1963 Progressive Refinements

Chassis Number Range: 0 064 916 through 0 215 174
Annual Production Total (estimated): 6719
Mechanical Specifications: 1493cc 45hp single Solex 32PHN carburetor, 7.2:1 compression ratio with 82mph top speed and 0-62mph in 24 seconds, 6 Volt, 4-wheel drum brakes, manual 4-speed all-synchro transmission
Easiest Way to Identify a 1963: From the outside: VOLKSWAGEN & 1500 rear scripts.
From the inside: 90mph/150kph speedo, half-moon horn ring, single carb engine, push-button dash, one-piece fresh air trim, outer-edge wheel trim rings with 4-slotted rims.
First Year For: Three-piece windshield trims, one-piece fresh air chrome trim & larger ivory fresh air knobs with round blue-dots, light two-tone shift knob (ivory & light gray), & symmetrical drivers side mirror.
Last Year For: Single Solex 32PHN carb, rotary heater knob with red dot, VOLKSWAGEN & 1500 rear scripts, manually-operated rear seat heater vents, outer-edge wheel trim rings, 90mph/150kph speedo, glovebox decals, & half-moon chromed horn ring.
Notes: Halfway through 1963 air vent grilles were added to the rear air duct space
Color Combinations: Two-tone was the standard paint scheme but monotone could be special-ordered.
Seats were leatherette with color-matched cloth center sections or solid leatherette. The mesh cloth was used only during 1962-64 and came in Silver, Red, Blue, Yellow, & Brown.
Interior panels were two-tone with either Silver-Beige or Ice Blue on top and various color-matched vinyl on the bottom (except Black which was solid).

Pearl White

Manila Yellow

Terra Brown

Emerald

Pacific

Polar Blue

Sea Blue

Ruby Red

Anthracite

Black
Ambassadors of the 1963 Model Year:
Above: Anthracite & Pearl White Coupe (#0 091 605) [Jorg Fischer, Darmstadt Germany]: 28K mile original with Golde hand-crank sunroof added when new
Above: Anthracite & Pearl White Coupe (#0 152 252) [Paul Colbert, Nevada USA]: a meticulous 20+ year restoration currently being reassembled
Above: Guards Red & Black Coupe (#0 166 781) [Jacin Ferreira, California USA]: a reliable stock daily-driver with 184K miles
Above: Manila Yellow & Black Coupe (#0 192 003) [Eric Vagle, New York USA]: an unmolested 53K-mile original (dual-carb upgrade)
Above: Emerald & Blue-White Electric Sunroof [Klaus Friedrich, Germany]: a very nicely restored early sunroof