Corvette Sting Ray

A new generation Corvette was unveiled for 1963, with a new box section chassis on a slightly shorter wheelbase and an all independent suspension. The 250bhp, 327ci (5358cc) V8 engine was carried over from the previous generation Corvette. But the biggest news was the new car´s outrageous styling, which had clear influences from Chevrolet´s 1958 Stingray racing car and the 1959 XP 720 concept car, both styled by Bill Mitchell who had now taken over from Harley Earl as GM´s design boss.

The outlandish shape of the Sting Ray, still in glass fibre, as with previous generations had boldly curved wings with a hint of Jaguar E-Type about them, concealed headlamps and dummy air ducts in the front wings. Previous Corvettes had all been roadsters, but the new car was available either as an open two seater or as a rakish fastback coupe, with a controversial split rear window. Although the split window made for a more cohesive shape it lasted only until 1964 when a conventional rear window was substituted, and some early cars were modified to the later style.

But today it is the early cars that are more sought after, and many a later Corvette has been given the early style window.
In 1965 Chevrolet introduced a new all disc braking system and a 396ci (6489cc) V8 engine, and in 1966 an even more powerful 427ci (6997cc) V8 appeared. The Sting Ray was offered until 1967, and when a new Corvette appeared for “68 it would drop the Sting Ray name – but it would reappear, as one word for 1969.