thing I've seen in my young life. Timeless design, unique details like the cut out doors in the roof, the center console, AND that split back window and the center "rib" à la Bugatti. Oh Man ! I'm 65 now and still remember this!

I love the fine details they go into the explanation. I love learning stuff like this

Truly one of the best design’s in all of automotive history..

This shape/design of Corvette Stingray is as good as any design gets. They say, "Good design is Timeless," and this Corvette Stingray proves the theory completely. It is as fresh and vibrant today, as it was 50 odd years ago. You are one lucky man Jay. People will still be lusting after your car in another 50+ years. Sincerely, M.

talk about a timeless classic, what a masterpiece of art and engineering, an silver is the only color for that car.

My friend’s dad had two of these when I was in high school. I got to ride in his silver one and have been a fan since. Wish I could afford one, even if it was just driver quality. I couldn’t stand owning one and not driving it. Beautiful automobile.

The '63 Corvette is the car that I fell in love with. Especially with the split window. One thing I don't think they mentioned was it was the first year they sold a convertible and fixed roof Corvette. Just a beautiful car - "Jay" , I'd love to have it.

There is nothing that looks like those Corvettes. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing Jay!

Jay, I was one of those 13 year olds as well. The first gen T Birds were really nice and then this came out. The WOW factor went out the roof. I want to be envious but just can’t do it since you have worked hard to get where you are. Thank you for sharing your collection with us. Sure wish you were late night entertainment again. There is nothing to chose from now days.👍🇺🇸🤙😃

In 1972 I was called out to a Chevy dealer's body shop to give them a frame repair estimate on an Olds, and there sitting right next to it was a totaled '63 Split Window. It was bad! When I got into the body shop office with my bid I saw a young man in a near full body cast, with another man next to him that was his insurance adjuster. The shop manager was on the phone with a wrecking yard, and when I heard him say "$200.00 is all you'll give for a wrecked Stingray?", I had to ask right away... "if that's all you get for salvage on that can I buy it?" Well, after a short discussion with the owner and adjuster, it was mine, for $200.00!!!!! I made sure I got all the pieces that were in the pile next to it. They told me what happened. The owner had stopped at a red light behind a bobtail truck, then a Peterbuilt coming up behind him lost its brakes and rear ended him, shoving him into the bobtail. You can imagine what it looked like after that. I got it home on 2 flatbeds, and for a month compiled a list of what I'd need to put it all back together. The hardest part to find was the full rear 'clip' from the windshield back, which I finally got when I went to another salvage yard searching for frame parts for a frame repair in my shop, and happened to mention what I was looking for. Having been one of his beat customers for several years, he shocked me when he said ... "boy, have I got a surprise for you!" Then took me to the back of his yard, and behold, there sat a full rear clip for a '63 split window, all intact including all windows, trim, doors, fuel tank, and complete interior. Then, he gave me the best surprise, I could have it all for $250.00! Needless to say, I jumped on that without any hesitation! A year and a half later, it was all restored, and I took it in to a master painter I knew, and had him paint it a dark pearl blue. The last thing remaining to be road ready was a new radiator. I found that when I took it into a muffler shop for exhaust repair. He had one upstairs that a customer had bought but never picked up. $30.00 later, and it was mine. I drove that 'vette' for the next 6 years until my divorce. It turned heads everywhere I went! I'd still have it but my divorce attorney sold me out and I was ordered by the judge to sell all of my cars except for one. Looking back, I wish I had kept the 'vette' instead of the '73 Lincoln MK4 prototype.

This design is one of my favorites. It is absolutely timeless.

I had the pleasure of meeting Larry Shinoda years after this car. What a gentleman

People these days still can't understand how beautiful it is that a car is at its best when it's still original and can only be once.

That's a beauty. Looks great. I generally prefer a convertible when it comes to the Corvette but the '63 Split window is in a class all by itself! Looks great, well done restoration. Love it!

hi Jay i also own a 63 split window and like you it was my dream car...last year i was 66 years old when i bought it and felt like a kid again..well after 4 corvettes previous to this one i had the money and one was available near me and i just had to buy it...it's such a great car thanks for sharing yours with me

I only know Jay as a car guy. When I was younger I watched a few of his shows. His true passion is cars and what he does to keep old and new cars alike running and attainable for anyone to see and experience is wonderful. Thank you.

I am so glad that Bill Mitchell won out against Duntov on the split window design. It made the 63 so unique. I use my my outside and inside mirrors to look with. The split window is fine to see out of.

One of these started my love affair with the Corvette Sting Ray. I restored it with my father, Sebring Silver with Daytona Blue Interior! Great car Jay!

I'm not really a Chevy guy, but this is my favorite Chevy.

My grandfather owned a ‘63 C2 convertible when I was a little kid in the late 80s/90s and it’s what made me a car guy from the age of 4. He’d take me to car shows in it, to Lime Rock race track where he raced it, it was just amazing. Such a special car, it showed me cars could be for fun and joy and forever will be my mental benchmark of sports cars. He sold it in the late 90s because he needed the money, and the split window really is the desirable car today like the Gullwing Mercedes, but we had no idea back then. They were just old cars then

Split window is just great! Beautiful car. I remember touring the Corvette assembly line in St. Louis as a young kid and loving it. I think my eyes stayed big for several days after!! Thanks Jay for the great tour of your gem.

