The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Coupe is one of the most desired Corvettes ever. It is perhaps the best looking Corvette and is also a tribute to brilliant American design and will remain one of the rarest Chevy Corvettes to date.
According to Super Chevy, the 1963 Sting Ray Coupe is also known as the C2. This gorgeous car really turned things around for Chevy. It was a complete redesign that sported new split windows (which are now highly sought after), Corvette-exclusive reverse flip-up headlights, and improved handling and performance.
This car is the absolute embodiment of brilliant American design. Its elegant and sleek body is a true standout amongst American sports cars to this day and is a true collector's item.
This car is the first year of the attractive second-generation redesign, as well as the only year that had the functional split rear window. In addition, they were the first year the Z06 option was ever attached to a Corvette as well.
In another report by Car and Driver, the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Coupe was faster than sportier than any of its predecessors. It also came in a convertible but the fastback Sport Coupe was the excitement everyone dreamed of.
The biggest innovation that came with it apart from its split-type windows was that it came as a separate, distinct body. It was no longer just a mere alternative top for a basically open roadster. Moreover, in typical Corvette fashion, the coupe and the convertible were both made of fiberglass.
It is believed to be inspired by the dramatic introduction of Jaguar's XK-E coupe that came out in April 1961. General Motors personnel are well known to have borrowed the keys to the Jaguar then soon came back after to measure and sketch it inside and out. The XK-E coupe is also much faster than its roadster counterpart just like the Sting Ray.
Even with open exhausts, the C2 was able to go above 160 mph. It had a boosted horsepower of up to 327. It could no longer be improved at this point so they decided to make improvements to the frame and suspension. In addition, the wheelbase was reduced from 102 to 98 inches while the front track went down from 57 inches to 56.3. The rear track was also reduced by 2 inches down to 57. This makes it all the more nimble and more easily steered with precision.
The new rear suspension was directly derived from the open-wheel racing car prototype the CERV-1. Zora Arkus-Duntov, together with H. F. Barr and E. J. Premo of Chevrolet Engineering, all joined forces to make the new chassis. Duntov decided to choose a transverse leaf spring which could be placed behind and below the differential housing.
All in all, the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Coupe was a beautifully designed and very fast car. It is perhaps one of the pinnacles of American car engineering and is the rarest and most sought after Corvette to date. What do you think about it? Share your thoughts and comments below.
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