As for why 1963 was the only year of the Stingray with the split window?
(which everybody loved)
Seems there was a feud between the designer and the accountants at GM over the split window.
The split between the windows resembled the spine of a stingray and maintained the theme of the cars name. Stingray.
But it costs a lot more at the factory to install 2 windows instead of a single window. So the "bean counters" won out, and the next years model, 1964 featured the single pane rear window. .....
"Seems there was a feud between the designer and the accountants at GM over the split window."
Another reason to hate accountants, who cares it was more expensive the split window is BEYOND FANTASTIC and that what is matters.
I must have one of these gorgeous autos either split window or not split window, I have two teams of peoples in two American States that I'm paying to get me one, Texas and also Rhode Island and it can be delivered by aircraft or I do not care how but it will be delivered to me, also if not black that is okay and if not 100% pristine this is okay as I have friends here who do auto restoring and have performed some excellent happenings on many elderly autos, they can make this auto pristine and also can spray it black.
I have a friend in Milan and they restored for her a 1963 Buick Riviera Nailhead or is it a 1965 Buick Riviera GS, I forget but it is one of them.
The Corvette world is very fickle to say the least. Just the price difference in a numbers matching car, chassis and engine number the same, can be as much as $25,000. Do not buy a 1963 or 1964. Two reasons, they didn't change to full disk brakes until 1965, and at the cross member where the trailing arm attaches some of the frames had a brace attached where dirt would accumulate causing sever rust in the frame. You wouldn't find it unless you know it's a potential problem.
Then you really need to consider the engines. Over there you have no need for a big block car. 396 in the 1965 or the 427 in the 1966 and 1967. Plus at best it will get about 12 miles to the gallon. Another engine option was the fuel injected models. Although they are highly sought after by collectors they are a real pain in the ass. Can't get parts and hard to keep tuned right. They are not electronically injected.
They are my favorite car of all. If I went out after one today I would get a 1965 rag top. You obviously like the fast back and that's ok as it actually is a stiffer more stable car. Best model verses the price you will have to pay is the 1965. Then there are several engine models in each year. The one I would get to drive over there is the 327, 300 horsepower one. The others are the 350 and 365 horsepower 327's.
If you want me to give you an honest opinion on any that you are considering I would be more than happy to. Considering you're going to have to pay a lot of coins to get it over there one or two mistakes or deception from a broker could cost you thousands of dollars.