I miss my 1963 Stingray convertable. It had a hardtop too! I also made a taneau cover that zipped down the center for a cool ride look. I attached it with screwed in snaps. I even drove it like that in the winter with a french beret and sunglasses. Of course the heat was on full blast. What fun to see people give me a stare and laugh. Those were the days !

What an absolute beauty of a car. Probably one of my all time favourites. Surely my favourite Corvette.

I remember riding my Stingray bike several miles to see one of these when they first came out. I was 6 and I thought it was beautiful. It still is.

I freakin LUV C2 Corvettes!!! I have a restored 1967 L79 Coupe. It’s a 3-time NCRS top flight award winner.

What a sweet car, a beautiful non-tricked restored/original driver, gorgeous in silver.

One of the sexiest cars to come out of America.

I bought a ‘63 Coupe in 1975 from a guy in Hanford, CA when I was in the Navy. It wasn’t a fuelie, but it was fast! One of my biggest regrets is selling it. Beautiful car Jay!

The degree of automotive innovation from the 1900's to the 1960's is mind-boggling!

That paint is amazing. Never saw a silver car that presented that color so well. Also, best looking Corvette of them all.

Hope someday I can say "this is the Corvette section of my garage" :D

My father owned a 1965 Stingray that I loved riding in, but to me this is the Holy Grail of all American musclecars!

Started with Chevrolet in early 1976 and the C2 Corvettes woul still come in from local folks for service... Wonderful Stuff ! Glad to have been a small part of it at a Chevrolet Dealer !

This episode was really well done. I enjoyed all the finer details of the car.

Excellent car, one of the all-time best. Great video Jay.

I like the fact that Leno spends his money restoring pieces of art.

Always loved this car… I vividly recall seeing one in sleepy, suburban Edgware (North London) around 1967 and being totally blown away by its stunning beauty. Amid the Minis, Ford Anglias, Zephyrs etc that were the typical cars you’d see on U.K. streets back then the Corvette looked like a futuristic spacecraft!

I remember when this car was new, its a beautiful car and great Corvette car guy (McCluskey) and great show, thanks.

Jay I watch your show every morning while I have my coffee. I am in Boise Idaho, your show is great and I really enjoy how you go into the history of the cars and their makers. I think you should do an episode about the 1970s Fiat 500l, my father has two of them and they are an amazing little car.

Mike, the restorer, can't stop smiling riding with Jay. The man loves his job and the cars!

I don't know too much about cars I've enjoyed your show mr. Leno and I will keep watching and learning awesome

To this day... the most beautiful car ever!

Best looking Corvette ever. Perfect! Chevy should have kept the design like Porsche did with the 911.

Something that is truly beautiful never goes out of fashion.

One of the finest Chevrolets ever built in the best color possible !

Absolutely gorgeous car Jay. Stock (as it should be) and just absolutely beautiful! And I love the fact that you drive these vehicles. I just don’t understand cars locked up in a vault by some. Enjoy these things and do what they are meant for ... to drive! Thank you so much for sharing your passion with us.

Jay is the man. This is a great showing of his cars!

Thanks Jay, for preserving this beautiful car!

If that's not one of the most beautiful automobiles ever made then I don't know what is.

Thanks for the ride in my favorite Corvette Jay!

Damn I love that silver color.

Just about the best looking car and when you consider it was 1963, blows my mind .....thanks J

You are a very lucky man Jay, that is a marvelous car.

Start telling your friends all this useless info and they will leave lol Leno is a funny guy and truly a car guy , most guys that do what he does show their lack of knowledge instead Leno impresses me everytime with his knowledge especially with the really old cars even steam powered !

I used to be massively into Top Gear but Jay Lenos Garage is were its at. Such amazing cars and history lessons brought to you in a perfect way. This is probably the most watched show on RU-vid for me these days. So much videos to go through as well. Keep up the amazing work Jay

Best Corvettes EVER made... 1963 to 1967. My neighbors dad bought the first '63 convertible in our town, yellow, white top, black interior. 4 speed, 327, 300 hp. I was 16 and it drove my dreams till 2001 when I purchased a new white on white convertible. Was a disappointment, but I finally had my Corvette, lol. Great video, Jay, thank you.

I remember the first time I saw a 1963 Stingray. It was at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, I was 11 years old and I ran as fast as I could to be the first one to touch it. It was Daytona blue. It was parked at the curb near the entrance to the Municipal Wharf and there was no one around. It was still early Saturday morning and the fog had not lifted yet and the ground was wet. The freshness of the air and the sound of the waves made the whole scene surreal.

"This is kinda the Corvette section of the garage" lol I love how nonchalant he is about some things

I remember as a young kid that one of the tenants in my parent's apartment building had a Sting Ray, maybe a '64 or '65, can't be sure now. He worked at the local Chrysler plant and had swapped out the Chevy motor for a Dodge V8. Crazy. I just recall the engine being painted bright orange!

Im happy that there are people out there that can afford to keep auto history alive I just cant help but wish i was one of them, Thank you Jay for sharing.

My uncle used to restore Corvettes in his shop in Highpoint, NC years ago. He had a 1963 split window that was blue and silver. Absolutely gorgeous. The day I visited his shop, he had 2 '67 vettes freshly painted. One had the Tri power 427. He was a true fanatic but driving to swap meets all over the country for original parts wore him out.