AUTOMOBILIA

When General Motors made the split-rearwindow Chev Corvette coupé in 1963, it only made 10,594. Autoart’s ’63 ’Vette is even more rare, with only 6000 produced, and each one has its own serial number.

This beautiful model of a beautiful car is as near to the real thing as you’ll get. There’s a major difference in price, though. Nowadays, it would cost something like $180K–$200K for the full-size version. This one is for sale at considerably less than that. This model is from Autoart’s Millennium division. It is die-cast and 1�₁₈th scale but complete in every little detail. From the ‘Corvette Stingray’ badges on the boot to the fuel-injection transfers on the front wings. Pop the chrome-louvered bonnet — should we say ‘hood’ here? — and the motor is there in all its detail. The rocker covers on the 327-cubic-inch (5359cc) motor have the word ‘Chevrolet’ stamped on them — the level of detail is impressive.

There’s chrome for everyone as well — wheels, window surrounds, bumpers, rearvision mirrors — all there to remind us just what they were like then.

Inside, it’s also as it should be. The door cards look like the real thing but, then, so does everything else. Hit those radio buttons and you’re far more likely to hear Surfer Girl than Blowin’ in the Wind. The steering wheel turns those cross-ply whitewalls, and the brake pedals work the old-fashioned drum brakes — well, almost. This is an American car and you can’t forget it.