1963 Corvette
edited by David Barth, 22 February 2009.
Courtesy The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland,
Ohio, USA.
Photos were taken in January 2009.
In 1963, after ten years of evolutionary changes, the Corvette underwent a styling revolution and acquired a new
name: Corvette Sting Ray. Like the original 1953 Corvette, a concept car inspired the sensational '63, but instead
of a showcar, the Stingray was a racer. Although the Stingray was a roadster, General Motors styling chief William
Mitchell appointed its designer, Larry Shinoda, to create both a coupe and a convertible. The aerodynamic lines of
the Corvette Stingray made the new car look as fast as it really was, and retractable headlights added to its sleek
appearanace.
The new Vette was in instant hit. Customers had to wait two months or more to take delivery. For the first time, the
Corvette came in two bodystyles: convertible for which a detachable hardtop was also available, and a fastback-style
coupe.
Deciding between the two Sting Rays must have been though because production was almost evenly divided between the two
bodystyles: 10,919 convertibles and 10,594 coupes. When some safety critics claimed the distinctive split rear window
of the coupe created a dangerous visibility problem, the split window was eliminated from successfive Vettes. Thus,
1963 coupes have become very collectable because they are the only year of the "split window."
This particular Sting Ray was assembled on October 9, 1962. Number 2,120 out of the 21,513 Corvettes produced for 1963,
it is one of 3,475 Corvettes painted Daytona Blue. This car is unusual because just 3,892 buyers specified the base 250
horsepower engine, while the standard three-speed manual transmission makes it even rarer with only 919 installations.
Options on this particular car include white wall tires ($31.55) and an AM/FM radio ($174.35). In 1993, this car was
restored with funds raised by the Friends of the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum.
Model: Corvette Stingray
Body Style: Sport Coupe
Original Factory Price: $4,257
Brake Horsepower: 250
Displacement: 327 cubic inches
Bore: 4 inches
Stroke: 3.25 inches
Cylinders: V-8
Wheelbase: 98 inches
Manufacturer: General Motors Corporation, Chevrolet Division
Donor: J. William Lewis
