Corvette: Year by Year
1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 19641965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976
1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
1963 Corvette C2 Sting Ray
The Glory Years Begin
Under the direction of Bill Mitchell, the new Corvette was penned by Larry Shinoda. It was based on Bill Mitchell's 1959 Stingray racer and the 1961 Mako Shark. Revealed to the world on June 1962, two models - a coupe and a convertible - were introduced. Both were a radical departure from anything sold to the public at the time. They were lower (almost three inches) narrower (3½ inches) and shorter by two inches than the previous generation. Their sleekness was indisputable. If you compare it to the other domestic offerings, it is easy to understand the impact it had. Wherever their owners took them, racetrack, boulevard or rally, the new Corvette looked like it belonged.
1963 Corvette StingRay For Sale |
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1963 Split Window 327-340 hp
Price: $69,995 (Trades Considered) Exterior: Blue Interior: Blue Miles: 0 Location: Napoleon, Ohio Click Here for more info |
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1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe, 327-340 hp, 4 speed, numbers match. Also has factory original body/trim tag (more) |
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Two of the influences in Larry Shinoda's design for the 1963 Corvette - the Mako Shark (left) and the Sting Ray racer (right).
Split Window Decision
Like many great works of art, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was controversial. One of the signature elements of the '63 coupe was the split rear window. Bill Mitchell pushed for it, insisting that it was needed to complete the lines started with the pointed hood bulge (below left). It was known as the "stinger" concept and in his mind the ridge that ran through the roof (below middle) needed to be emphasized. But Corvette Chief Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov was against it; his engineering sense told him that the rear visibility sacrifice (below right) made it a bad idea.
The coupe did feature a fair amount of storage space (above right) which was carpeted to avoid scuffing. The one problem is that access past the seats was difficult.
The critics and customers sided with Zora and so the split window became a conventional one piece style in 1964 Corvette Stingray and subsequent years. The collector car market has a definite opinion on the subject however as prices for split window coupes are much higher than for their conventional counterparts. Part of this can be attributed to the limited availability since the split window had only a one year gig; also the needs are different since collector cars are driven much less than when they were new.
Next: 1963 Corvette - Sting Ray, Engine Selection
1963 Corvette C2 - The Most Significant Corvette
1963 Corvette - Interior, Hidden Headlights
1963 Corvette - Production Quantities, Wheel Choices
1963 Corvette - Brochure, GM photographs
1963 Corvette Chassis
1963 Corvette Z06
1963 Corvette SAE Paper
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Comments (3)
I sold my 1963 Vette because I was getting married and my wife wanted a larger car. Now I wish I had kept it and not gotten married. But that is life.
I was stupid and sold my 63 Vette because I got married. Now I wish I would have kept it and not gotten married. That's life.