How rare?
- Thread starter lilbuzzy
- Start date
Fairly rare but was becoming more common in the early-mid sixties. As you go back each year, AC was very rare. 1962 seems to be a turning point for this option. 1960 and earlier is very rare, even very few Caddy's had AC back then.
I'm always amused how our tastes have changed over the years. I was never concerned with lack of AC when I drove around in my 1960 Impala, nor did the drum brakes and manual steering ever once concern me. Now, forget it!
I'm always amused how our tastes have changed over the years. I was never concerned with lack of AC when I drove around in my 1960 Impala, nor did the drum brakes and manual steering ever once concern me. Now, forget it!
They still don't concern me! 
Out of 9 of my present vehicles, only 1 is a factory air car and it's never been hooked up since I've owned it.
I changed the 63 Impala, 66 Chevelle/409 and 71 C20 over to manual steering.
6 are drum brakes and only 5 are power.
I've never owned a car with power windows or power seats except a Buick bush buggy I bought long ago. I don't think they worked anyway! It only lasted me 3 days.
I guess I like to know I'm driving a "real" car/truck.
Out of 9 of my present vehicles, only 1 is a factory air car and it's never been hooked up since I've owned it.
I changed the 63 Impala, 66 Chevelle/409 and 71 C20 over to manual steering.
6 are drum brakes and only 5 are power.
I've never owned a car with power windows or power seats except a Buick bush buggy I bought long ago. I don't think they worked anyway! It only lasted me 3 days.
I guess I like to know I'm driving a "real" car/truck.
lilbuzzy
Well Known Member
They still don't concern me!
Out of 9 of my present vehicles, only 1 is a factory air car and it's never been hooked up since I've owned it.
I changed the 63 Impala, 66 Chevelle/409 and 71 C20 over to manual steering.
6 are drum brakes and only 5 are power.
I've never owned a car with power windows or power seats except a Buick bush buggy I bought long ago. I don't think they worked anyway! It only lasted me 3 days.
I guess I like to know I'm driving a "real" car/truck.
Letting your car abuse you and you still love it, sounds like highway masochism!
I mean, hot, bumpy, out of control.....just saying
My Dad bought a '63 Impala four door sedan with a 340hp 409 that had factory air. He used the engine in his '64 when his original 425hp 409 swallowed a valve and cracked the block. I still have his original block and hope to sleeve it to keep the numbers straight. I used the '63s frame for my other '64 SS car but I still have the complete '63 car, but it's taken apart. I have a four door '64 sedan also. I've thought about putting my SS body on it's frame and putting the '63 back together. But that's only after I finish my '64 SS and my Dad's '64 409 sport coupe. Not enough money!
Keith
Keith
65FO-OH-9
Active Member
Air not rare...
Factory Air Conditioning was common in 1963. Not many Vettes had AIR then.
Those are rare!
I had a 409/340 with PG totally loaded with Fact. Air, Tilt, padded Dash PW, P. Seats,
bumper guards, tissue dispense, padded dash...etc...etc...
Wish I still had that car!
Factory Air Conditioning was common in 1963. Not many Vettes had AIR then.
Those are rare!
I had a 409/340 with PG totally loaded with Fact. Air, Tilt, padded Dash PW, P. Seats,
bumper guards, tissue dispense, padded dash...etc...etc...
Wish I still had that car!
Letting your car abuse you and you still love it, sounds like highway masochism!
Yep, I'm kinky like that.
Yep, I'm kinky like that.
A/C sure roll down all the windows and open the vents as far as hot and bumpy thats what makes them fun to drive.
VinAccourding to the Red Book there were 194,825 factory installed air conditioners in 1963. I don't think based on that it would be considered rare.
Bill
Bill
Rare Air
I am sure Chevrolet sold over 2 Million cars in 63. That would make air in 10% or less of the cars.
I am sure Chevrolet sold over 2 Million cars in 63. That would make air in 10% or less of the cars.
According to the numbers on Old Ride there were about 830,000 full size cars made.
http://www.oldride.com/library/1963_chevrolet_impala.html
http://www.oldride.com/library/1963_chevrolet_impala.html
Hey Bob, Mike from Long Island has a factory vinyl top on his '63 but I don't think it has factory AC.
:?
:?
All this about '63 impala's with a/c and vinyl tops reminds me of a happening back in '66. I was looking at a brown '63 Impala SS, 340 horse 409, PG, AC, saddle interior, tan vinyl top at the local Chevy dealer. Really sharp car. Snooze, you loose. Someone I knew bought the car. One night shortly after buying the car, he was doing a burnout out of the local hamburger joint, lost control of the car and crashed into another oncoming car. That car was a new Impala driven by the owner of the Chevy dealership
. Never saw that beautiful brown '63 again. BTW, nobody was injured. Leo
. Never saw that beautiful brown '63 again. BTW, nobody was injured. Leo
That car sounds like mike's from Long Island. His has a dark brown top.
lilbuzzy
Well Known Member
And of those,,, 756,284 had factory 409`s !!!!!
you guys are starting to sound like the 427 435 horse corvette crowd! i remember reading where duntov went to a corvette gathering of l88's and could not believe that there were twice as many original, umolested cars as were produced! and all were documented.