From a $70,000 Shell to a $370,000 Widebody: What C2 Corvettes Are Worth in 2026Finding Old CarsElizabeth PuckettFri, September 25, 2026 at 2:54 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleSomewhere right now there is a 1963–1967 Corvette sitting under a tarp in a pole barn, and whoever finds it is holding something worth anywhere from a lucky five figures to more than a quarter-million dollars. Which end of that range it lands on comes down to a few details most people walk right past: the engine code, the stampings on the block, and whether the car is a 1963 coupe with a split in the rear glass.RK Motors, the Charlotte, North Carolina dealership that has sold more mid-year Corvettes than most people will ever see in one place, just published a detailed C2 Corvette buyer's guide built on its own sales history. Here's what that data, and the broader 2026 market, tells anyone hunting for a C2.Triple Crown-winning 1963 Chevrolet Corvette split-window coupe sold by RK MotorsWhat RK Motors' Sales History ShowsAccording to the dealership's public sold archive, RK Motors has sold 217 Corvettes from the 1963–1967 model years. The breakdown leans heavily toward the end of the run:AdvertisementAdvertisement1967: 68 cars (31%)1966: 50 cars (23%)1963: 47 cars, including 31 split-window coupes1965: 28 cars1964: 24 carsRoughly 80 of those 217 cars were restomods or custom builds, a share that has held around 36–44% in the dealer's most recent C2 sales. Among the factory-style cars, about 41% were big-blocks, and 15 were fuel-injected "fuelies." Of the 31 split-windows RK has sold, 15 were kept factory-correct and 16 were modified, which says a lot about how divided the market is over what to do with the most famous Corvette body of all.What a C2 Corvette Is Worth in 2026Current market benchmarks from CLASSIC.COM, sorted by factory engine code, give a useful price ladder for any C2 you come across. These represent a typical good example; rough projects sell for less, and judged, documented cars sell for more.327/300 and 327/350 small-blocks (L75, L79): about $85,000–$91,000427/390 and 427/425 big-blocks (L36, L72): about $114,000–$116,000327/340 (L76) and 427/400 Tri-Power (L68): about $145,000–$153,000427/435 Tri-Power (L71): about $168,000Fuel-injected 327 (L84): about $191,0001963 split-window coupes: finished cars generally trading roughly $130,000–$290,000 in recent salesProfessionally built restomods: RK Motors' current C2 builds are listed at $195,900 to $369,9001963 Z06 and 1967 L88: about $637,000 and $1.39 million, respectivelyTriple Diamond Award-winning 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L71 427/435 convertibleThe spread between the bottom and the top of that list is the entire reason C2 hunting is worth doing. An L79 and an L71 can look nearly identical from 20 feet away, but the difference is roughly $80,000 at benchmark, and it only holds if the engine is real.Even the Shells Are Worth Real MoneyNothing illustrates the split-window's pull better than a sale covered earlier this year: a weathered 1963 split-window body with no frame, no drivetrain, and missing panels brought $70,000 at auction. RK Motors wrote about what that shell sale means for finished split-windows, and it's the same logic that makes a rough C2 project worth dragging out of a barn. The body style carries the value, and everything else can be rebuilt around it.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat's also why the restomod route has become so common. A shell or a tired, non-original car doesn't need to be restored back to NCRS standards to be worth something. It can become the foundation for a build like the Art Morrison-chassis split-window restomod RK sold, or the 1965 Vette Industries widebody currently in its showroom, which keeps its original birdcage and title under a new GM-licensed body. We've seen the same split play out with first-generation Camaros in Two Lives of a 1969 Camaro.1965 Chevrolet Corvette widebody by Vette Industries at RK MotorsFound a C2? Check These Before You Get ExcitedThe VIN derivative on the block. On a numbers-matching car, the engine pad carries a stamping that matches the car's VIN, along with an engine suffix code identifying the original horsepower rating.Casting and assembly dates. Engine, transmission, and rear axle dates should all precede the car's build date.The trim tag and paperwork. Original paint and trim codes, a build sheet, window sticker, or Protect-O-Plate where applicable all add to the story.Body clues. A big-block hood, side exhaust, or knock-off wheels can be period-correct options or later add-ons. Don't pay big-block money on the strength of a hood.The frame and birdcage. Rust in the steel "birdcage" structure under the fiberglass is the expensive surprise on many barn-stored C2s.RK Motors' data shows how much the paperwork side matters at the top of the market: 44 of its factory-style C2 listings led with NCRS or Bloomington Gold recognition, and 23 led with "numbers-matching."Frequently Asked QuestionsHow much is a C2 Corvette worth?Most 1963–1967 Corvettes are worth between about $85,000 and $200,000 in 2026, depending on engine, condition, and documentation. Split-windows and professionally built restomods frequently exceed $200,000, and the rare Z06 and L88 cars reach the high six and seven figures.What is a 1963 split-window Corvette shell worth?A bare, frameless 1963 split-window shell sold for $70,000 at auction in 2026. Finished split-windows generally trade from roughly $130,000 to $290,000.Does numbers-matching matter on a barn-find C2?Yes, especially on high-horsepower cars. On a base 327/300 car, a replacement engine is a modest deduction. On an L71, L84, L88, or split-window, the original engine is a large part of the value.Is it better to restore or restomod a C2 project?It depends on what you've found. A numbers-matching high-performance car is usually worth more restored to factory-correct condition. A car that has lost its original drivetrain, or a bare shell, is often a stronger restomod candidate. RK Motors' sales are split roughly 60/40 between the two.Where can I see C2 Corvettes for sale?RK Motors lists its current Corvette inventory and sold archive online. For the full breakdown, including every price tier and RK's methodology, read the dealership's RK Knows guide to C2 Corvette values.AdvertisementAdvertisementMore Corvette finds on Finding Old Cars: an unrestored dual-quad 1956 Corvette survivor in Massachusetts. More on the market: what RK Motors' sales data reveals about muscle-car demand.