The C2 Generation All Started With The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray which ran from 1963-1967 was the second generation of the Chevrolet Corvette. The 1963 Corvette was unique for several reasons and the model produced several upgrades for the Corvette in general. Also, the Sting Ray had a new body design. What is fascinating is how the car came to be.
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was born out of several very distinct inspirations of designer Larry Shinoda. Shinoda took ideas from several sources and when they were all wrapped together the legendary Corvette was built. Bill Mitchell was Shinoda’s boss at the time and he influenced the designer in more than one way to help shape what would become the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray:
1. Mitchell’s Previous Designs: Mitchell had previously overseen the design of an unproduced ‘Q-Corvette’ which Shinoda took careful notes of. 2. Mitchell’s Vehicle: Shinoda found more inspiration from his boss by way of what Mitchell drove, which at the time was a Jaguar E-Type. 3. Mitchell’s Adventure: On a deep sea fishing expedition Mitchell had caught and landed a Mako Shark. Shinoda took several key points from this majestic creature of the sea and incorporated them into the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray. 4. Mitchell’s Racing Involvement: In 1959 Mitchell sponsored a racing car called the ‘Mitchell Sting Ray’ because at that time Chevrolet had pulled out of factory racing. Though it had no top and did not give away what the eventual 1963 Corvette Sting Ray would look like, it is widely speculated that this was the biggest influence on Shinoda’s design.
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray brought with it some new developments that were unique to the year. While some of the developments stayed, others did not. The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was produced for the first and last time with a split rear window and non-functional hood vents. Both of these features were dropped the very next year for what was called ’safety issues.’ Because the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was the only year that featured the split window, it has been dubbed the ‘Split Window Coupe’ and is a highly sought after Corvette among collectors.
The introduction of the independent rear suspension was one innovation that did stand the test of time. This technology was not new but it was to the Corvette. This proved to be a technology that would last. The implementation of the Wonderbar auto tuning radio and air conditioning in mid 1963, were features that proved to be a foundation in the Corvette family.
A small block 327 V-8 powered the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray. The maximum output for horsepower was 360 in 1963 which increased in 1964. While not much by today’s Corvette standards, the output was quite significant for the time.
The C2 generation of the Corvette and later models will begin to take shape but it all started with the Larry Shinoda’s design on the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray. Bill Mitchell’s true inspiration helped shape the Corvette that is enjoyed today and will live in the hearts of Corvette lovers forever. The Corvette will always remain an iconic symbol for the now famous brand.
For more information or queries about a 1963 Corvette please see us at www.smokinvette.com
