History 1960s

1963 Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1963 Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo

Date: January 20–24, 1963

Start Locations: Athens, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Lisbon, Monte Carlo, Paris, Stockholm, Warsaw

Finish Location: Monte Carlo, Monaco

Total Starters: 296 crews

Total Finishers: 98 crews

The 1963 Monte Carlo Rally opened the European rally season with its iconic blend of glamour and danger. Crews departed from eight cities across Europe and raced toward Monaco, braving snow, ice, and relentless time pressure. With its alpine finalé, the event remained one of the toughest and most prestigious tests in motorsport.

Route

Stockholm & Warsaw: Deep snow, black ice, and long frozen roads across Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
Athens: A southern route beginning in dry Mediterranean terrain before entering sub-zero alpine zones.
Frankfurt, Paris, Lisbon, Glasgow: Fast tarmac and gravel links, with rapidly shifting conditions from wet to frozen.

Each route offered distinct challenges before the final stages converged in the French Alps:

The legendary alpine finale featured treacherous switchbacks at Col de Turini, Col de Braus, and La Bollène-Vésubie — each cloaked in snow and fog and lined with spectators braving the cold to witness rally drama at its peak.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Erik Carlsson & Gunnar Palm · Saab 96 Sport
2nd Place
Pauli Toivonen & Anssi Järvi · Citroën DS 19
3rd Place
Rauno Aaltonen & Tony Ambrose · Morris Mini Cooper

Carlsson secured his third and final Monte Carlo victory thanks to his fearless driving and the Saab 96’s FWD advantage. Toivonen’s smooth consistency in the Citroën earned a well-deserved second, while Aaltonen’s aggressive approach brought the Mini Cooper into its first Monte podium finish.

Navigation & Challenges

This Monte Carlo edition presented extreme demands on both driver and machine:

  • Variable Conditions: Teams experienced everything from dry roads to sleet, deep snow, and black ice — sometimes within the same hour.
  • Harsh Time Controls: Strict penalties for late arrivals made timing strategy as crucial as stage speed.
  • Alpine Night Stages: The final stages were run in dense fog and darkness, requiring total focus and near-perfect pacenotes.

The 1963 Rallye Monte-Carlo pushed the boundaries of winter rallying and marked a defining moment in the careers of several rally legends. Only the toughest and most disciplined teams survived to reach the Monaco finish line.

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