[VIDEO] Corvette Enthusiast Answers the Call from the NCM and Donates His 1963 Split-Window Corvette

The National Corvette Museum put out word late last year that it is planning a special exhibit focused on Corvette design, and naturally one of the most important pieces of that show will be the legendary ’63 split window coupe.

In the October/November/December issue of the Museum’s magazine, American Sports Car, in an article they called “Split Decision,” they asked readers to donate a ’63 SWC.

During a ceremony a few days ago, former Director of Collections/Curator Derek E. Moore unveiled the results of that request, taking the cover off this immaculate silver over red 1963 Sting Ray donated by long-time enthusiast Manny Balale of Wichita, Kansas.

Standing in front of the C2 mural at the Museum, in a video posted on YouTube by the appreciative Museum, Balale talked about his years-long search for this particular car.

“I had always wanted a split window coupe,” he said, explaining that he finally fulfilled his dream in 2008 with this four-speed manual transmission, fuel-injected beauty, purchasing the car from a collector in the Greater Salt Lake City, Utah area.

“I’ve taken care of it, working on it, taking it to various car events,” said Balale, pictured holding some of the many trophies his Sting Ray has received over the past 14 years. “Through this car, I’ve met a lot of very nice people. I’ve made a lot of very good friends, some of whom in fact came with me on the trip to the Museum this week.”

The split window coupe, he believes, has a “great place in history” as “one of the great design achievements in the history of the automobile.”

“That was one of the reasons why I always wanted to own one,” he said, “and it needs to be preserved for that piece of history.”

Balale called the National Corvette Museum “a great place for that history to be preserved,” saying it feels “like the car is in fact coming home.”

That doesn’t mean there won’t be some sadness about this iconic Corvette no longer being in Kansas with him.

“I have mentioned to my family and friends that I’m sure next week when I am home and I go out to my shop and there is a space where this particular car used to reside, that will probably be a bit of a shock to me, you might say.

“But I will also smile and think of all the great times that I had with the car,” he said, “and also the great times that other people had seeing it and enjoying it and I will take a lot of satisfaction knowing that people will continue to enjoy it by coming here to the Museum and it will also be maintained properly.

“So this is where it belongs.”

Source:
National Corvette Museum / YouTube

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