1963 Corvette

edited by David Barth, 22 February 2009.
Courtesy The Mathews Collection in Denver, Colorado, 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.