WD Detailing takes on one of its most significant projects yet: the revival of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette split-window discovered after more than two decades in an Idaho barn. The second-generation Corvette is particularly important because Chevrolet produced the distinctive split rear window for only the 1963 model year, making surviving examples among the most coveted C2 Corvettes.
This particular car carries an equally compelling personal history. It belonged to Rick, a passionate owner who carefully shaped the Corvette to his own specifications. Rather than leaving the car completely original, he equipped it with a balanced and blueprinted 327-cubic-inch V8 in place of a heavier 454 big-block, along with Edelbrock aluminum components and other period-inspired modifications. After Rick’s death, Ken acquired the Corvette with a commitment to preserve it according to its previous owner’s vision rather than fundamentally rebuild it.
Years of storage, however, had left the car in serious need of attention. The exterior was buried beneath dirt and oxidation, while the cabin had suffered from mice, contamination, and an overwhelming odor. Even the engine bay presented hazards, with rodents having damaged wiring that had to be addressed before cleaning could safely begin.
The restoration focused on sympathetic preservation rather than wholesale modification. The team deep-cleaned the interior, removed deteriorated carpeting, serviced the engine with fresh oil and fuel, and carefully corrected the aged paintwork. The Corvette’s burgundy exterior was revealed through extensive compounding and polishing, exposing a finish that had been hidden beneath years of neglect.
The emotional payoff came when the rejuvenated Corvette was presented to Lorie, Rick’s close friend. Seeing the car transformed brought back memories of its former owner, while the final attempt to restart the engine delivered an even more meaningful conclusion: after decades of silence, the 1963 split-window Corvette fired back to life.
Source: WD Detailing
